First laboratory results from FOURIER, the initial science combiner at the MROI

We present the design and testing of FOURIER, the first generation science beam combiner for the MROI. FOURIER is a three-way, J, H and K band image plane combiner which is designed primarily for observations at faint limiting magnitudes. We outline the main science requirements and discuss how the design of FOURIER contributes to meeting these requirements. We present the first laboratory characterisation of the instrument including validation of the PSF profile, demonstration of high contrast fringes, and the spectral resolution of the instrument, all of which show promising results. We conclude by discussing the path to deployment of FOURIER at the MROI ahead of the first science observation at the array.