Dr. Van D. Romero Profile

Dr. Van D. Romero

Vice President at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

SPIE Involvement:

Author

Publications (17)

Proceedings Article | 28 August 2024 Presentation + Paper

Presentation + Paper

Performance verification results for the Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer (MROI)

Christopher Haniff, James Luis, David Buscher, Martin Fisher, Eugene Seneta, John Young, Donald M. Wilson, Juan Altamirano, Michelle Creech-Eakman, Melanie Giron, Jeffrey Mason, Hamed Momemi, Siavash Norouzi, Andres Olivares, Juan Pino, Van Romero, Chris Salcido, Rafael Santoro, Ian Schofield

Proceedings Volume 13095, 130950H (2024) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3021202

KEYWORDS: Mirrors, Education and training, Beam path, Relays, Beam diameter, Telescopes, Optical components, Design, Beam combiners, Signal to noise ratio

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Proceedings Article | 28 August 2024 Paper

Paper

Recent progress with the Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer project

M. Creech-Eakman, V. Romero, C. Haniff, D. Buscher, J. Young, A. Olivares, C. Salcido, J. Altamirano, J. P. L. Barrios, R. Collins, W. Cook, A. Farris, M. Fisher, D. Frothingham, C. Gino, J. Giron, M. Giron, A. Haque, J. Hernandez, A. Jorgensen, L. Loskamp, J. J. Luis, J. Mason, H. Momeni, S. Norouzi, R. Norris, G. Owens, J. Pino, S. Rochelle, R. Santoro, I. Schofield, E. Seneta, J. Tilton, D. Wilson

Proceedings Volume 13095, 130950G (2024) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3021250

KEYWORDS: Domes, Telescopes, Mirrors, Vacuum, Pipes, Polishing, Astronomical interferometers, Sensors, Magdalena Ridge Observatory, Design, Analog to digital converters

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Proceedings Article | 29 August 2022 Presentation + Paper

Presentation + Paper

The Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer: upcoming important milestones towards first fringes

M. Creech-Eakman, V. Romero, C. Haniff, D. Buscher, J. Young, C. Salcido, G. Chavez, R. Collins, W. Cook, C. Gino, J. Giron, A. Farris, R. Norris, J. Pino, E. Seneta, X. Sun, J. J. Luis, D. Mortimer, I. Ahmed, D. Frothingham, J. Mason, H. Momeni, D. Neal, S. Norouzi, G. Owens, J. Verner, V. Gamiz, G. Crockett

Proceedings Volume 12183, 1218305 (2022) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2630694

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Interferometers, Software development, Magdalena Ridge Observatory, Infrared telescopes, Electronics, Optical tracking, Long baseline optical interferometry, Infrared imaging

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Proceedings Article | 13 December 2020 Presentation + Paper

Presentation + Paper

Setting the stage for first fringes with the Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer

M. Creech-Eakman, V. Romero, C. Haniff, D. Buscher, J. Young, A. Olivares, E. Ligon, I. Payne, B. Avila, S. Blevins, N. Chowdhury, R. Collins, C. Dahl, D. Das Roy, J. Dooley, D. Etscorn, S. Etscorn, A. Farris, M. Fisher, E. Garcia, M. Gabaldon, C. Gino, R. Halder, O. Hosseini, B. Jaynes, L. Jencka, P. Johnston, S. Jojola, J. Luis, J. Maes, W. Martin, T. Matthews, C. McKeen, S. Mohammadi, D. Mortimer, S. Norouzi, D. Ochoa, B. Panta, J. Pino, I. Salayandia, C. Salcido, A. Sanchez, F. Santoro, E. B. Seneta, X. Sun, D. Wilson, J. Wolfram

Proceedings Volume 11446, 1144609 (2020) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2563173

KEYWORDS: Interferometers, Magdalena Ridge Observatory, Telescopes, Infrared telescopes, Infrared imaging, Infrared radiation, Optical instrument design, Beam controllers, Control systems, Sensors

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Proceedings Article | 9 July 2018 Presentation + Paper

