The Dynamical Evolution of Be star disks

We present a novel theoretical tool to analyze the dynamical behaviour of a Be disk fed by non-constant decretion rates. It is mainly based on the computer code HDUST, a fully three-dimensional radiative transfer code that has been successfully applied to study several Be systems so far, and the SINGLEBE code that solves the 1D viscous diffusion problem. We have computed models of the temporal evolution of different types of Be star disks for different dynamical scenarios. By showing the behaviour of a large number of observables (interferometry, polarization, photometry and spectral line profiles), we show how it is possible to infer from observations some key dynamical parameters of the disk.Comment: IAU 272 symposium proceedings, 3 pages, 1 figur

An edge-on translucent dust disk around the nearest AGB star L2 Puppis - VLT/NACO spectro-imaging from 1.04 to 4.05 microns and VLTI interferometry

As the nearest known AGB star (d=64pc) and one of the brightest (mK-2), L2 Pup is a particularly interesting benchmark object to monitor the final stages of stellar evolution. We report new lucky imaging observations of this star with the VLT/NACO adaptive optics system in twelve narrow band filters covering the 1.0-4.0 microns wavelength range. These diffraction limited images reveal an extended circumstellar dust lane in front of the star, that exhibits a high opacity in the J band and becomes translucent in the H and K bands. In the L band, extended thermal emission from the dust is detected. We reproduce these observations using Monte-Carlo radiative transfer modeling of a dust disk with the RADMC-3D code. We also present new interferometric observations with the VLTI/VINCI and MIDI instruments. We measure in the K band an upper limit to the limb-darkened angular diameter of theta_LD = 17.9 +/- 1.6 mas, converting to a maximum linear radius of R = 123 +/- 14 Rsun. Considering the geometry of the extended K band emission in the NACO images, this upper limit is probably close to the actual angular diameter of the star. The position of L2 Pup in the Herzsprung-Russell diagram indicates that this star has a mass around 2 Msun and is probably experiencing an early stage of the asymptotic giant branch. We do not detect any stellar companion of L2 Pup in our adaptive optics and interferometric observations, and we attribute its apparent astrometric wobble in the Hipparcos data to variable lighting effects on its circumstellar material. We however do not exclude the presence of a binary companion, as the large loop structure extending to more than 10 AU to the North-East of the disk in our L band images may be the result of interaction between the stellar wind of L2 Pup and a hidden secondary object. The geometric configuration that we propose, with a large dust disk seen almost edge-on, appears particularly favorable to test and develop our understanding of the formation of bipolar nebulae.Comment: 16 pages, 15 figure

Disk-Loss and Disk Renewal Phases in Classical Be Stars II. Detailed Analysis of Spectropolarimetric Data

In Wisniewski et al. 2010, paper I, we analyzed 15 years of spectroscopic and spectropolarimetric data from the Ritter and Pine Bluff Observatories of 2 Be stars, 60 Cygni and {\pi} Aquarii, when a transition from Be to B star occurred. Here we anaylize the intrinsic polarization, where we observe loop-like structures caused by the rise and fall of the polarization Balmer Jump and continuum V-band polarization being mismatched temporally with polarimetric outbursts. We also see polarization angle deviations from the mean, reported in paper I, which may be indicative of warps in the disk, blobs injected at an inclined orbit, or spiral density waves. We show our ongoing efforts to model time dependent behavior of the disk to constrain the phenomena, using 3D Monte Carlo radiative transfer codes.Comment: 2 pages, 6 figures, IAU Symposium 27

Towards a Better Understanding of OPD Limitations for Higher Sensitivity and Contrast at the VLTI

Precise control of the optical path differences (OPD) in the Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) was critical for the characterization of the black hole at the center of our Galaxy - leading to the 2020 Nobel prize in physics. There is now significant effort to push these OPD limits even further, in-particular achieving 100nm OPD RMS on the 8m unit telescopes (UT's) to allow higher contrast and sensitivity at the VLTI. This work calculated the theoretical atmospheric OPD limit of the VLTI as 5nm and 15nm RMS, with current levels around 200nm and 100nm RMS for the UT and 1.8m auxillary telescopes (AT's) respectively, when using bright targets in good atmospheric conditions. We find experimental evidence for the $f^{-17/3}$ power law theoretically predicted from the effect of telescope filtering in the case of the ATs which is not currently observed for the UT's. Fitting a series of vibrating mirrors modelled as dampened harmonic oscillators, we were able to model the UT OPD PSD of the gravity fringe tracker to $<1nm/\sqrt{Hz}$ RMSE up to 100Hz, which could adequately explain a hidden $f^{-17/3}$ power law on the UTs. Vibration frequencies in the range of 60-90Hz and also 40-50Hz were found to generally dominate the closed loop OPD residuals of Gravity. Cross correlating accelerometer with Gravity data, it was found that strong contributions in the 40-50Hz range are coming from the M1-M3 mirrors, while a significant portion of power from the 60-100Hz contributions are likely coming from between the M4-M10. From the vibrating mirror model it was shown that achieving sub 100nm OPD RMS for particular baselines (that have OPD$\sim$200nm RMS) required removing nearly all vibration sources below 100Hz

The GRAVITY+ Project: Towards All-sky, Faint-Science, High-Contrast Near-Infrared Interferometry at the VLTI

The GRAVITY instrument has been revolutionary for near-infrared interferometry by pushing sensitivity and precision to previously unknown limits. With the upgrade of GRAVITY and the Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) in GRAVITY+, these limits will be pushed even further, with vastly improved sky coverage, as well as faint-science and high-contrast capabilities. This upgrade includes the implementation of wide-field off-axis fringe-tracking, new adaptive optics systems on all Unit Telescopes, and laser guide stars in an upgraded facility. GRAVITY+ will open up the sky to the measurement of black hole masses across cosmic time in hundreds of active galactic nuclei, use the faint stars in the Galactic centre to probe General Relativity, and enable the characterisation of dozens of young exoplanets to study their formation, bearing the promise of another scientific revolution to come at the VLTI.Comment: Published in the ESO Messenge

Imagerie interférométrique infrarouge et perspectives pour l'observation interférométrique du Centre Galactique : le projet GRAVITY.

