Study of technological requirements associated with interferometric infrared (IR) astronomy

Mission objectives and payload concepts were analyzed for shuttleborne infrared interferometer providing high spatial resolution. Suitable components and subsystems are specified. The IR interferometer will be used to investigate the nuclei of galaxies, the dense region of our galaxy, some circumstellar clouds, and extragalactic objects where one observes high concentration of dust and complex molecules. The wavelength range considered has a lower limit of 10 micrometer and an upper limit of 500 micrometer. As a result of comparative studies of alternative interferometer configurations, it was concluded that a triple heterodyne interferometer is the preferred solution at the lower end of the wavelength range considered, whereas for longer wavelengths a less complex two-element heterodyne interferometer would be preferred.