Stephane Lagarde

VLTI/AMBER spectro-interferometry of the Herbig Be star MWC 297 with spectral resolution 12 000

Context. Circumstellar disks and outflows play a fundamental role in star formation. Infrared spectro-interferometry allows the inner accretion-ejection region to be resolved. Aims. We study the disk and Br-emitting region of MWC 297 with high spatial and spectral resolution and compare our observations with disk-wind models. Methods. We measured interferometric visibilities, wavelength-differential phases, and closure phases of MWC 297 with a spectral resolution of 12000. To interpret our MWC 297 observations, we employed disk-wind models. Results. The measured continuum visibilities confirm previous results that the continuum-emitting region of MWC 297 is remarkably compact. We derive a continuum ring-fit radius of �2.2 mas (�0.56 AU at a distance of 250 pc), which is �5.4 times smaller than the 3 AU dust sublimation radius expected for silicate grains (in the absence of radiation-shielding material). The strongly wavelength-dependent and asymmetric Br-emitting region is more extended (�2.7times) than the continuum-emitting region. At the center of the Br line, we derive a Gaussian fit radius of �6.3 mas HWHM (�1.6 AU). To interpret the observations, we employ a magneto-centrifugally driven disk-wind model consisting of an accretion disk, which emits the observed continuum radiation, and a disk wind, which emits the Br line. The calculated wavelength-dependent model intensity distributions and Br line profiles are compared with the observations (i.e., K-band spectrum, visibilities, differential phases, and closure phases). The closest fitting model predicts a continuumemitting disk with an inner radius of �0.3 AU and a disk wind ejection region with an inner radius of �0.5 AU (�17.5 stellar radii). We obtain a disk-wind half-opening angle (the angle between the rotation axis and the innermost streamline of the disk wind) of �80 � , which is larger than in T Tau models, and a disk inclination angle of �20 � (i.e., almost pole-on). Conclusions. Our observations with a spectral resolution of 12000 allow us to study the AU-scale environment of MWC 297 in �10 different spectral channels across the Br emission line. We show that the K-band flux, visibilities, and remarkably strong phases can be explained by the employed magneto-centrifugally driven disk wind model.

Using the near infrared VLTI instrument AMBER

AMBER is the General User near infrared focal instrument of the Very Large Telescope Interferometer. Its a single mode, dispersed fringes, three telescopes instrument. A limiting magnitude of the order of H=13 will allow to tackle a fair sample of extra galactic targets. A very high accuracy, in particular in color differential phase and closure phase modes gives good hope for very high dynamic range observation, possibly including hot extra solar planets. The relatively high maximum spectral resolution, up to 10000, will allow some stellar activity observations. Between this extreme goals, AMBER should have a wide range of applications including Young Stellar Objects, Evolved Stars, circumstellar material and many others. This paper tries to introduce AMBER to its future users with information on what it measures, how it is calibrated and hopes to give the readers ideas for applications.

AMBER: the near-infrared focal instrument for the Very Large Telescope Interferometer

AMBER is a focal instrument for the Very Large Telescope Interferometer working in the near infrared from 1.1 to 2.4 micrometers . It has been designed having in mind the General User of interferometric observations and the full range of his possible astrophysical programs. However the three programs used to define the key specifications have been the study of Young Stellar Objects, the study of Active Galactic Nuclei dust tori and broad line regions and the measure of masses and spectra of hot Extra Solar Planets. AMBER combines up to three beams produced by the VLTI 8 m Unit Telescopes equipped with Adaptive Optics and/or by the 1.8 m Auxiliary Telescopes. The fringes are dispersed with resolutions ranging from 35 to 10000. It is optimized for high accuracy single mode measurements of the absolute visibility, of the variation of the visibility and phase with wavelength (differential interferometry) and of phase closure relations with three telescopes. The instrument and its software are designed to allow a highly automated user friendly operation and an easy maintenance.

AMBER/VLTI high spectral resolution observations of the Brγ emitting region in HD 98922. A compact disc wind launched from the inner disc region

Context. High angular and spectral resolution observations can provide us with fundamental clues to the complex circumstellar structure of young stellar objects (YSOs) and to the physical processes taking place close to these sources. Aims. We analyse the main physical parameters and the circumstellar environment of the young Herbig Be star HD 98922. Methods. We present AMBER/VLTI high spectral resolution (R = 12 000) interferometric observations across the Brγ line, accompanied by UVES high-resolution spectroscopy and SINFONI-AO assisted near-infrared (NIR) integral field spectroscopic data. To interpret our observations, we develop a magneto-centrifugally driven disc-wind model. Results. Our analysis of the UVES spectrum shows that HD 98922 is a young (∼5 × 10 5 yr) Herbig Be star (SpT = B9V), located at a distance of 440± 60 pc, with a mass accretion rate ( u ( �� )( ( ◦ )