Presentation + Paper

The Magdalena Ridge Observatory interferometer: first light and deployment of the first telescope on the array

M. Creech-Eakman, V. Romero, I. Payne, C. Haniff, D. Buscher, J. Young, F. Santoro, R. Blasi, C. Dahl, J. Dooley, D. Etscorn, A. Farris, M. Fisher, E. Garcia, C. Gino, B. Jaynes, L. Jencka, P. Johnston, C. Jurgenson, R. Kelly, D. Klinglesmith, E. R. Ligon, J. Luis, T. McCracken, C. McKeen, D. Mortimer, D. Ochoa, A. Olivares, J. Pino, C. Salcido, L. Schmidt, E. Seneta, X. Sun, D. Wilson

Proceedings Volume 10701, 1070106 (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2314155

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Space telescopes, Interferometers, Mirrors, Interferometry, Sensors, Relays, Optical instrument design, Magdalena Ridge Observatory, Reflector telescopes

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The Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer (MROI) has been under development for almost two decades. Initial funding for the facility started before the year 2000 under the Army and then Navy, and continues today through the Air Force Research Laboratory. With a projected total cost of substantially less than $200M, it represents the least expensive way to produce sub-milliarcsecond optical/near-infrared images that the astronomical community could invest in during the modern era, as compared, for instance, to extremely large telescopes or space interferometers. The MROI, when completed, will be comprised of 10 x1.4m diameter telescopes distributed on a Y-shaped array such that it will have access to spatial scales ranging from about 40 milliarcseconds down to less than 0.5 milliarcseconds. While this type of resolution is not unprecedented in the astronomical community, the ability to track fringes on and produce images of complex targets approximately 5 magnitudes fainter than is done today represents a substantial step forward. All this will be accomplished using a variety of approaches detailed in several papers from our team over the years. Together, these two factors, multiple telescopes deployed over very long-baselines coupled with fainter limiting magnitudes, will allow MROI to conduct science on a wide range and statistically meaningful samples of targets. These include pulsating and rapidly rotating stars, mass-loss via accretion and mass-transfer in interacting systems, and the highly-active environments surrounding black holes at the centers of more than 100 external galaxies. This represents a subsample of what is sure to be a tremendous and serendipitous list of science cases as we move ahead into the era of new space telescopes and synoptic surveys. Additional investigations into imaging man-made objects will be undertaken, which are of particular interest to the defense and space-industry communities as more human endeavors are moved into the space environment.

In 2016 the first MROI telescope was delivered and deployed at Magdalena Ridge in the maintenance facility. Having undergone initial check-out and fitting the system with optics and a fast tip-tilt system, we eagerly anticipate installing the telescope enclosure in 2018. The telescope and enclosure will be integrated at the facility and moved to the center of the interferometric array by late summer of 2018 with a demonstration of the performance of an entire beamline from telescope to beam combiner table shortly thereafter. At this point, deploying two more telescopes and demonstrating fringe-tracking, bootstrapping and limiting magnitudes for the facility will prove the full promise of MROI. A complete status update of all subsystems follows in the paper, as well as discussions of potential collaborative initiatives.

Proceedings Article | 4 August 2016 Paper

Paper

A new path to first light for the Magdalena Ridge Observatory interferometer

M. Creech-Eakman, V. Romero, I. Payne, C. Haniff, D. Buscher, J. Young, R. Cervantes, C. Dahl, A. Farris, M. Fisher, P. Johnston, D. Klinglesmith, H. Love, D. Ochoa, A. Olivares, J. Pino, C. Salcido, F. Santoro, L. Schmidt, E. Seneta, X. Sun, L. Jenka, R. Kelly, J. Price, A. Rea, J. Riker, S. Rochelle

Proceedings Volume 9907, 990705 (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2233910

KEYWORDS: Interferometry, Magdalena Ridge Observatory, Interferometers, Space telescopes, Telescopes, Situational awareness sensors, Space telescopes, Telescopes, Relays, Infrared radiation, Interfaces, Sensors

