Society of Photo-optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)
Abstract
The Keck Interferometer is entering a regular limited observational phase. A restricted number of observers are expected to use the instrument over the course of the next few years in a shared-risk capacity. To facilitate this, the W. M. Keck Observatory and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory are following a Handover procedure consisting of a number of stages related to the science modes of the instrument as they reach completion. The first of these is the Visibility Science mode that involves only the two Keck telescopes. Other modes to follow are Nulling, Differential Phase, Astrometry, and Imaging. The process includes defining a reasonable level of functionality of each mode, training observatory staff to maintain and schedule tasks related to the upkeep of each mode, and defining and documenting each of the subsystems related to each mode. Here we discuss the outline of the Handover plan and report on its progress to date
