scholarly journals The Potential of Long–Baseline Optical Interferometry of Binary Stars

1992 ◽  
Vol 135 ◽  
pp. 527-535 ◽  
Author(s):  
H.A. McAlister

AbstractInterferometric arrays possessing sub-milliarcsecond resolution are either about to be fully scientifically productive, as in the case of the Sydney University Stellar Interferometer, or are under various stages of planning and development. The 1990’s will thus witness a hundred–fold gain in resolution over speckle interferometry at the largest telescopes and 5,000 times the resolution of classical direct imaging. Where speckle interferometry can now resolve binary stars with periods of 1 to 2 years, interferometric arrays with baselines of hundreds of meters will resolve binaries with periods of a few hours. Arrays will resolve the majority of the known spectroscopic binaries, providing a substantial increase in the quantity and quality of stellar mass determinations. Surveys for new binaries among the field stars and other restricted samples will be accomplished with unprecedented completeness. The remarkable enhancement in resolution we are about to witness from facilities like SUSI and our own proposed CHARA Array will quite literally revolutionize the field of double and multiple star research.

1995 ◽  
Vol 166 ◽  
pp. 193-202
Author(s):  
J.T. Armstrong

Long-baseline optical interferometry has made it possible to measure the visual orbits of binary stars with major axes as small as 5 mas and errors of ≲ 100 μas. Interferometers now nearing completion will extend these values to ≳ 500 μas and σa ∼ 10 μas. Observations of double-lined spectroscopic binaries with current interferometers have already yielded some mass estimates with precisions rivaling those from fitting the light curves of eclipsing double-lined systems. Luminosity estimates based on combined visual interferometric observations and velocity curves are often more precise than those from more indirect methods based on estimates of Teff. New interferometers now coming into operation will make it possible to measure fundamental parameters in dozens to hundreds of binary systems.


1992 ◽  
Vol 135 ◽  
pp. 469-476
Author(s):  
I.I. Balega ◽  
Y.Y. Balega ◽  
V.A. Vasyuk ◽  
J.J. McManus

During the last 15 years more than 9,000 speckle interferometric measurements of binary stars have been collected using large optical telescopes (McAlister & Hartkopf 1988). Among them a significant contribution to the world speckle data has been made by the 6-m telscope near Zelenchuk. Up to now this instrument provides the maximal spatial resolution for single–aperture telescopes. First speckle images of the binary Capella were recorded at the telescope in 1977 (Balega & Tikhonov 1977), but we spent 5 more years to create special television techniques for photon counting and digital means for image processing before we started the regular interferometric program of binary observations in the wide range of stellar magnitudes. At first, the measurements were conducted in cooperation with French astronomers from the Centre d’Etudes et de Recherches Geodynamiques et Astronomiques using the optical camera and the television detector developed by Blazit et al. (1977). Since 1983 our equipment has been in use. The program of observations was oriented upon the traditional problems of multiple star speckle interferometry:1.Determination of stellar distances and masses for different types of binaries whose orbital elements can be derived. This includes already known fast visual and astrometric pairs with undetermined orbits, spectroscopic binaries that can be resolved directly, and newly discovered interferometric pairs which show fast orbital motion. The main attention was devoted to the late–type dwarfs in the vicinity of the Sun.2.Search for the secondary components whose existence could explain anomalies of stellar spectra or photometry (stars with composite spectra, occultation binaries, etc.)3.Study of unusual binaries (symbiotic stars, binaries with relativistic components, such as SS 433, etc.)


