First Results from the CHARA Array. I. An Interferometric and Spectroscopic Study of the Fast Rotator alpha Leonis (Regulus)

H. A. McAlister; T. A. ten Brummelaar; D. R. Gies; W. Huang; W. G. Bagnuolo, Jr.; M. A. Shure; J. Sturmann; L. Sturmann; N. H. Turner; S. F. Taylor; D. H. Berger; E. K. Baines; E. Grundstrom; C. Ogden; S. T. Ridgway; G. van Belle

doi:10.1086/430730

arXiv · astro-ph/0501261

First Results from the CHARA Array. I. An Interferometric and Spectroscopic Study of the Fast Rotator alpha Leonis (Regulus)

H. A. McAlister·T. A. ten Brummelaar·D. R. Gies·W. Huang·W. G. Bagnuolo, Jr.·M. A. Shure·J. Sturmann·L. Sturmann·N. H. Turner·S. F. Taylor·D. H. Berger·E. K. Baines·E. Grundstrom·C. Ogden·S. T. Ridgway·G. van Belle

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Abstract

We report on K-band interferometric observations of the bright, rapidly rotating star Regulus (type B7 V) made with the CHARA Array on Mount Wilson, California. Through a combination of interferometric and spectroscopic measurements, we have determined for Regulus the equatorial and polar diameters and temperatures, the rotational velocity and period, the inclination and position angle of the spin axis, and the gravity darkening coefficient. These first results from the CHARA Array provide the first interferometric measurement of gravity darkening in a rapidly rotating star and represent the first detection of gravity darkening in a star that is not a member of an eclipsing binary system.

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H. A. McAlister, T. A. ten Brummelaar, D. R. Gies, W. Huang, W. G. Bagnuolo, Jr., M. A. Shure, J. Sturmann, L. Sturmann, N. H. Turner, S. F. Taylor, D. H. Berger, E. K. Baines, E. Grundstrom, C. Ogden, S. T. Ridgway, G. van Belle. 2005-01-13. First Results from the CHARA Array. I. An Interferometric and Spectroscopic Study of the Fast Rotator alpha Leonis (Regulus). https://doi.org/10.1086/430730

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