VLTI Delay Lines (December 2000)

eso0105b shows the Delay Lines of the VLT Interferometer facility at Paranal during tests. One of the carriages is moving on 66-metre long rectified rails, driven by a linear motor. The carriage is equipped with three wheels in order to preserve high guidance accuracy. Another important element is the Cat''s Eye that reflects the light from the telescope to the VLT instrumentation. This optical system is made of aluminium (including the mirrors) to avoid thermo-mechanical problems.