377 research outputs found
Stellar and Molecular Radii of a Mira Star: First Observations with the Keck Interferometer Grism
Using a new grism at the Keck Interferometer, we obtained spectrally
dispersed (R ~ 230) interferometric measurements of the Mira star R Vir. These
data show that the measured radius of the emission varies substantially from
2.0-2.4 microns. Simple models can reproduce these wavelength-dependent
variations using extended molecular layers, which absorb stellar radiation and
re-emit it at longer wavelengths. Because we observe spectral regions with and
without substantial molecular opacity, we determine the stellar photospheric
radius, uncontaminated by molecular emission. We infer that most of the
molecular opacity arises at approximately twice the radius of the stellar
photosphere.Comment: 12 pages, including 3 figures. Accepted by ApJ
First L-band Interferometric Observations of a Young Stellar Object: Probing the Circumstellar Environment of MWC 419
We present spatially-resolved K- and L-band spectra (at spectral resolution R
= 230 and R = 60, respectively) of MWC 419, a Herbig Ae/Be star. The data were
obtained simultaneously with a new configuration of the 85-m baseline Keck
Interferometer. Our observations are sensitive to the radial distribution of
temperature in the inner region of the disk of MWC 419. We fit the visibility
data with both simple geometric and more physical disk models. The geometric
models (uniform disk and Gaussian) show that the apparent size increases
linearly with wavelength in the 2-4 microns wavelength region, suggesting that
the disk is extended with a temperature gradient. A model having a power-law
temperature gradient with radius simultaneously fits our interferometric
measurements and the spectral energy distribution data from the literature. The
slope of the power-law is close to that expected from an optically thick disk.
Our spectrally dispersed interferometric measurements include the Br gamma
emission line. The measured disk size at and around Br gamma suggests that
emitting hydrogen gas is located inside (or within the inner regions) of the
dust disk.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap
New insights on the AU-scale circumstellar structure of FU Orionis
We report new near-infrared, long-baseline interferometric observations at
the AU scale of the pre-main-sequence star FU Orionis with the PTI, IOTA and
VLTI interferometers. This young stellar object has been observed on 42 nights
over a period of 6 years from 1998 to 2003. We have obtained 287 independent
measurements of the fringe visibility with 6 different baselines ranging from
20 to 110 meters in length, in the H and K bands. Our extensive (u,v)-plane
coverage, coupled with the published spectral energy distribution data, allows
us to test the accretion disk scenario. We find that the most probable
explanation for these observations is that FU Ori hosts an active accretion
disk whose temperature law is consistent with standard models. We are able to
constrain the geometry of the disk, including an inclination of 55 deg and a
position angle of 47 deg. In addition, a 10 percent peak-to-peak oscillation is
detected in the data (at the two-sigma level) from the longest baselines, which
we interpret as a possible disk hot-spot or companion. However, the oscillation
in our best data set is best explained with an unresolved spot located at a
projected distance of 10 AU at the 130 deg position angle and with a magnitude
difference of DeltaK = 3.9 and DeltaH = 3.6 mag moving away from the center at
a rate of 1.2 AU/yr. we propose to interpret this spot as the signature of a
companion of the central FU Ori system on an extremely eccentric orbit. We
speculate that the close encounter of this putative companion and the central
star could be the explanation of the initial photometric rise of the luminosity
of this object
Science with the Keck Interferometer ASTRA Program
The ASTrometric and phase-Referenced Astronomy (ASTRA) project will provide
phase referencing and astrometric observations at the Keck Interferometer,
leading to enhanced sensitivity and the ability to monitor orbits at an
accuracy level of 30-100 microarcseconds. Here we discuss recent scientific
results from ASTRA, and describe new scientific programs that will begin in
2010-2011. We begin with results from the "self phase referencing" (SPR) mode
of ASTRA, which uses continuum light to correct atmospheric phase variations
and produce a phase-stabilized channel for spectroscopy. We have observed a
number of protoplanetary disks using SPR and a grism providing a spectral
dispersion of ~2000. In our data we spatially resolve emission from dust as
well as gas. Hydrogen line emission is spectrally resolved, allowing
differential phase measurements across the emission line that constrain the
relative centroids of different velocity components at the 10 microarcsecond
level. In the upcoming year, we will begin dual-field phase referencing (DFPR)
measurements of the Galactic Center and a number of exoplanet systems. These
observations will, in part, serve as precursors to astrometric monitoring of
stellar orbits in the Galactic Center and stellar wobbles of exoplanet host
stars. We describe the design of several scientific investigations capitalizing
on the upcoming phase-referencing and astrometric capabilities of ASTRA.Comment: Published in the proceedings of the SPIE 2010 conference on "Optical
and Infrared Interferometry II
Palomar Testbed Interferometer: update
The Palomar Testbed Interferometer is a long-baseline near- infrared interferometer operating at Palomar Observatory, CA. The interferometer has a maximum baseline of 110 m, 40-cm collecting apertures, and active fringe tracking. It also incorporates a dual-star architecture to enable cophasing and narrow-angle astrometry.
