Astronomical optical interferometry, II: Astrophysical results
Optical interferometry is entering a new age with several ground- based long-baseline observatories now making observations of unprecedented spatial resolution. Based on a great leap forward in the quality and quantity of interferometric data, the astrophysical applications are not limited...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Astronomical Observatory, Department of Astronomy, Belgrade
2011-01-01
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| Series: | Serbian Astronomical Journal |
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| Online Access: | http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/1450-698X/2011/1450-698X1183001J.pdf |
| Summary: | Optical interferometry is entering a new age with several ground- based
long-baseline observatories now making observations of unprecedented spatial
resolution. Based on a great leap forward in the quality and quantity of
interferometric data, the astrophysical applications are not limited anymore
to classical subjects, such as determination of fundamental properties of
stars; namely, their effective temperatures, radii, luminosities and masses,
but the present rapid development in this field allowed to move to a
situation where optical interferometry is a general tool in studies of many
astrophysical phenomena. Particularly, the advent of long-baseline
interferometers making use of very large pupils has opened the way to faint
objects science and first results on extragalactic objects have made it a
reality. The first decade of XXI century is also remarkable for aperture
synthesis in the visual and near-infrared wavelength regimes, which provided
image reconstructions from stellar surfaces to Active Galactic Nuclei. Here I
review the numerous astrophysical results obtained up to date, except for
binary and multiple stars milliarcsecond astrometry, which should be a
subject of an independent detailed review, taking into account its importance
and expected results at microarcsecond precision level. To the results
obtained with currently available interferometers, I associate the adopted
instrumental settings in order to provide a guide for potential users
concerning the appropriate instruments which can be used to obtain the
desired astrophysical information. |
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| ISSN: | 1450-698X 1820-9289 |