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Paper: Imaging Rapid Rotators
Volume: 487, Resolving The Future Of Astronomy With Long-Baseline Interferometry
Page: 137
Authors: Monnier, J. D.; Che, X.; Zhao, M.; ten Brummelaar, T.
Abstract: The combination of the long-baseline CHARA Array and the four-beam “imaging” combiner MIRC has revolutionized the study of rapidly rotating stars. Here we give an overview of our group's results from the past five years. In this time, we have verified the basic “gravity darkening” paradigm for rapidly rotating stars, originally outlined by von Zeipel nearly 90 years ago. We have found that the original gravity darkening parameter derived by von Zeipel (1924) is far too high to match observations, and recommend a value of 0.19 (instead of 0.25). Our modeling of β Cas led to unexpected constraints on core-envelope coupling, and we conclude that effective coupling persists even on the fast-evolving subgiant branch. Lastly, we outline a new method (“oblateness method”) for measuring the mass of a single star based on interferometric imaging and spectral measurements of vs in i. We end this brief review with a look towards the future and the exciting potential for visible light imaging and spectro-interferometry—all with existing instrumentation and demonstrated capabilities.
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