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The Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer (MROI) was the most ambitious infrared interferometric facility conceived of in 2003 when funding began. Today, despite having suffered some financial short-falls, it is still one of the most ambitious interferometric imaging facilities ever designed. With an innovative approach to attaining the original goal of fringe tracking to H = 14^th magnitude via completely redesigned mobile telescopes, and a unique approach to the beam train and delay lines, the MROI will be able to image faint and complex objects with milliarcsecond resolutions for a fraction of the cost of giant telescopes or space-based facilities. The design goals of MROI have been optimized for studying stellar astrophysical processes such as mass loss and mass transfer, the formation and evolution of YSOs and their disks, and the environs of nearby AGN.

The global needs for Space Situational Awareness (SSA) have moved to the forefront in many communities as Space becomes a more integral part of a national security portfolio. These needs drive imaging capabilities ultimately to a few tens of centimeter resolution at geosynchronous orbits. Any array capable of producing images on faint and complex geosynchronous objects in just a few hours will be outstanding not only as an astrophysical tool, but also for these types of SSA missions. With the recent infusion of new funding from the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) in Albuquerque, NM, MROI will be able to attain first light, first fringes, and demonstrate bootstrapping with three telescopes by 2020.

MROI’s current status along with a sketch of our activities over the coming 5 years will be presented, as well as clear opportunities to collaborate on various aspects of the facility as it comes online. Further funding is actively being sought to accelerate the capability of the array for interferometric imaging on a short time-scale so as to achieve the original goals of this ambitious facility

Proceedings Article | 24 July 2014 Paper

Paper

Magdalena Ridge Observatory interferometer: 2014 status update

M. Creech-Eakman, V. Romero, I. Payne, C. Haniff, D. Buscher, C. Dahl, A. Farris, M. Fisher, C. Jurgenson, D. Klinglesmith, T. McCracken, M. Napolitano, A. Olivares, J. Riker, S. Rochelle, C. Salcido, F. Santoro, L. Schmidt, R. Selina, E. Seneta, A. Shtromberg, X. Sun, D.M.A. Wilson, J. Young

Proceedings Volume 9146, 91460H (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2057331

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Interferometers, Magdalena Ridge Observatory, Mirrors, Space telescopes, Observatories, Relays, Optical alignment, Prototyping, Optical instrument design

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Proceedings Article | 12 September 2012 Paper

Paper

The Magdalena Ridge Observatory interferometer: a status update

M. Creech-Eakman, V. Romero, I. Payne, C. Haniff, D. Buscher, V. Alvidrez, C. Dahl, J. Deninger, A. Farris, S. Jimenez, C. Jurgenson, R. King, D. Klinglesmith, T. McCracken, A. Olivares, C. Salcido, Fernando Santoro, John Seamons, Robert Selina, Alisa Shtromberg, J Steenson, Nick Torres, Martin Fisher, E. Seneta, X. Sun, D. Wilson, John Young

Proceedings Volume 8445, 84450P (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.926516

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Interferometers, Magdalena Ridge Observatory, Relays, Mirrors, Observatories, Prototyping, Computing systems, Optical alignment, Space telescopes

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Proceedings Article | 12 September 2012 Paper

Paper

The MROI's capabilities for imaging geosynchronous satellites

John Young, Christopher Haniff, David Buscher, Michelle Creech-Eakman, Ifan Payne, Colby Jurgenson, Van Romero

Proceedings Volume 8445, 84452N (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.926161

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Satellites, Interferometers, Satellite imaging, Interferometry, Solar cells, Space telescopes, K band, Signal to noise ratio, Image restoration

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Proceedings Article | 22 July 2010 Paper

Paper

Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer: advancing to first light and new science

M. Creech-Eakman, V. Romero, I. Payne, C. Haniff, D. Buscher, C. Aitken, C. Anderson, E. Bakker, T. Coleman, C. Dahl, A. Farris, S. Jiminez, C. Jurgenson, R. King, D. Klinglesmith, K. McCord, T. McCracken, K. Nyland, A. Olivares, M. Richmond, M. Romero, C. Salcido, J. Sandoval, F. Santoro, J. Seamons, R. Selina, A. Shtromberg, J. Steenson, N. Torres, D. Westpfahl, F. Baron, M. Fisher, E. Seneta, X. Sun, D. Wilson, J. Young

