Dr. James A. Benson Profile

Dr. James A. Benson

Astronomer at US Naval Observatory

SPIE Involvement:

Author

Publications (35)

Proceedings Article | 9 July 2018 Paper

The fundamentals: angular diameter measurements of zero-crossing stars from the NPOI

Ellyn Baines, Fabien Baron, J. Thomas Armstrong, Henrique Schmitt, James Benson, R. T. Zavala

Proceedings Volume 10701, 107012D (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2312603

KEYWORDS: Stars, Interferometry

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Proceedings Article | 9 July 2018 Presentation + Paper

Many interesting things are afoot at the Navy Precision Optical Interferometer

G. van Belle, J. Armstrong, J. Benson, E. Baines, R. Bevilacqua, T. Buschmann, J. Clark, W. DeGroff, J. Hall, R. Hindsley, A. Jorgensen, A. Lindgren, D. Mozurkewich, M. Muterspaugh, S. Pooler, S. Restaino, H. Schmitt, P. Shankland, R. Zavala

Proceedings Volume 10701, 1070105 (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2314204

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Interferometers, Mirrors, Electron multiplying charge coupled devices, Observatories, Avalanche photodetectors, Precision optics, Interferometry, Beam splitters

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Proceedings Article | 19 August 2016 Paper

The Navy Precision Optical Interferometer: an update

J. Armstrong, Ellyn Baines, Henrique Schmitt, Sergio Restaino, James Clark, James Benson, Donald Hutter, Robert Zavala, Gerard van Belle

Proceedings Volume 9907, 990702 (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2235077

KEYWORDS: Precision optics, Interferometers, Stars, Control systems, Telescopes, Observatories, Mirrors, Electronics, Interferometry, Cameras

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Proceedings Article | 4 August 2016 Paper

Observing the PTPS sample of evolved exoplanet host candidates using the NPOI

Ellyn Baines, J. Thomas Armstrong, Henrique Schmitt, R. T. Zavala, James Benson, Andrzej Niedzielski, Pawel Zielinski, Martin Vanko, Aleksander Wolszczan

Proceedings Volume 9907, 99073T (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2233159

KEYWORDS: Stars, Exoplanets, Planets, Interferometers, Spectroscopy, Interferometry, Calibration, Visibility, Observatories, Analytical research

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Proceedings Article | 4 September 2015 Paper

Multiple-baseline detection of a geostationary satellite with the Navy Precision Optical Interferometer

J. Armstrong, Ellyn Baines, Henrique Schmitt, Sergio Restaino, James Clark, James Benson, Donald Hutter, Robert Zavala

Proceedings Volume 9617, 961709 (2015) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2194156

KEYWORDS: Satellites, Interferometers, Satellite navigation systems, Precision optics, Spectrographs, Stars, Space telescopes, Modulation, Observatories, Sun

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Proceedings Article | 18 August 2014 Paper

Adding baselines at the Navy Precision Optical Interferometer

Jonathan Andrews, Jim Clark, Sergio Restaino, J. Tom Armstrong, Henrique Schmitt, Ellyn Baines, Donald Hutter, James Benson, Bob Zavala

Proceedings Volume 9204, 92040H (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2062616

KEYWORDS: Interferometers, Mirrors, Precision optics, Astronomy, Telescopes, Astronomical imaging, Astronomical telescopes, Optical alignment, Observatories, Cameras

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Proceedings Article | 24 July 2014 Paper

Testing limb darkening laws using NPOI observations

Ellyn Baines, J. Thomas Armstrong, Henrique Schmitt, James Benson, Donald Hutter, R. Zavala

Proceedings Volume 9146, 91460W (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2055130

KEYWORDS: Stars, Calibration, Visibility, Interferometry, Interferometers, Data modeling, Fourier transforms, Observatories, Spatial frequencies, Analytical research

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Proceedings Article | 24 July 2014 Paper

Multi-baseline bootstrapping at the Navy precision optical interferometer

J. Armstrong, H. Schmitt, D. Mozurkewich, A. Jorgensen, M. Muterspaugh, E. Baines, J. Benson, Robert Zavala, D. Hutter

Proceedings Volume 9146, 91460K (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2055209

KEYWORDS: Signal to noise ratio, Stars, Precision optics, Interferometers, Observatories, Chemical elements, Ocean optics, Interferometry, Sensors, Electronics

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Proceedings Article | 12 September 2012 Paper

Building the next-generation science camera for the Navy Optical Interferometer

A. Ghasempour, M. Muterspaugh, D. Hutter, J. Monnier, J. Benson, J. Armstrong, M. Williamson, S. Fall, C. Harrison, C. Sergeyous

Proceedings Volume 8445, 84450M (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.924995

KEYWORDS: Cameras, Polarization, Telescopes, Stars, Interferometers, Visibility, Optical fibers, Sensors, Imaging systems, Spectrographs

