Abstract: The Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) will have two 8.4 meter diameter primary mirrors phased on a common mounting with a 22.8 meter interferometric baseline. The second of two borosilicate honeycomb primary mirrors for LBT is being cast at the Steward Observatory Mirror Lab as this conference takes place. The baseline optical configuration of LBT includes a pair of adaptive infrared secondaries of a Gregorian design. The F/15 secondaries are undersized to provide a low thermal background focal plane which is unvignetted over a 4 arcminute diameter field-of-view. The interferometric focus combining the light from the two 8.4 meter primaries will reimage the two folded Gregorian focal planes to three central locations. The telescope elevation structure accommodates swing arm spiders which allow rapid interchange of the various secondary and tertiary mirrors as well as prime focus cameras. Maximum stiffness and minimal thermal disturbance were important drivers for the design of the telescope in order to provide the best possible images for interferometric observations. The telescope structure accommodates installation of a vacuum bell jar for aluminizing the primary mirrors in-situ on the telescope. The telescope structure is presently being fabricated in Italy by Ansaldo Energia S.p.A. in Milan. After pre-erection in the factory, the telescope will be shipped to Arizona in spring 2001. The enclosure is being built on Mt. Graham under the auspices of Hart Construction Management Services of Safford, Arizona. The enclosure will be completed by early 2001 and ready for telescope installation in fall 2001.

pp. 3-9

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Abstract:

pp. 13-20

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pp. 21-25

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Abstract: The Adaptive Optics system of LBT will be based on Adaptive Secondary mirrors and on other components, such as wavefront sensors and wavefront computers, which are currently under development. I report the status of these developments, the AO configuration forseen for first light and discuss possible future upgrades and extensions of the first light AO system. ........

pp. 27-36

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Abstract: In several important fields of extragalactic astronomy progress will depend critically on new observational data obtained in the IR spectral range. With their expected high sensitivity, a MOS spectroscopic capability and a releatively large FOV the LUCIFER instruments at the LBT are expected to provide new and unique opportunities to address these questions. Some examples of extragalactic observing programs which will become feasible with the LUCIFER instruments are briefly discussed.

pp. 65-69

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LUCIFER - a NIR Spectrograph and Imager for the LBT

H. Mandel, et al. Landessternwarte, Heidelberg (Germany)

Abstract: LUCIFER (LBT NIR-Spectroscopic Utility with Camera and Integral-Field Unit for Extragalactic Research) is a full cryogenic NIR spectrograph and imager ....

pp. 177-186

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• Ringberg Conference on "Science with the LBT"

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