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Over the last decade many efforts have been made to develop high angular resolution techniques in astrophysics. Combined with imaging facilities, they have rapidly proved their efficiency and have already led to major astrophysical results. During the decade to come, astronomers will be offered new, even more sophisticated high angular resolution tools, especially in the IR and optical domains, coupled with much bigger telescopes, either on the ground or in space. In such a context of rapidly evolving techniques and a growing need for higher angular resolution to test theories or discover new objects, the present book reviews both instrumental and scientific aspects. The main questions addressed are: what kind of science will benefit from high angular resolution techniques? How can they best be used? Audience: The book is accessible to students and research workers in both instrumental and astrophysical aspects.
It has always been ESO's aim to operate the VLT in an interferometric mode (VLTI) which allows the coherent combination of stellar light beams col lected by the four 8-m telescopes and by several smaller auxiliary telescopes. In December 1993, in response to financial difficulties, the ESO Council de cided to postpone implement at ion of the VLTI, Coude trains and associated adaptive optics for all the UTs but included provisions for continuing tech nological and development programmes devoted to the aim of reintroducing these capabilities at the earliest possible date. The desirability of carrying out the full VLTI programme as originally envisaged at the earliest possible moment has not, h...
Transactions XXVIA of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) provides a comprehensive and authoritative review of what has been achieved in astronomy during the years 2003 to 2005. The insightful and up-to-date reviews are written by the Presidents and Chairpersons of the IAU's different Divisions, Commissions and Working Groups and each focuses on a different subject area. Topics covered in this wide-ranging volume include: fundamental astronomy; the Sun and heliosphere; planetary systems sciences; stars; variable stars; interstellar matter; the Galactic system; galaxies and the Universe; optical and infrared techniques; radio astronomy; space and high energy astrophysics; and other IAU activities. The reviews are written at a level suitable for colleagues in the same field, but they will also be useful for students and researchers wishing to gain an overview beyond their own research area.
From the May 1999 conference come 90 contributions exploring aspects of interferometric imaging and its uses for astronometrical measurement. The papers are organized into sections devoted to the scientific potential of astrometry with interferometry, astrometric interferometry from ground and space, the potential of synthesis imaging, imaging with interferometry from ground and space, nulling interferometry, and the future of optical/IR interferometry. A few specific topics include the detection of extrasolar planets with the space interferometry mission, differential phase mode with the Keck interferometer, and initial results of a white light nulled fringe.
Proceedings volume for researchers and graduate students of exoplanetary astrophysics, a rapidly evolving discipline.
In this Symposium, researchers specializing in pulsation, rotation, magnetic fields and stellar winds are brought together for the first time in order to broaden our understanding of O and B stars. Thanks to advances in digital spectroscopy, new types of pulsating B stars have been discovered. The pulsations can be understood in terms of the recent revision of metal opacities, but the effects of rapid rotation and magnetic fields need further study. Observations in the UV and X-ray regions demonstrate that many B and Be stars show other activity, besides pulsation which is not yet understood. The reason for the enhanced mass loss in Be stars is a question which dominates the Symposium and which remains unanswered, although it is surely to be found in activity at or near the photosphere coupled with rotation. It is shown that the geometry of the circumstellar envelopes around Be stars is indeed a flattened disk as they can now be optically resolved. The variability of radiatively-driven winds from O and B stars are likely related to the rotation of the star. This underlines the central theme of the book: that the various phenomena seen in these stars cannot be studied in isolation.
Since the 1960s, astrophysical discoveries have blossomed, due to the emergence of powerful and new observational tools. Among them, a fantastic improvement of the sharpness of astronomical images, obtained with ground based optical telescopes, has been the result of two revolutions: adaptive optics and optical interferometry. Written for a general audience, interwoven with fascinating details about the evolution of vision and optics, this book tells a personal story of these revolutions in observational astronomy, born two centuries ago and blossoming in the past fifty years. With the construction of the Very Large Telescope in Chile, Europe played a leading role where young scientists, joining creative astronomers and engineers, have developed a superb creativity. Today, incredibly sharp images of exoplanetary systems and black hole environments are obtained and reveal new questions about Earth-like objects or fundamental physics. The author has been one of the actors of this adventure. His first-hand testimony is opening the future to new horizons.
IAU Transactions XXVIB contains the Proceedings of the IAU XXVII General Assembly held in Prague, 14-25 August 2006, hosting a total of 2412 participants from 73 countries. The Assembly featured a rich scientific program, comprising 6 Symposia, 17 Joint Discussions and 7 Special Sessions. During the program about 650 papers were presented and more than 1550 posters displayed. The Proceedings of the 6 Symposia have been published in the Proceedings of the IAU Symposia Series, and the proceedings of the Joint Discussions and Special Sessions feature in IAU Highlights of Astronomy, 14. Together with those 7 volumes, these Transactions cover the entire General Assembly. In addition to the scientific program, the XXVI General Assembly hosted the regular Business Meetings of the EC, the 12 Divisions, 40 Commissions and 75 Working Groups. This volume records the organizational and administrative business of the XXVI General Assembly and the status of the IAU membership.