October 7, 1999 Pratt Conference Room, Perkin G-04, 12:30 pm
Optical and Infrared Astronomy Division Talk
Dr. John Monnier, CfA
The Keck-I telescope has been converted into a VLA-style interferometric
array using aperture masking techniques, allowing infrared imaging with
true diffraction-limited resolution (<60 mas at 2.2 microns). This
represents nearly a factor of 3 increase in resolution over most previous
observations in the near-IR, sufficient to resolve (usually for the first
time at these wavelengths) compact disks around Young Stellar Objects,
unexpected spiral outflows from Wolf-Rayets, and clumpy, asymmetric
mass-loss from evolved stars. We have also detected motions of dust
shells on time scales of a month (for high-speed Wolf-Rayet winds) to a
year (for slow AGB outflows). These results showcase the potential for
the optical and infrared interferometric arrays currently under
construction.