3,965 research outputs found
Multi-epoch Near-Infrared Interferometry of the Spatially Resolved Disk Around the Be Star Zeta Tau
We present interferometric observations of the Be star Zeta Tau obtained
using the MIRC beam combiner at the CHARA Array. We resolved the disk during
four epochs in 2007-2009. We fit the data with a geometric model to
characterize the circumstellar disk as a skewed elliptical Gaussian and the
central Be star as a uniform disk. The visibilities reveal a nearly edge-on
disk with a FWHM major axis of ~ 1.8 mas in the H-band. The non-zero closure
phases indicate an asymmetry within the disk. Interestingly, when combining our
results with previously published interferometric observations of Zeta Tau, we
find a correlation between the position angle of the disk and the spectroscopic
V/R ratio, suggesting that the tilt of the disk is precessing. This work is
part of a multi-year monitoring campaign to investigate the development and
outward motion of asymmetric structures in the disks of Be stars.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journal. 27 pages, 7
Figure
Imaging the spotty surface of Betelgeuse in the H band
This paper reports on H-band interferometric observations of Betelgeuse made
at the three-telescope interferometer IOTA. We image Betelgeuse and its
asymmetries to understand the spatial variation of the photosphere, including
its diameter, limb darkening, effective temperature, surrounding brightness,
and bright (or dark) star spots. We used different theoretical simulations of
the photosphere and dusty environment to model the visibility data. We made
images with parametric modeling and two image reconstruction algorithms: MIRA
and WISARD. We measure an average limb-darkened diameter of 44.28 +/- 0.15 mas
with linear and quadratic models and a Rosseland diameter of 45.03 +/- 0.12 mas
with a MARCS model. These measurements lead us to derive an updated effective
temperature of 3600 +/- 66 K. We detect a fully-resolved environment to which
the silicate dust shell is likely to contribute. By using two imaging
reconstruction algorithms, we unveiled two bright spots on the surface of
Betelgeuse. One spot has a diameter of about 11 mas and accounts for about 8.5%
of the total flux. The second one is unresolved (diameter < 9 mas) with 4.5% of
the total flux. Resolved images of Betelgeuse in the H band are asymmetric at
the level of a few percent. The MOLsphere is not detected in this wavelength
range. The amount of measured limb-darkening is in good agreement with model
predictions. The two spots imaged at the surface of the star are potential
signatures of convective cells.Comment: 10 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in A&A, references
adde
Optical Interferometry of early-type stars with PAVO@CHARA. I. Fundamental stellar properties
We present interferometric observations of 7 main-sequence and 3 giant stars
with spectral types from B2 to F6 using the PAVO beam combiner at the CHARA
array. We have directly determined the angular diameters for these objects with
an average precision of 2.3%. We have also computed bolometric fluxes using
available photometry in the visible and infrared wavelengths, as well as
space-based ultraviolet spectroscopy. Combined with precise \textit{Hipparcos}
parallaxes, we have derived a set of fundamental stellar properties including
linear radius, luminosity and effective temperature. Fitting the latter to
computed isochrone models, we have inferred masses and ages of the stars. The
effective temperatures obtained are in good agreement (at a 3% level) with
nearly-independent temperature estimations from spectroscopy. They validate
recent sixth-order polynomial (B-V)- empirical relations
\citep{Boyajian2012a}, but suggest that a more conservative third-order
solution \citep{vanBelle2009} could adequately describe the
(V-K)- relation for main-sequence stars of spectral type A0 and
later. Finally, we have compared mass values obtained combining surface gravity
with inferred stellar radius (\textit{gravity mass}) and as a result of the
comparison of computed luminosity and temperature values with stellar
evolutionary models (\textit{isochrone mass}). The strong discrepancy between
isochrone and gravity mass obtained for one of the observed stars,
\,Lyr, suggests that determination of the stellar atmosphere parameters
should be revised.Comment: 13 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA
Control interface concepts for CHARA 6-telescope fringe tracking with CHAMP+MIRC
This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from SPIE via the DOI in this record.Cophasing six telescopes from the CHARA array, the CHARA-Michigan Phasetracker (CHAMP) and Michigan Infrared Combiner (MIRC) are pushing the frontiers of infrared long-baseline interferometric imaging in key scientific areas such as star- and planet-formation. Here we review our concepts and recent improvements on the CHAMP and MIRC control interfaces, which establish the communication to the real-time data recording & fringe tracking code, provide essential performance diagnostics, and assist the observer in the alignment and flux optimization procedure. For fringe detection and tracking with MIRC, we have developed a novel matrix approach, which provides predictions for the fringe positions based on cross-fringe information.This work was performed in part under contract with the California Institute of Technology
(Caltech) funded by NASA through the Sagan Fellowship Program
Assimilation of Remote Sensing Data for River Flows
Abstract. We address the problem of parameters identification and data assimilation for river flows modeled by the 2D St-Venant equations. In practice, available observations are very sparse especially during flood events (very few measurements of elevation at gauging stations in the main channel). We assume we have in addition either surface trajectories extracted from video images (lagrangian data) or space distributed water levels extracted from one satellite image. Then we identify parameters such as the inflow discharge or the topography and/or the initial state (depending on the configuration and the observations available). Numerical twin experiments demonstrate the efficiency of the present method for toy test cases
Imaging the Algol Triple System in H Band with the CHARA Interferometer
Algol (Beta Per) is an extensively studied hierarchical triple system whose
inner pair is a prototype semi-detached binary with mass transfer occurring
