Data reduction methods for single-mode optical interferometry

Kervella, P.; Ségransan, D.; Foresto, V. Coudé du

doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20034562

Cited by 78 publications

(89 citation statements)

References 36 publications

(34 reference statements)

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“…This is different for instance from fibered interferometric beam combiners (e.g. VINCI; Kervella et al 2004b), whose field of view closely matches the PSF. The goal of this analysis is to search for a compact component in the CSE, in addition to the extended component resolved with VISIR.…”

Section: Visibility Modelmentioning

confidence: 78%

The circumstellar envelopes of the Cepheids $\mathsf{\ell}$ Carinae and RS Puppis

Kervella¹,

Mérand

Gallenne

2009

A&A

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Context. Compact circumstellar envelopes (CSEs) have been detected around several Cepheids by interferometry. In particular, observations with the VINCI instrument revealed in 2006 a compact envelope around the long period Cepheid Car (P = 35.5 days). Another Cepheid, RS Pup (P = 41.4 days), presents a large (≈2 ) circumstellar nebula scattering the Cepheid light in the visible. These envelopes are particularly interesting for two reasons: their presence could impact the Cepheid distance scale, and they could imply stellar mass loss. Aims. Our goal is to establish the spatial and spectral properties of the CSEs of Car and RS Pup. This is done through a parametrization of the envelopes in terms of fractional flux (with respect to the star) and angular size. Methods. We retrieved archival Spitzer images of the two stars (λ = 3.5−70 μm), and obtained new diffraction-limited imaging with the VLT/VISIR camera in BURST mode (λ = 8.6−11.9 μm), as well as interferometric observations with the VLTI/MIDI beam combiner (λ = 8−13 μm). This combination of single-telescope and interferometric techniques allows us to probe the envelopes of the two Cepheids over a broad range of angular scales, from arcminutes to milliarcseconds. Results. The circumstellar envelope of RS Pup is resolved spatially at 24 and 70 μm by Spitzer, and around 10 μm by MIDI and VISIR. The envelope of Car appears much more compact, and is resolved only in the VISIR and MIDI observations. The infrared excesses we detect around RS Pup and Car are both very significant, but differ considerably in spectral and spatial properties. We detect a warm component in the CSE of both stars at a spatial scale of a few 100 to a few 1000 AU. In addition, RS Pup presents a very large (several 100 000 AU) and cold (≈40 K) dusty envelope. Conclusions. The observed properties of the CSEs lead us to propose that the cold dust content of the large reflection nebula surrounding RS Pup has an interstellar origin, while the warm CSEs of the two stars were created by ongoing stellar mass loss. We also speculate that the NGC 7023 reflection nebula surrounding the Herbig Be star HD 200775 is an analogue of RS Pup at an age of 100 000 years. The presence of CSEs around the two brightest long-period Cepheids is an indication that many long-period members of this class, if not all, could be surrounded by warm circumstellar envelopes created by mass loss. However, very large dusty envelopes such as that of RS Pup are probably less common, as according to our scenario, they require the presence of a high dust density in the interstellar medium (ISM) at the time of the formation of the Cepheid progenitor.

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Section: Visibility Modelmentioning

confidence: 78%

The circumstellar envelopes of the Cepheids $\mathsf{\ell}$ Carinae and RS Puppis

Kervella¹,

Mérand

Gallenne

2009

A&A

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“…This simultaneity is the key to obtaining precisely calibrated interferograms on bright stars. As discussed by Coudé Du Foresto et al (1997) and Kervella et al (2004b), we use a Wiener filtering of √ P i P j . Still this is not enough to avoid numerical instabilities when √ P i P j get close to zero.…”

Section: Visibility Estimatementioning

confidence: 99%

PIONIER: a 4-telescope visitor instrument at VLTI

Bouquin

Berger

Lazareff

et al. 2011

A&A

253

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Context. PIONIER stands for PrecisionAims. In this paper, we explain the instrumental concept and describe the standard operational modes and the data reduction strategy. We present the typical performance and discuss how to improve them. Methods. This paper is based on laboratory data obtained during the integrations at IPAG, as well as on-sky data gathered during the commissioning at VLTI. We illustrate the imaging capability of PIONIER on the binaries δ Sco and HIP11231. Results. PIONIER provides six visibilities and three independent closure phases in the H band, either in a broadband mode or with a low spectral dispersion (R = 40), using natural light (i.e. unpolarized). The limiting magnitude is Hmag = 7 in dispersed mode under median atmospheric conditions (seeing <1 , τ 0 > 3 ms) with the 1.8 m Auxiliary Telescopes. We demonstrate a precision of 0.5 deg on the closure phases. The precision on the calibrated visibilities ranges from 3% to 15% depending on the atmospheric conditions. Conclusions. PIONIER was installed and successfully tested as a visitor instrument for the VLTI. It permits high angular resolution imaging studies at an unprecedented level of sensitivity. The successful combination of the four 8 m Unit Telescopes in March 2011 demonstrates that VLTI is ready for four-telescope operation.

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“…We extracted the visibilities from the raw data using the FLUOR data reduction software (Coudé du Foresto et al 1997;A&A 517, A64 (2010) Kervella et al 2004a;. For the reported observations, we used the CHARA baselines S2-W2 and E2-S1, with ground lengths of 177 and 279 m, respectively.…”

Section: Interferometric Observationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interferometric radius and limb darkening of the asteroseismic red giantη Serpentis with the CHARA Array

Mérand¹,

Kervella

Barban

et al. 2010

A&A

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Context. The radius of a star is a very important constraint to evolutionary models, particularly when combined with asteroseismology. Diameters can now be measured interferometrically with great precision (better than 1%), but the center-to-limb darkening (CLD) remains a potential source of bias. Measuring this bias is possible by completely resolving the star using long-baseline interferometry, and has only been achieved for a handful of stars. Aims. The red giant η Ser (K0III-IV) is a particularly interesting target, as asteroseismic oscillations have recently been detected in this star by spectroscopy. We aim to measure its radius with high accuracy, debiased from limb darkening, in order to bring new constraints to its models. Methods. We obtained interferometric observations of η Ser in the near-infrared using the CHARA/FLUOR instrument, in particular in the so-called second lobe of visibility in order to constrain the CLD and debias our diameter estimation. Results. The limb darkened angular diameter of η Ser is 2.944 ± 0.010 mas (using spherical photosphere models PHOENIX and MARCS for the limb darkening), that converts into a radius of 5.897 ± 0.028 R with the Hipparcos parallax. Thanks to a precise visibility measurement in the second lobe of the visibility function of η Ser and a one-parameter limb-darkened visibility profile, we were able to show that the photosphere models have the best agreement possible. Conclusions. Our limb darkening measurement of η Ser is in agreement with existing atmosphere models of this star, with a slightly better agreement for models using spherical geometry. This is a strong indication that interferometric angular diameter measurements for red giants, corrected for the CLD using models, are unbiased at a very small level (a fraction of 1%). In particular, this strengthens our confidence in the existing catalogues of calibrator stars for interferometry that are based on giant stars similar to η Ser. The high accuracy of our measurement brings a new and strong constraint for the asteroseismic modeling of this star.

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Data reduction methods for single-mode optical interferometry

Cited by 78 publications

References 36 publications

The circumstellar envelopes of the Cepheids $\mathsf{\ell}$ Carinae and RS Puppis

The circumstellar envelopes of the Cepheids $\mathsf{\ell}$ Carinae and RS Puppis

PIONIER: a 4-telescope visitor instrument at VLTI

Interferometric radius and limb darkening of the asteroseismic red giantη Serpentis with the CHARA Array

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