We will discuss recent system improvements and engineering results. These include upgrades to allow for longer coherent integration times, H band operation, and cophasing using delay line feedforward. Recent engineering tests of astrometry in dual-star mode have shown a night-to-night repeatability of 100 µas on a bright test target. Several new observation planning tools have been developed, and data reduction tools have been automated to allow fully pipelined nightly reductions and archiving
Thermoreflectance investigation of the antiferromagnetic and paramagnetic phases of Cr
Thermoreflectance measurements have been performed on Cr single crystals at several temperatures above and below the Néel temperature. We observe dramatic changes induced by the magnetic phase transition. In contrast, static optical data fail to show appreciable differences in the (0.5-5.0)-eV photon-energy range. Magnetic ordering gives rise to the disappearance of transitions involving specific regions of the Fermi surface. New critical-point absorptions appear at the boundaries of the new Brillouin zone in antiferromagnetic Cr. Most of the observed experimental features have been identified by comparison with recent band-structure calculations
Masses, Luminosities, and Orbital Coplanarities of the mu Orionis Quadruple Star System from PHASES Differential Astrometry
mu Orionis was identified by spectroscopic studies as a quadruple star
system. Seventeen high precision differential astrometry measurements of mu Ori
have been collected by the Palomar High-precision Astrometric Search for
Exoplanet Systems (PHASES). These show both the motion of the long period
binary orbit and short period perturbations superimposed on that caused by each
of the components in the long period system being themselves binaries. The new
measurements enable the orientations of the long period binary and short period
subsystems to be determined. Recent theoretical work predicts the distribution
of relative inclinations between inner and outer orbits of hierarchical systems
to peak near 40 and 140 degrees. The degree of coplanarity of this complex
system is determined, and the angle between the planes of the A-B and Aa-Ab
orbits is found to be 136.7 +/- 8.3 degrees, near the predicted distribution
peak at 140 degrees; this result is discussed in the context of the handful of
systems with established mutual inclinations. The system distance and masses
for each component are obtained from a combined fit of the PHASES astrometry
and archival radial velocity observations. The component masses have relative
precisions of 5% (component Aa), 15% (Ab), and 1.4% (each of Ba and Bb). The
median size of the minor axes of the uncertainty ellipses for the new
measurements is 20 micro-arcseconds. Updated orbits for delta Equulei, kappa
Pegasi, and V819 Herculis are also presented.Comment: 12 Pages, Accepted for publication in A
First Keck Nulling Observations of a Young Stellar Object: Probing the Circumstellar Environment of the Herbig Ae star MWC 325
We present the first N-band nulling plus K- and L-band V2 observations of a
young stellar object, MWC325, taken with the 85 m baseline Keck Interferometer.
The Keck nuller was designed for the study of faint dust signatures associated
with debris disks, but it also has a unique capability for studying the
temperature and density distribution of denser disks found around young stellar
objects. Interferometric observations of MWC 325 at K, L and N encompass a
factor of five in spectral range and thus, especially when spectrally dispersed
within each band, enable characterization of the structure of the inner disk
regions where planets form. Fitting our observations with geometric models such
as a uniform disk or a Gaussian disk show that the apparent size increases
monotonically with wavelength in the 2-12 um wavelength region, confirming the
widely held assumption based on radiative transfer models, now with spatially
resolved measurements over broad wavelength range, that disks are extended with
a temperature gradient. The effective size is a factor of about 1.3 and 2
larger in the L-band and N-band, respectively, compared to that in the K-band.
The existing interferometric measurements and the spectral energy distribution
can be reproduced by a flat disk or a weakly-shadowed nearly flat-disk model,
with only slight flaring in the outer regions of the disk, consisting of
representative "sub-micron" (0.1 um) and "micron" (2 um) grains of a 50:50
ratio of silicate and graphite. This is marked contrast with the disks
previously found in other Herbig Ae/Be stars suggesting a wide variety in the
disk properties among Herbig Ae/Be stars.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Ap
Astrometry with the Keck-Interferometer: the ASTRA project and its science
The sensitivity and astrometry upgrade ASTRA of the Keck Interferometer is
introduced. After a brief overview of the underlying interferometric
principles, the technology and concepts of the upgrade are presented. The
interferometric dual-field technology of ASTRA will provide the KI with the
means to observe two objects simultaneously, and measure the distance between
them with a precision eventually better than 100 uas. This astrometric
functionality of ASTRA will add a unique observing tool to fields of
astrophysical research as diverse as exo-planetary kinematics, binary
astrometry, and the investigation of stars accelerated by the massive black
hole in the center of the Milky Way as discussed in this contribution.Comment: 22 pages, 10 figures (low resolution), contribution to the
summerschool "Astrometry and Imaging with the Very Large Telescope
Interferometer", 2 - 13 June, 2008, Keszthely, Hungary, corrected authorlis
Palomar testbed interferometer status report
We discuss recent work from the Palomar Testbed Interferometer (PTI), including science results and system improvements. In the past two years PTI has been used to observe a wide range of scientifically interesting sources, including binaries, Cepheids and Miras. In addition PTI has been used to observe departures from spherical symmetry in several stars. Recent system improvements incude a new low read-noise camera based on a HAWAII infrared array, routine opteration in two baselines, and operation in the J band. Future developments include an upgrade to three-aperture combination and closure phase measurements, and double-Fourier interferometry
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