from the sub-giant secondary to the main-sequence primary. We present here the
results of our Algol observations made between 2006 and 2010 at the CHARA
interferometer with the Michigan Infrared Combiner in the H band. The use of
four telescopes with long baselines allows us to achieve better than 0.5 mas
resolution and to unambiguously resolve the three stars. The inner and outer
orbital elements, as well as the angular sizes and mass ratios for the three
components are determined independently from previous studies. We report a
significantly improved orbit for the inner stellar pair with the consequence of
a 15% change in the primary mass compared to previous studies. We also
determine the mutual inclination of the orbits to be much closer to
perpendicularity than previously established. State-of-the-art image
reconstruction algorithms are used to image the full triple system. In
particular an image sequence of 55 distinct phases of the inner pair orbit is
reconstructed, clearly showing the Roche-lobe-filling secondary revolving
around the primary, with several epochs corresponding to the primary and
secondary eclipses
The Pulsation of Chi Cygni Imaged by Optical Interferometry; a Novel Technique to Derive Distance and Mass of Mira Stars
We present infrared interferometric imaging of the S-type Mira star Chi
Cygni. The object was observed at four different epochs in 2005-2006 with the
IOTA optical interferometer (H band). Images show up to 40% variation in the
stellar diameter, as well as significant changes in the limb darkening and
stellar inhomogeneities. Model fitting gave precise time-dependent values of
the stellar diameter, and reveals presence and displacement of a warm molecular
layer. The star radius, corrected for limb darkening, has a mean value of 12.1
mas and shows a 5.1mas amplitude pulsation. Minimum diameter was observed at
phase 0.94+/-0.01. Maximum temperature was observed several days later at phase
1.02+/-0.02. We also show that combining the angular acceleration of the
molecular layer with CO (Delta v = 3) radial velocity measurements yields a
5.9+/-1.5 mas parallax. The constant acceleration of the CO molecules -- during
80% of the pulsation cycle -- lead us to argument for a free-falling layer. The
acceleration is compatible with a gravitational field produced by a
2.1(+1.5/-0.7) solar mass star. This last value is in agreement with
fundamental mode pulsator models. We foresee increased development of
techniques consisting in combining radial velocity with interferometric angular
measurements, ultimately allowing total mapping of the speed, density, and
position of the diverse species in pulsation driven atmospheres.Comment: 36 pages, accepted in Ap
Multiplicity of Galactic Cepheids from long-baseline interferometry I. CHARA/MIRC detection of the companion of V1334 Cygni
We aim at determining the masses of Cepheids in binary systems, as well as
their geometric distances and the flux contribution of the companions. The
combination of interferometry with spectroscopy will offer a unique and
independent estimate of the Cepheid masses. Using long-baseline interferometry
at visible and infrared wavelengths, it is possible to spatially resolve binary
systems containing a Cepheid down to milliarcsecond separations. Based on the
resulting visual orbit and radial velocities, we can then derive the
fundamental parameters of these systems, particularly the masses of the
components and the geometric distance. We therefore performed interferometric
observations of the first-overtone mode Cepheid V1334 Cyg with the CHARA/MIRC
combiner. We report the first detection of a Cepheid companion using
long-baseline interferometry. We detect the signature of a companion orbiting
V1334 Cyg at two epochs. We measure a flux ratio between the companion and the
Cepheid f = 3.10+/-0.08%, giving an apparent magnitude mH = 8.47+/-0.15mag. The
combination of interferometric and spectroscopic data have enabled the unique
determination of the orbital elements: P = 1938.6+/-1.2 days, Tp = 2 443
616.1+/-7.3, a = 8.54+/-0.51mas, i = 124.7+/-1.8{\deg}, e = 0.190+/-0.013,
{\omega} = 228.7+/-1.6{\deg}, and {\Omega} = 206.3+/-9.4{\deg}. We derive a
minimal distance d ~ 691 pc, a minimum mass for both stars of 3.6 Msol, with a
spectral type earlier than B5.5V for the companion star. Our measured flux
ratio suggests that radial velocity detection of the companion using
spectroscopy is within reach, and would provide an orbital parallax and
model-free masses.Comment: Published in A&
A large sample of low surface brightness disc galaxies from the SDSS- II. Metallicities in surface brightness bins
We study the spectroscopic properties of a large sample of Low Surface
Brightness galaxies (LSBGs) (with B-band central surface brightness mu0(B)>22
mag arcsec^(-2)) selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 4
(SDSS-DR4) main galaxy sample. A large sample of disk-dominated High Surface
Brightness galaxies (HSBGs, with mu0(B)<22 mag arcsec^(-2)) are also selected
for comparison simultaneously. To study them in more details, these sample
galaxies are further divided into four subgroups according to mu0(B) (in units
of mag arcsec^(-2)): vLSBGs (24.5-22.75),iLSBGs (22.75-22.0), iHSBGs
(22.0-21.25), and vHSBGs (<21.25). The diagnostic diagram from spectral
emission-line ratios shows that the AGN fractions of all the four subgroups are
small (<9%). The 21,032 star-forming galaxies with good quality spectroscopic
observations are further selected for studying their dust extinction,
strong-line ratios, metallicities and stellar mass-metallicities relations. The
vLSBGs have lower extinction values and have less metal-rich and massive
galaxies than the other subgroups. The oxygen abundances of our LSBGs are not
as low as those of the HII regions in LSBGs studied in literature, which could
be because our samples are more luminous, and because of the different
metallicity calibrations used. We find a correlation between 12+log(O/H) and
mu0(B) for vLSBGs, iLSBGs and iHSBGs but show that this could be a result of
correlation between mu0(B) and stellar mass and the well-known mass-metallicity
relation. This large sample shows that LSBGs span a wide range in metallicity
and stellar mass, and they lie nearly on the stellar mass vs. metallicity and
N/O vs. O/H relations of normal galaxies. This suggests that LSBGs and HSBGs
have not had dramatically different star formation and chemical enrichment
histories.Comment: 14 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA
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