Measuring starspots on magnetically active stars with the VLTI

Details Measuring starspots on magnetically active stars with the VLTI Measuring starspots on magnetically active stars with the VLTI

2002-06-06

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0206090v1

Astron.Nachr. 323 (2002) 241-250

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Submitted to AN (refereed proceedings of "1st Potsdam Thinkshop on Sunspots and Starspots", Potsdam, Germany, May 2002), 10 pa

Scientific paper

10.1002/1521-3994(200208)323:3/4

We present feasibility studies to directly image stellar surface features, which are caused by magnetic activity, with the Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI). We concentrate on late type magnetically active stars, for which the distribution of starspots on the surface has been inferred from photometric and spectroscopic imaging analysis. The study of the surface spot evolution during consecutive rotation cycles will allow first direct measurements (apart from the Sun) of differential rotation which is the central ingredient of magnetic dynamo processes. The VLTI will provide baselines of up to 200 m, and two scientific instruments for interferometric studies at near- and mid-infrared wavelengths. Imaging capabilities will be made possible by closure-phase techniques. We conclude that a realistically modeled cool surface spot can be detected on stars with angular diameters exceeding ~2 mas using the VLTI with the first generation instrument AMBER. The spot parameters can then be derived with reasonable accuracy. We discuss that the lack of knowledge of magnetically active stars of the required angular size, especially in the southern hemisphere, is a current limitation for VLTI observations of these surface features.

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