Abstract
We report here on some of the major astronomical observations obtained by the Keck Interferometer Nuller (KIN), the high dynamic range instrument recombining the Keck Telescopes at wavelengths of 8 to 13 microns. A few science targets were observed during the commissioning phase (2004-2007). These early observations aimed at demonstrating the KIN's ability to spatially resolve and characterize circumstellar dust emission around a variety of targets, ranging from evolved stars to young debris disks. Science operations started then in 2008 with the more demanding KIN exozodi key science programs, augmented by observations of YSOs and hot debris disks between 2009 and 2011. The last KIN observations were gathered in 2011B, and the interpretation of some of the results depicted here is still preliminary (exo-zodi survey) or pending (complicated behavior observed in YSOs). We discuss in particular the initial results of the KIN's exo-zodi observations, which targeted a total of 40 nearby main sequence single stars. We look for trends in this sample, searching for possible correlations between the measured KIN excesses and basic stellar properties such as spectral type or the presence of dust inferred from separate observations.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering |
| Volume | 8445 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2012 |
| Event | Optical and Infrared Interferometry III - Amsterdam, Netherlands Duration: Jul 1 2012 → Jul 6 2012 |
Other
| Other | Optical and Infrared Interferometry III |
|---|---|
| Country | Netherlands |
| City | Amsterdam |
| Period | 7/1/12 → 7/6/12 |
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Keywords
- Exozodiacal light
- Infrared
- Main sequence stars
- Nulling
- Symbiotic stars
- Young stars
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Applied Mathematics
- Computer Science Applications
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Condensed Matter Physics
Cite this
Keck Interferometer Nuller science highlights. / Mennesson, Bertrand; Millan-Gabet, Rafael; Colavita, M. M.; Serabyn, E.; Hinz, Philip M; Kuchner, M.; Liu, W.; Barry, R.; Stark, C.; Ragland, S.; Woillez, J.; Traub, W.; Absil, O.; Defrere, D.; Augereau, J. C.; Lebreton, J.
Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering. Vol. 8445 2012. 844507.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
}
TY - GEN
T1 - Keck Interferometer Nuller science highlights
AU - Mennesson, Bertrand
AU - Millan-Gabet, Rafael
AU - Colavita, M. M.
AU - Serabyn, E.
AU - Hinz, Philip M
AU - Kuchner, M.
AU - Liu, W.
AU - Barry, R.
AU - Stark, C.
AU - Ragland, S.
AU - Woillez, J.
AU - Traub, W.
AU - Absil, O.
AU - Defrere, D.
AU - Augereau, J. C.
AU - Lebreton, J.
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - We report here on some of the major astronomical observations obtained by the Keck Interferometer Nuller (KIN), the high dynamic range instrument recombining the Keck Telescopes at wavelengths of 8 to 13 microns. A few science targets were observed during the commissioning phase (2004-2007). These early observations aimed at demonstrating the KIN's ability to spatially resolve and characterize circumstellar dust emission around a variety of targets, ranging from evolved stars to young debris disks. Science operations started then in 2008 with the more demanding KIN exozodi key science programs, augmented by observations of YSOs and hot debris disks between 2009 and 2011. The last KIN observations were gathered in 2011B, and the interpretation of some of the results depicted here is still preliminary (exo-zodi survey) or pending (complicated behavior observed in YSOs). We discuss in particular the initial results of the KIN's exo-zodi observations, which targeted a total of 40 nearby main sequence single stars. We look for trends in this sample, searching for possible correlations between the measured KIN excesses and basic stellar properties such as spectral type or the presence of dust inferred from separate observations.
AB - We report here on some of the major astronomical observations obtained by the Keck Interferometer Nuller (KIN), the high dynamic range instrument recombining the Keck Telescopes at wavelengths of 8 to 13 microns. A few science targets were observed during the commissioning phase (2004-2007). These early observations aimed at demonstrating the KIN's ability to spatially resolve and characterize circumstellar dust emission around a variety of targets, ranging from evolved stars to young debris disks. Science operations started then in 2008 with the more demanding KIN exozodi key science programs, augmented by observations of YSOs and hot debris disks between 2009 and 2011. The last KIN observations were gathered in 2011B, and the interpretation of some of the results depicted here is still preliminary (exo-zodi survey) or pending (complicated behavior observed in YSOs). We discuss in particular the initial results of the KIN's exo-zodi observations, which targeted a total of 40 nearby main sequence single stars. We look for trends in this sample, searching for possible correlations between the measured KIN excesses and basic stellar properties such as spectral type or the presence of dust inferred from separate observations.
KW - Exozodiacal light
KW - Infrared
KW - Main sequence stars
KW - Nulling
KW - Symbiotic stars
KW - Young stars
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84873033200&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84873033200&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1117/12.926548
DO - 10.1117/12.926548
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:84873033200
SN - 9780819491466
VL - 8445
BT - Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
ER -