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Proceedings Article | 28 August 2010 Paper

Observations of a geosynchronous satellite with optical interferometry

J. Armstrong, R. Hindsley, S. Restaino, R. Zavala, J. Benson, F. Vrba, D. Hutter, S. Gregory, H. Schmitt, J. Andrews, C. Wilcox

Proceedings Volume 7818, 78180L (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.861439

KEYWORDS: Satellites, Stars, Interferometers, Interferometry, Satellite imaging, Optical interferometry, Telescopes, Data modeling, Observatories, Satellite navigation systems

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Proceedings Article | 22 July 2010 Paper

Detection of a geostationary satellite with the Navy Prototype Optical Interferometer

J. Armstrong, R. Hindsley, H. Schmitt, F. Vrba, J. Benson, D. Hutter, R. Zavala

Proceedings Volume 7734, 77343C (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.858283

KEYWORDS: Satellites, Sun, Interferometers, Solar cells, Data modeling, Satellite navigation systems, Observatories, Telescopes, Prototyping, Satellite communications

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Proceedings Article | 22 July 2010 Paper

From fringes to the USNO Navy Prototype Optical Interferometer Astrometric Catalog

J. Benson, D. Hutter, R. Zavala, H. Harris, P. Shankland, K. Johnston

Proceedings Volume 7734, 77343K (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.858244

KEYWORDS: Interferometers, Stars, Radium, Binary data, Prototyping, Observatories, Ocean optics, Data processing, Motion measurement, Atmospheric optics

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Proceedings Article | 1 September 2009 Paper

Observations of a geosynchronous satellite with optical interferometry

J. T. Armstrong, R. Hindsley, S. Restaino, J. Benson, D. Hutter, F. Vrba, R. Zavala, S. Gregory, H. Schmitt

Proceedings Volume 7468, 74680K (2009) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.825301

KEYWORDS: Satellites, Telescopes, Interferometers, Interferometry, Optical interferometry, Earth observing sensors, Visibility, Observatories, Visualization, Satellite imaging

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Proceedings Article | 28 July 2008 Paper

NPOI: recent progress and future prospects

Donald Hutter, James Benson, Tim Buschmann, Michael DiVittorio, Robert Zavala, Kenneth Johnston, J. Thomas Armstrong, Robert Hindsley, Henrique Schmitt, James Clark, Sergio Restaino, Christopher Tycner, Anders Jorgensen, Sam Davis

Proceedings Volume 7013, 701306 (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.787486

KEYWORDS: Stars, Interferometry, Control systems, Visibility, Telescopes, Observatories, Mirrors, Interferometers, Calibration, Coating

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Proceedings Article | 28 July 2008 Paper

Solving the imaging problem with coherently integrated multiwavelength data

H. Schmitt, T. Pauls, J. T. Armstrong, D. Mozurkewich, A. Jorgensen, R. Hindsley, C. Tycner, R. Zavala, J. Benson, D. Hutter

Proceedings Volume 7013, 70131H (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.789487

KEYWORDS: Stars, Visibility, Calibration, Coherence imaging, Radio optics, Data integration, Interferometry, Radio interferometry, Observatories, Integrated optics

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Proceedings Article | 29 June 2006 Paper

Characterization of the optical throughput performance of the Navy Prototype Optical Interferometer (NPOI)

Xiaolei Zhang, J. Thomas Armstrong, James Clark, G. Charmaine Gilbreath, Robert Lucke, Sergio Restaino, David Mozurkewich, James Benson, Donald Hutter, Nat White, Henrique Schmitt, Joshua Walton

Proceedings Volume 6268, 62683V (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.670001

KEYWORDS: Mirrors, Spectroscopy, Interferometers, Ocean optics, Beam splitters, Geometrical optics, Sensors, Charge-coupled devices, Prototyping, CCD cameras

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Proceedings Article | 29 June 2006 Paper

High-precision calibration of interferometric data through the removal of fixed-pattern residuals

Christopher Tycner, J. Benson, D. Hutter, H. Schmitt, R. Zavala

Proceedings Volume 6268, 626849 (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.672043

KEYWORDS: Calibration, Stars, Interferometry, Visibility, Observatories, Interferometers, Prototyping, Signal detection, Beam splitters, Data acquisition

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Proceedings Article | 28 June 2006 Paper

Using differential phases in optical interferometry

Henrique Schmitt, Thomas Pauls, Christopher Tycner, J. Thomas Armstrong, James Benson, James Clark, Robert Hindsley, Donald Hutter, Deane Peterson, Anders Jorgensen, David Mozurkewich, G. Charmaine Gilbreath, Robert Zavala

Proceedings Volume 6268, 62683B (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.672396

