PIONIERing Diameter Measurements of Globular Cluster Giants

Author(s)
J. Hron, J. L. Bouquin, T. Lebzelter, C. Paladini, I. Soszynski, J.-P. Berger, H. M. J. Boffin, M. Wittkowski
Abstract

We present an attempt to resolve for the first time one of the brightest long period variables in the globular cluster 47 Tuc with PIONIER in the H band. Based on model atmospheres and observations of local LPVs, the predicted visibilities were about 0.9, i.e. they are at the limit of feasibility with PIONIER. The observations show that the star is unresolved with an upper limit of 0.44 mas for the uniform disk (UD) diameter in the H band. This is in agreement with the predictions from stellar evolution models and from a dynamic model with similar stellar parameters. Spatial frequencies of B[m] / λ[μm]> 150 are necessary to resolve this star and to distinguish between different models, but these are beyond those currently accessible with VLTI.

Organisation(s)
Department of Astrophysics
External organisation(s)
European Southern Observatory (Germany)
Pages
485 - 486
Publication date
08-2015
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
103004 Astrophysics, 103003 Astronomy
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/pioniering-diameter-measurements-of-globular-cluster-giants(89790f37-0671-49c3-8ff5-9e18952ed4f5).html