The Galactic Center hosts a supermassive black hole called Sgr A*. Thanks to the GRAVITY instrument, the high angular resolution that the VLTI delivers will allow the direct observation of the immediate vicinity of such a black hole. To reach this astrophysical goal, it is mandatory to get very accurate interferometric observables to sucessfully apply imaging reconstruction methods. In that framework and as the first part of my thesis, I could use different infrared interferometric imaging techniques applied to the data obtained on the red supergiant Alpha Orionis (Betelgeuse) with the three telescope interferometer IOTA. These works have unveiled the presence of bright asymmetric structures on the stellar surface whose origin is likely to be convective.The quality of image reconstruction depends on the accuracy of the interferometric observables. In a second part of my thesis, I could study the simulated interferometric performances of GRAVITY to estimate the accuracy on phases and visibilities and checked that they meet the requirements. Finally, in order to optimize the GRAVITY future observations, it is important to get an idea of the spatial and temporal behaviour of its primary scientific goal: Sgr A*. To that aim, I could participate to a large multi-wavelength observation campaign of Sgr A*. I could use the BURST mode of the VISIR spectro-imager to get a high resolution on images and a high sensitivity to Sgr A* radiations. This allowed me to derive an unprecedented upper limit on Sgr A* flux at 8.6 microns. These observations also showed a flare in L' band exhibiting a quasi-periodicity that is twice longer than the ones previously observed. Even if the radiating process is still not fully understood, these observations confirm that the flares are due to the orbital motion of matter at a few Schwarzschild radii from Sgr A*. Thanks to an astrometric accuracy of 10 mas, which represents 1 Schwarzschild radius at the distance of the Galactic Center, GRAVITY will be able to resolve the orbital motion of these hot spots and to understand the nature of these radiations. Moreover, it will also allow to directly measure the space-time metric and test general relativity in strong field regime due the presence of a supermassive black hole located at the center of a galaxy.Le centre de la Galaxie abrite un trou noir supermassif nommé Sgr A*. Grâce à l'instrument GRAVITY, les capacités de haute résolution angulaire du VLTI permettront pour la première fois l'observation directe de l'environnement immédiat d'un tel trou noir. Pour atteindre ce but astrophysique, il est nécessaire d'obtenir des observables interférométriques de grande précision et d'appliquer des techniques de reconstruction d'images. Dans ce contexte, j'ai pu dans une première partie de ma thèse, employer différentes méthodes d'imagerie interférométrique en infrarouge suite à l'observation de la supergéante rouge Alpha Orionis (Bételgeuse) avec l'interféromètre à trois télescopes IOTA. Ces travaux ont pu notamment conduire à la mise en évidence de structures asymétriques brillantes à la surface de l'étoile qui sont très probablement de nature convective.La précision des observables interférométriques conditionne la qualité de la reconstruction d'image. Dans une deuxième partie, j'ai pu pratiquer une étude des performances interférométriques simulées de GRAVITY afin d'estimer la précision sur les phases et visibilités qu'il délivrera. Afin d'optimiser les futures observations de GRAVITY, il est essentiel d'avoir une idée des caractéristiques spatiales et temporelles de son objectif scientifique majeur qu'est Sgr A*. Pour cela, j'ai pu finalement participer à une campagne d'observation multi-longueurs d'onde de l'environnement de ce trou noir. A cette occasion, j'ai utilisé le mode BURST du spectro-imageur VISIR pour obtenir une haute résolution angulaire et une grande sensibilité au rayonnement de Sgr A*. Ceci m'a conduit à obtenir une limite supérieure la plus basse jamais enregistrée à 8,6 microns. Autre fait marquant, ces observations ont révélé la présence d'un sursaut d'intensité lumineuse en proche infrarouge. Si le processus de rayonnement n'est pas encore parfaitement modélisé, ces observations tendent à confirmer que les sursauts tirent leur origine d'un mouvement orbital de matière à quelques rayons de Schwarzschild de Sgr A*.Grâce à sa précision astrométrique de 10 micro-secondes d'angle, correspondant à un rayon de Schwarzschild à la distance du Centre Galactique, GRAVITY sera en mesure de résoudre le mouvement orbital de ces spots de matière et de comprendre la nature d'un tel rayonnement. De plus, il permettra la mesure directe de la métrique d'espace-temps et l'étude de la relativité générale en champ fort

Imagerie interférométrique infrarouge et perspectives pour l'observation interférométrique du Centre Galactique (le projet GRAVITY)

PARIS-Observatoire (751142302) / SudocSudocFranceF

New imaging operation scheme at VLTI

After PIONIER and GRAVITY, MATISSE will soon complete the set of 4 telescope beam combiners at VLTI. Together with recent developments in the image reconstruction algorithms, the VLTI aims to develop its operation scheme to allow optimized and adaptive UV plane coverage. The combination of spectro-imaging instruments, optimized operation framework and image reconstruction algorithms should lead to an increase of the reliability and quantity of the interferometric images. In this contribution, I will present the status of this new scheme as well as possible synergies with other instruments