KEYWORDS: Stars, Calibration, Phase interferometry, Optical interferometry, Observatories, Beryllium, Interferometers, Analytical research, Prototyping, Phase measurement

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Proceedings Article | 27 June 2006 Paper

Toward complex visibilities using optical interferometry: multiwavelength phase referencing

Thomas Pauls, Henrique Schmitt, Christopher Tycner, J. Thomas Armstrong, James Benson, James Clark, G. Charmaine Gilbreath, Robert Hindsley, Donald Hutter, Anders Jorgensen

Proceedings Volume 6268, 62680W (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.671881

KEYWORDS: Stars, Visibility, Beryllium, Calibration, Optical interferometry, Interferometers, Phase interferometry, Observatories, Interferometry, Prototyping

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Proceedings Article | 23 June 2006 Paper

The Navy prototype optical interferometer: recent developments since 2004

K. Johnston, J. Benson, D. Hutter, C. Tycner, R. Zavala, N. White, J. Armstrong, T. Pauls, G. Gilbreath, R. Hindsley

Proceedings Volume 6268, 626806 (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.673779

KEYWORDS: Stars, Interferometers, Observatories, Prototyping, Beryllium, Spectroscopy, Metrology, Fourier transforms, Analytical research, Calibration

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Proceedings Article | 20 October 2004 Paper

Imaging stellar multiplicity with the NPOI

Donald Hutter, James Benson, Robert Zavala, Kenneth Johnston, Thomas Pauls, Christian Hummel, J. Armstrong

Proceedings Volume 5491, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.549955

KEYWORDS: Stars, Calibration, Observatories, Interferometry, Interferometers, Binary data, Visualization, Speckle interferometry, Systems modeling

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Proceedings Article | 20 October 2004 Paper

NPOI: recent technology and science

James Benson, Donald Hutter, Kenneth Johnston, Robert Zavala, Nathaniel White, Thomas Pauls, G. Gilbreath, J. Armstrong, Robert Hindsley

Proceedings Volume 5491, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.550957

KEYWORDS: Metrology, Stars, Mirrors, Optical alignment, Observatories, Interferometers, Beryllium, Aluminium phosphide, Prototyping, Time metrology

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Proceedings Article | 20 October 2004 Paper

Resolving the effects of rotation in early type stars

Deane Peterson, Christian Hummel, Thomas Pauls, J. Armstrong, James Benson, G. Gilbreath, Robert Hindsley, Donald Hutter, David Mozurkewich

Proceedings Volume 5491, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.552020

KEYWORDS: Stars, Atmospheric modeling, Solids, Data modeling, Phase measurement, Calibration, Observatories, Analytical research, Interferometers, Physics

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Proceedings Article | 20 October 2004 Paper

Coherent integration of NPOI phase closure data on Altair

Christian Hummel, David Mozurkewich, James Benson, Deane Peterson

Proceedings Volume 5491, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.550806

KEYWORDS: Data modeling, Calibration, Visibility, Stars, Interferometers, Data integration, Signal to noise ratio, Spectrometers, Observatories, Phase measurement

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Proceedings Article | 21 February 2003 Paper

Simulated multibeam observations of Be stars in the H-alpha line using the Navy prototype optical interferometer

G. Charmaine Gilbreath, Thomas Pauls, J. Thomas Armstrong, David Mozurkewich, James Benson, Robert Hindsley, Daniel Driscoll

Proceedings Volume 4838, (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.459683

KEYWORDS: Beryllium, Stars, Interferometers, Image restoration, Prototyping, Optical filters, Data modeling, Point spread functions, Observatories, Image filtering

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Proceedings Article | 21 February 2003 Paper

NPOI: progress report

David Mozurkewich, James Benson, Donald Hutter

Proceedings Volume 4838, (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.457028

KEYWORDS: Mirrors, Sensors, Stars, Calibration, Switches, Observatories, Light emitting diodes, Charge-coupled devices, Visibility, Prototyping

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Proceedings Article | 21 February 2003 Paper

Coherent integration using phase bootstrapping

Christian Hummel, David Mozurkewich, James Benson, Markus Wittkowski

Proceedings Volume 4838, (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.459143

KEYWORDS: Visibility, Signal to noise ratio, Algorithm development, Atmospheric modeling, Observatories, Data integration, Detection and tracking algorithms, Data modeling, Interferometers, Stars

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Proceedings Article | 21 February 2003 Paper

Simultaneous 6-station observations with the NPOI

James Benson, Christian Hummel, David Mozurkewich

Proceedings Volume 4838, (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.459322

KEYWORDS: Spectrometers, Stars, Visibility, Calibration, Photon counting, Sensors, Detection and tracking algorithms, Avalanche photodetectors, Interferometers, Electronics

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Proceedings Article | 2 January 2002 Paper

Operational experience with the Navy Prototype Optical Interferometer (NPOI)