Proceedings Volume 7734, 773406 (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.857359

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Interferometers, Magdalena Ridge Observatory, Neodymium, Observatories, Sensors, Mirrors, Infrared radiation, Wavefronts, Field emission displays

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Proceedings Article | 28 July 2008 Paper

Paper

Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer: progress toward first light

M. Creech-Eakman, V. Romero, D. Westpfahl, C. Cormier, C. Haniff, D. Buscher, E. Bakker, L. Berger, E. Block, T. Coleman, P. Festler, C. Jurgenson, R. King, D. Klinglesmith, K. McCord, A. Olivares, C. Parameswariah, I. Payne, T. Paz, E. Ryan, C. Salcido, F. Santoro, R. Selina, A. Shtromberg, J. Steenson, F. Baron, R. Boysen, J. Coyne, M. Fisher, E. Seneta, X. Sun, N. Thureau, D. Wilson, J. Young

Proceedings Volume 7013, 70130X (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.789859

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Interferometers, Sensors, Magdalena Ridge Observatory, Observatories, Optical instrument design, Buildings, Mirrors, Infrared telescopes, Interferometry

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Proceedings Article | 28 June 2006 Paper

Paper

Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer: status update

M. Creech-Eakman, E. Bakker, D. Buscher, T. Coleman, C. Haniff, C. Jurgenson, D. Klinglesmith, C. Parameswariah, V. Romero, A. Shtromberg, J. Young

Proceedings Volume 6268, 62681V (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.672643

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Interferometers, Cameras, Magdalena Ridge Observatory, Infrared radiation, Imaging systems, Sensors, Observatories, Optical instrument design, Simulation of CCA and DLA aggregates

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Proceedings Article | 18 May 2006 Paper

Paper

An optical-fiber-based microsensor for explosives detection

Graham Walsh, Cunqiang Sun, Hai Xiao, Ning Liu, Junhang Dong, Van Romero

Proceedings Volume 6217, 62171L (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.665572

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Zeolites, Optical fibers, Explosives detection, Microsensors, Explosives, Molecules, Adsorption, Helium, Crystals

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Proceedings Article | 20 October 2004 Paper

Paper

The Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer: a fully optimized aperture synthesis array for imaging

Michelle Creech-Eakman, David Buscher, Christopher Haniff, Van Romero

Proceedings Volume 5491, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.552115

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Interferometers, Sensors, Imaging arrays, Magdalena Ridge Observatory, Stars, Interferometry, Cameras, Optical instrument design, Galactic astronomy

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Proceedings Article | 28 September 2004 Paper

Paper

Lessons learned from the environmental impact statement of the Magdalena Ridge Observatory

David Westpfahl, Van Romero

Proceedings Volume 5489, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.550969

KEYWORDS: Magdalena Ridge Observatory, Observatories, Mining, Visualization, Beryllium, Agriculture, Lead, Geology, Soil science, Minerals

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Proceedings Article | 5 July 2000 Paper

Paper

The Magdalena Ridge Observatory: a look ahead

David Westpfahl, Gary Loos, Van Romero, Jeffrey Friedman

Proceedings Volume 4006, (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.390199

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Space telescopes, Magdalena Ridge Observatory, Observatories, Interferometry, Missiles, Astronomy, Interferometers, Infrared radiation, Adaptive optics

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Proceedings Article | 28 December 1998 Paper

Paper

Creation of security engineering programs by the Southwest Surety Institute

Van Romero, Bradley Rogers, Tim Winfree, Dan Walsh, Mary Lynn Garcia

Proceedings Volume 3575, (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.334993

KEYWORDS: Explosives, Security technologies, Information security, Computer security, Analytical research, Defense and security, Telecommunications, Safety, Systems modeling, Computing systems

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Showing 5 of 17 publications

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