First Surface-resolved Results with the IOTA Imaging Interferometer: Detection of Asymmetries in AGB stars

We have measured non-zero closure phases for about 29% of our sample of 56 nearby Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) stars, using the 3-telescope Infrared Optical Telescope Array (IOTA) interferometer at near-infrared wavelengths (H band) and with angular resolutions in the range 5-10 milliarcseconds. Th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:arXiv.org 2006-07
Main Authors: Ragland, S, Traub, W A, J -P Berger, Danchi, W C, Monnier, J D, Willson, L A, Carleton, N P, Lacasse, M G, Millan-Gabet, R, Pedretti, E, Schloerb, F P, Cotton, W D, Townes, C H, Brewer, M, Haguenauer, P, Kern, P, Labeye, P, Malbet, F, Malin, D, Pearlman, M, Perraut, K, Souccar, K, Wallace, G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Angular resolution
Asymptotic giant branch stars
Infrared telescopes
Skewed distributions
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:We have measured non-zero closure phases for about 29% of our sample of 56 nearby Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) stars, using the 3-telescope Infrared Optical Telescope Array (IOTA) interferometer at near-infrared wavelengths (H band) and with angular resolutions in the range 5-10 milliarcseconds. These nonzero closure phases can only be generated by asymmetric brightness distributions of the target stars or their surroundings. We discuss how these results were obtained, and how they might be interpreted in terms of structures on or near the target stars. We also report measured angular sizes and hypothesize that most Mira stars would show detectable asymmetry if observed with adequate angular resolution.
ISSN:2331-8422
DOI:10.48550/arxiv.0607156