The inner circumstellar disk of the UX Orionis star V1026 Scorpii

The UX Ori type variables (named after the prototype of their class) are intermediate-mass pre-main sequence objects. One of the most likely causes of their variability is the obscuration of the central star by orbiting dust clouds. We investigate the structure of the circumstellar environment of the UX~Ori star V1026 Sco (HD 142666) and test whether the disk inclination is large enough to explain the UX Ori variability. We observed the object in the low-resolution mode of the near-infrared interferometric VLTI/AMBER instrument and derived H- and K-band visibilities and closure phases. We modeled our AMBER observations, published Keck Interferometer observations, archival MIDI/VLTI visibilities, and the spectral energy distribution using geometric and temperature-gradient models. Employing a geometric inclined-ring disk model, we find a ring radius of 0.15 +- 0.06 AU in the H band and 0.18 +- 0.06 AU in the K band. The best-fit temperature-gradient model consists of a star and two concentric, ring-shaped disks. The inner disk has a temperature of 1257^{+133}_{-53} K at the inner rim and extends from 0.19 +- 0.01 AU to 0.23 +- 0.02 AU. The outer disk begins at 1.35^{+0.19}_{-0.20} AU and has an inner temperature of 334^{+35}_{-17} K. The derived inclination of 48.6^{+2.9}_{-3.6}deg approximately agrees with the inclination derived with the geometric model (49 +- 5deg in the K band and 50 +- 11deg in the H band). The position angle of the fitted geometric and temperature-gradient models are 163 +- 9deg (K band; 179 +- 17deg in the H band) and 169.3^{+4.2}_{-6.7}deg, respectively. The narrow width of the inner ring-shaped model disk and the disk gap might be an indication for a puffed-up inner rim shadowing outer parts of the disk. The intermediate inclination of ~50deg is consistent with models of UX Ori objects where dust clouds in the inclined disk obscure the central star.

VEGA: a visible spectrograph and polarimeter for CHARA

We describe a project for the installation of a visible focal instrument at the CHARA Array, named VEGA for Visible spEctroGraph and polArimeter. This new instrument will further open the visible domain and offer both spectral and polarimetric capabilities at the CHARA Array. It will create a new and unique scientific niche for the CHARA Array, especially in the context of international competition. The combination of the visible domain and high spectral resolution mode combined with a good sensitivity will allow VEGA/CHARA to carve out a new piece of observational phase space and compliment many existing or planned near-infrared interferometers. VEGA will help make CHARA the interferometer with the largest spectral and spatial resolution worldwide.

AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH FOR IMAGING IN OPTICAL INTERFEROMETRY

We describe a mathematical formalism for the teaching optical interferometer concept developed by P. Lawson. In this experiment, the co-addition of several interferometric fringe patterns obtained for different baselines between individual telescopes is the image of the source, for the simple reason that the fringe patterns build up the image of the observed source through a convolution product. This basic principle is of interest since it allows one to tackle the image reconstruction for optical long-baseline interferometry through an approach which is complementary to the use of the Fourier plane. Thus, image reconstruction can be thought of in the fringe plane. It allows a better understanding of the fundamental limits of the image dynamical range.

An interferometric imaging test bench: the densified pupil concept applied to the VLTI

We describe a test bench designed to study the performances of interferometric imaging systems. The main goal is to study the densified pupil concept in the framework of the VLTI. This work is linked to the proposition of a second generation instrument called VIDA (VLTI Imaging with a Densified Array). This bench aims at comparing the imaging performances of the aperture synthesis, Fizeau and densified pupils beam combination schemes and at specifying the technical requirements like cophasing and tip-tilt correction. A Fizeau assembly, using a multi-apertures mask and associated with a wavefront sensor, has been designed. It allows to measure the differential piston between sub-apertures and to link them to the characteristics of the image recovered. A densified assembly is under study by using reflective surfaces or optical fibers to carry the beams and to densify the pupils before the combination.

Design and tests for the correction of atmospheric and instrumental effects on color-differential phase with AMBER/VLTI

The near-infrared instrument AMBER at the VLTI allows, among other interferometric observables, the simultaneous measurement of the phase between various spectral channels. Color-differential phase thus yields spatial and spectral information on unresolved sources, and could lead to such ambitious goals as the spectroscopy of nearby hot, giant exoplanets. This will require, though, an extreme stability on the measurement, which is likely to be affected by chromatic effects at the various stages of the light path. We present how AMBER has been designed to minimize and to calibrate such effects. We give estimates of their contributions from different origins, and present recent measurements of the instrumental stability. We discuss the possibility to supress the residual chromatic effects in post-data treatment in order to reach a precision limited by the photon noise on the differential phase.

APreS-MIDI: aperture synthesis in the mid-infrared with the VLTI

We are studying an optical concept aiming at recombining 4 telescope beams. Interference fringes are sampled in the pupil plane. Such a principle is perfectly adapted for reconstructing images by aperture synthesis at 10 μm with the VLTI. This principle could be used for building a new generation 10 μm instrument, but instead of doing a totally new instrument, we propose the design of an optical module that can supply the current MIDI-VLTI instrument with 4 beams.