Nathaniel White, David Mozurkewich, Donald Hutter, James Benson, Christian Hummel, James Clark

Proceedings Volume 4844, (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.460763

KEYWORDS: Interferometers, Mirrors, Prototyping, Optical alignment, Stars, Telescopes, Electronics, Observatories, Control systems, Optical tracking

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Proceedings Article | 24 July 1998 Paper

Active optical fringe tracking at the NPOI

James Benson, David Mozurkewich, Stuart Jefferies

Proceedings Volume 3350, (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.317117

KEYWORDS: Modulation, Photon counting, Spectrometers, Optical tracking, Visibility, Fourier transforms, Active optics, Ocean optics, Analytical research, Phase shift keying

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Proceedings Article | 24 July 1998 Paper

Observations of stellar limb darkening with the Navy Prototype Optical Interferometer

Thomas Pauls, David Mozurkewich, J. Thomas Armstrong, Christian Hummel, James Benson, Arsen Hajian

Proceedings Volume 3350, (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.317112

KEYWORDS: Stars, Interferometers, Spatial frequencies, Data modeling, Visibility, Atmospheric modeling, Prototyping, Ocean optics, Phase measurement, Observatories

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Proceedings Article | 14 June 1995 Paper

Fibered recombination unit for the Infrared-Optical Telescope Array

Guy Perrin, Vincent Coude du Foresto, Stephen Ridgway, Jean-Marie Mariotti, James Benson

Proceedings Volume 2476, (1995) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.211845

KEYWORDS: Interferometers, Telescopes, Visibility, Sensors, Infrared telescopes, Observatories, Single mode fibers, Interferometry, Mirrors, Infrared radiation

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Proceedings Article | 9 June 1994 Paper

Current status of the IOTA interferometer

Nathaniel Carleton, Wesley Traub, Marc Lacasse, Peter Nisenson, Michael Pearlman, Robert Reasenberg, Xinqi Xu, Charles Coldwell, Alexander Panasyuk, James Benson, Costas Papaliolios, Read Predmore, F. Peter Schloerb, H. Dyck, David Gibson

Proceedings Volume 2200, (1994) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.177236

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Mirrors, Sensors, Beam splitters, Infrared radiation, Stars, Visibility, Interferometry, Infrared telescopes, Visible radiation

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The first two telescopes of the Infrared-Optical Telescope Array (IOTA) project are now in place and yielding data at the Smithsonian Institution's F. L. Whipple Observatory on Mt. Hopkins, near Tucson, Arizona. The IOTA collectors are 45 cm in diameter, and may be moved to various stations in an L-shaped configuration with a maximum baseline of 38 m. A third collector will be added as soon as funding permits. Each light-collector assembly consists of a siderostat feeding a stationary afocal Cassegrain telescope that produces a 10-X reduced parallel beam, which is in turn directed vertically downward by a piezo-driven active mirror that stabilizes the ultimate image position. The reduced beams enter an evacuated envelope and proceed to the corner of the array, where they are turned back along one arm for path compensation. The delay line, in one beam, consists of two parts: one dihedral reflector positioned in a slew-and-clamp mode to give the major part of the desired delay; and a second dihedral mounted on an air-bearing carriage to provide the variable delay that is needed. After delay, the beams exit from the vacuum and are directed by dichroic mirrors into the infrared beam-combination and detection system. The visible light passes on to another area, to the image-tracker detectors and the visible-light combination and detection system. The beams are combined in pupil-plane mode on beam splitters. The combined IR beams are conveyed to two cooled single-element InSb detectors. The combined visible-light beams are focussed by lenslet arrays onto multimode optical fibers that lead to the slit of a specially-designed prism spectrometer. For the visible mode, the delay line is run at several wavelengths on one side of the zero- path point, so that several cycles of interference occur across the spectrum. First results were obtained with the IR system, giving visibilities for several K and M stars, using 2.2 micrometers radiation on a N-S baseline of 21.2 m. From these measurements we obtained preliminary estimates of effective stellar diameters in the K band.

Proceedings Article | 1 August 1990 Paper

Recent progress on the infrared Michelson array

H. Dyck, James Benson, William Mason, Stephen Ridgway, Robert Howell

Proceedings Volume 1237, (1990) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.19280

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Infrared radiation, Astronomy, Interferometers, Visibility, Space telescopes, Interferometry, Calibration, Sensors, Fringe analysis

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Proceedings Article | 1 August 1990 Paper

Control and data acquisition with an infrared Michelson interferometer

James Benson, Amrish Patel, Robert Howell, H. Dyck

Proceedings Volume 1237, (1990) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.19281

KEYWORDS: Control systems, Clocks, Interferometry, Space telescopes, Telescopes, Infrared radiation, Data acquisition, Computing systems, Stars, Michelson interferometers

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Showing 5 of 35 publications

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