2014 ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
S. Jankov ◽  
Z. Cvetkovic ◽  
R. Pavlovic

The past several decades have seen accelerating progress in improving binary stars fundamental parameters determinations, as new observational techniques have produced visual orbits of many spectroscopic binaries with a milli arcsecond precision. Modern astrometry is rapidly approaching the goal of sub-milli arcsecond precision, and although presently this precision has been achieved only for a limited number of binary stars, in the near future this will become a standard for very large number of objects. In this paper we review the representative results of techniques which have already allowed the sub-milli arcsecond precision like the optical long baseline interferometry, as well as the precursor techniques such as speckle interferometry, adaptive optics and aperture masking. These techniques provide a step forward from milli to sub-milli arcsecond precision, allowing even short period binaries to be resolved, and often resulting in orbits allowing precisions in stellar dynamical masses better than 1%. We point out that such unprecedented precisions should allow for a significant improvement of our comprehension of stellar physics and other related astrophysical topics.


1983 ◽  
Vol 62 ◽  
pp. 191-201
Author(s):  
John Davis

AbstractThe observations of α Vir with the Narrabri Stellar Intensity Interferometer demonstrated the potential of long baseline interferometry for the determination of fundamental properties of double-lined spectroscopic binary systems. Since the completion of the programme with the Narrabri instrument the Chatterton Astronomy Department has been conducting a study aimed at developing a stellar interferometer with limiting magnitude V ≳ +8 and maximum baseline ≳ 1 km (resolution at 500 nm ≲ 7 × 10−5 seconds of arc). The way in which a long baseline interferometer may be used in the study of binary stars is outlined, the requirements for this work are discussed, and the current status and future plans of the Chatterton Astronomy Department’s programme to develop a new long baseline interferometer are summarised.


2003 ◽  
Vol 212 ◽  
pp. 91-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas R. Gies

Binary stars provide us with the means to measure stellar mass. Here I present several lists of known O-type stars with reliable mass estimates that are members of eclipsing, double-lined spectroscopic binaries. The masses of young, unevolved stars in binaries are suitable for testing the predictions of evolutionary codes, and there is good agreement between the observed and predicted masses (based upon temperature and luminosity) if the lower temperature scale from line-blanketed model atmospheres is adopted. A final table lists masses for systems in a wide variety of advanced evolutionary stages.


2006 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 94-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Davis

AbstractThe development of long-baseline optical interferometry in Australia from the Narrabri Stellar Intensity Interferometer (NSII) to the Sydney University Stellar Interferometer (SUSI) and the resulting technical and scientific achievements are described. Three examples of results from the SUSI programme, for a single star, a double-lined spectroscopic binary, and a Cepheid variable, are presented to illustrate the advances made in the past four decades. The leading role that Australia has played in the development of the field worldwide is discussed from a personal viewpoint. Long-baseline optical interferometry has promised much, has been slow to deliver, and has been restricted to black-belt interferometrists, but it has now matured to the point where it is becoming an observational technique for astronomers in general.


2006 ◽  
Vol 2 (S240) ◽  
pp. 54-58
Author(s):  
Michael Shao

AbstractThe SIM (Planet Quest) mission is a space-based long-baseline stellar interferometer designed for ultra-precise astrometry. This paper describes how SIM can be used for double star research. There are several regimes of operation. For binary stars separated by more than 1″.5, SIM treats these as distinct objects. Double stars less than ∼10 milliarcsec in separation are seen as a single object and SIM measures the photocenter of the composite object. Between 10 mas and 1″.15, SIM is able to see the double star as two distinct objects, but because photons from both stars are detected there is the possibility of increased noise and measurement bias. This paper describes how double stars are observed with SIM and what information can be derived.


1993 ◽  
Vol 138 ◽  
pp. 192-196
Author(s):  
L.S. Lyubimkov ◽  
T.M. Rachkovskaya

Duplicity is a very widespread phenomenon among Am-stars. For instance, Abt (1961) investigating 25 such stars found out that 22 of them are spectroscopic binaries. However this important phenomenon is ignored usually in chemical composition investigations of Am-stars. Consequently some “mean” element abundances are determined, which can noticeably differ from real abundances in atmospheres of components. Moreover false chemical anomalies can appear, as shown by the theoretical modelling of spectra of binary stars (Lyubimkov, 1989, 1992). Meanwhile accurate data on chemical composition of Am-stars must be considered as observational test for any hypothesis suggested for explanation of these objects.


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