Long-baseline Michelson interferometry with large ground-based telescopes operating at optical wavelengths. I. General formalism. Interferometry at visible wavelengths

Present knowledge on long baseline interferometry with large telescopes is reviewed, and reasonable estimates are made of the performances which may be expected in the visible range using this technique. The general formalism of this interferometric scheme is discussed, with a detailed examination of aperture size effects. The time and chromatic dependences are presented. Michelson interferometry at visible wavelengths is addressed, including the estimation of the image energy spectrum and of the limiting magnitude, the limits of present technology, and the potential of the technique.