NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) 20110007800: BETTII: The Balloon Experimental Twin Telescope for Infrared Interferometry

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by  NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

BBTTl{: The Balloon Experimental Twin for Infrared
Astronomical studies N infrared wavelengths have dramatically improved our understanding
the universe. The relatively low angular resolution of these missions, however, is insufficient to
resolve the physical scale ou which mid-to far-infrared emission arises. Wc will build the
Balloon Experimental TvvinTelcouope for Infrared lotedfe,0ncnY(BE7TD),8oeight-meter
Michelson interferometer to fly on uhigh-u}titude bm/{o0u. BETTll's spectral -oVu1i8| copabi|ity,
provided hyuo instrument using double-Fourier techniques, will address key questions about the
nature of disks io young star clusters and active galactic nuclei and the envelopes ofevolved
a\oco. BI57TI{wi/( also lay the icuhoo|0giCu/ groundwork for future space interferometers.