First VLTI/MIDI observations of a Be star: Alpha Arae
- Others:
- Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie (MPIA) ; Max-Planck-Gesellschaft
- Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie (MPIFR)
- Landessternwarte Königstuhl [ZAH] (LSW) ; Universität Heidelberg [Heidelberg]
- Laboratoire Hippolyte Fizeau (FIZEAU) ; Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (1965 - 2019) (UNS) ; COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur ; COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
- Instituto de Astronomia, Geofisica e Ciencias Atmosfericas (IAGCAUSP) ; Universidade de São Paulo = University of São Paulo (USP)
- European Southern Observatory (ESO)
Description
We present the first VLTI/MIDI observations of the Be star alpha Ara (HD 158 427), showing a nearly unresolved circumstellar disk in the N band. The interferometric measurements made use of the UT1 and UT3 telescopes. The projected baselines were 102 and 74 meters with position angles of 7 ° and 55°, respectively. These measurements put an upper limit on the envelope size in the N band under the uniform disk approximation of φmax= 4±1.5 mas, corresponding to 14 R*, assuming R*=4.8 Rȯ and the Hipparcos distance of 74 pc. On the other hand the disk density must be large enough to produce the observed strong Balmer line emission. In order to estimate the possible circumstellar and stellar parameters we have used the SIMECA code developed by Stee et al. (1995, A&A, 300, 219) and Stee & Bittar (2001, A&A, 367, 532). Optical spectra taken with the échelle instrument Heros and the ESO-50 cm telescope, as well as infrared ones from the 1.6m Brazilian telescope were used together with the MIDI spectra and visibilities. These observations place complementary constraints on the density and geometry of the alpha Ara circumstellar disk. We discuss the potential truncation of the disk by a companion and we present spectroscopic indications of a periodic perturbation of some Balmer lines.
Abstract
International audience
Additional details
- URL
- https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00003844
- URN
- urn:oai:HAL:hal-00003844v1
- Origin repository
- UNICA