arXiv subjects

P. Borde

Publications and source records attributed to P. Borde.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2003

Modeling of Alpha Cen and Procyon using VLTI observations

We present a novel approach to model the nearby stars Alpha Cen A & B and Procyon A using asteroseismic and interferometric constraints. Using the VINCI instrument installed at the VLT Interferometer (VLTI), the angular diameters of the Alpha Centauri system were measured with a relative precision of 0.2% and 0.6%, respectively. From these values, we derive linear radii of R[A] = 1.224 +/- 0.003 R_sun and R[B] = 0.863 +/- 0.005 R_sun. These radii are in excellent agreement with the models of Thevenin et al. (2002), that use asteroseismic frequencies as constraints (Bouchy & Carrier 2001; Bouchy & Carrier 2002). With the same instrument, we also measured the angular diameter of Procyon A. Using the Hipparcos parallax, we obtain a linear radius of 2.048 +/- 0.025 R_sun. We use this result together with spectroscopic and photometric constraints to model this star with the CESAM code. We also computed the adiabatic oscillation spectrum of our model of Procyon A, giving a mean large frequency separation of Delta nu_0 = 54.8 uHz, in agreement with the seismic observations by Martic et al. (2001). Our model favours a mass around 1.4 M_sun for Procyon A.

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arXiv2003

VINCI / VLTI observations of Main Sequence stars

Main Sequence (MS) stars are by far the most numerous class in the Universe. They are often somewhat neglected as they are relatively quiet objects (but exceptions exist), though they bear testimony of the past and future of our Sun. An important characteristic of the MS stars, particularly the solar-type ones, is that they host the large majority of the known extrasolar planets. Moreover, at the bottom of the MS, the red M dwarfs pave the way to understanding the physics of brown dwarfs and giant planets. We have measured very precise angular diameters from recent VINCI/VLTI interferometric observations of a number of MS stars in the K band, with spectral types between A1V and M5.5V. They already cover a wide range of effective temperatures and radii. Combined with precise Hipparcos parallaxes, photometry, spectroscopy as well as the asteroseismic information available for some of these stars, the angular diameters put strong constraints on the detailed models of these stars, and therefore on the physical processes at play.

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arXiv2003

The diameter and evolutionary state of Procyon A

We report the angular diameter measurement obtained with the VINCI/VLTI instrument on the nearby star Procyon A (alpha CMi A, F5IV-V), at a relative precision of +/- 0.9%. We obtain a uniform disk angular diameter in the K band of UD = 5.376 +/- 0.047 mas and a limb darkened value of LD = 5.448 +/- 0.053 mas. Together with the Hipparcos parallax, this gives a linear diameter of 2.048 +/- 0.025 D_sun. We use this result in combination with spectroscopic, photometric and asteroseismic constraints to model this star with the CESAM code. One set of modeling parameters that reproduces the observations within their error bars are an age of 2314 Myr, an initial helium mass fraction Y_i = 0.301 and an initial mass ratio of heavy elements to hydrogen Z/X_i = 0.0314. We also computed the adiabatic oscillation spectrum of our model of Procyon A, giving a mean large frequency separation of Delta nu_0 = 54.7 microHz. This value is in agreement with the seismic observations by Martic et al. (1999, 2001). The interferometric diameter and the asteroseismic large frequency spacing together suggest a mass closer to 1.4 M_sun than to 1.5 M_sun. We conclude that Procyon is currently ending its life on the main sequence, as its luminosity class indicates.

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arXiv2003

The interferometric diameter and internal structure of Sirius A

The interferometric observations of dwarf stars in the solar neighbourhood, combined with Hipparcos parallaxes provide very precise values of their linear diameters. In this paper, we report the direct measurement of the angular diameter of the bright star Sirius A with the VINCI/VLTI instrument. We obtain a uniform disk angular diameter of UD = 5.936 +/- 0.016 mas in the K band and a limb darkened value of LD = 6.039 +/- 0.019 mas. In combination with the Hipparcos parallax of 379.22 +/- 1.58 mas, this translates into a linear diameter of 1.711 +/- 0.013 Dsun. Using the VINCI/VLTI interferometric diameter and the published properties of Sirius A, we derive internal structure models corresponding to ages between 200 and 250 +/- 12 Myr. This range is defined mainly by the hypothesis on the mass of the star, the overshoot and the metallicity.

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arXiv2003

Updated results on prototype chalcogenide fibers for 10-um wavefront spatial filtering

The detection of terrestrial planets by Darwin/TPF missions will require extremely high quality wavefronts. Single-mode fibers have proven to be powerful beam cleaning components in the near-infrared, but are currently not available in the mid-infrared where they would be critically needed for Darwin/TPF. In this paper, we present updated measurements on the prototype chalcogenide fibers we are developing for the purpose of mid-infrared spatial filtering. We demonstrate the guiding property of our 3rd generation component and we characterize its filtering performances on a 4 mm length: the far-field radiation pattern matches a Gaussian profile at the level of 3% rms and 13% pk-pk.

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arXiv2003

Exoplanet detection capability of the COROT space mission

COROT will be the first high precision photometric satellite to be launched with the aim of detecting exoplanets by the transit method. In this paper, we present the simulations we have carried out in order to assess the detection capability of COROT. Using the model of stellar population synthesis of the Galaxy developed at Besancon Observatory (Robin & Creze 1986) and a simple cross-correlation technique (Borde et al. 2001), we find that COROT has the capacity to detect numerous exoplanets, not only Jupiter and Uranus-class ones, but also hot terrestrial planets, if they exist. We show that small exoplanets should be mainly gathered around 14-15th magnitude K2-M2 dwarfs and giant exoplanets around 15-16th magnitude F7-G2 dwarfs. We study the effect of crowding and the impact of a high stellar variability noise that both reduce the detection capability of the instrument.

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arXiv2003

Rationale for the use of color information on Eddington

For the Eddington mission, the intrinsic stellar variability can be a major source of noise in the detection of extrasolar planets by the transit method. We derive that most detections of terrestrial planets (1-2 R_Earth) will occur around G or K stars with 15-16th magnitude. When these stars are 7-12 times more variable than the Sun on a 10 hour timescale, we demonstrate that the detection can be performed with a higher S/N provided composite lightcurves obtained with the combination of two colors are used instead of white ones. The level of 10 hour variability for K stars is quite uncertain. We make two "guess-estimates" of it and find that it could be several times larger than the solar value. If these estimates were relevant, the color information would not provide a significant advantage. Although we do not demonstrate a need for colors, we point out the risk of an unpleasant surprise regarding the 10 hour stellar variability. Indeed, there is presently no qualified proxy for this variability. Besides, if Eddington were designed to provide this information at the cost of added complexity but not sensitivity, white photometry by channel summation would still be as efficient. Considering the risk that 10 hour variability is higher than estimated, the Precaution Imperative points to a study of practical implementations of photometry in different colors before taking irreversible decisions about the Eddington instrument.

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