Ground-based optical interferometry: A practical primer

In the opening chapters of this volume we have been introduced to some of the theoretical bases of ground-based optical/IR interferometry. In this paper, we take a look at the subject again, but with a focus on how the conceptual ideas described before can be implemented in practice. For astronomical users of the VLTI, some familiarity with these ideas is beneficial from the point of view of planning interferometric observations and in understanding what limitations different hardware implementations may give rise to. As in my earlier chapter, this treatment will be brief, but will draw attention to a number of the key underlying principles.