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Context.V838 Mon is a stellar merger remnant that erupted in a luminous red nova event in 2002. Although it has been well studied in the optical, near-infrared, and submillimeter regimes, its structure in the mid-infrared wavelengths remains elusive. Over the past two decades, only a handful of infrared interferometric studies have been performed, suggesting the presence of an elongated structure at multiple wavelengths. However, given the limited nature of these observations, the true morphology of the source has not yet been conclusively determined. Aims.By performing image reconstruction using observations taken at the VLTI and CHARA, we aim to map out the circumstellar environment in V838 Mon. Methods.We observed V838 Mon with the MATISSE (LMNbands) and GRAVITY (Kband) instruments at the VLTI as well as the MIRCX/MYSTIC (HKbands) instruments at the CHARA array. We geometrically modelled the squared visibilities and the closure phases in each of the bands to obtain the constraints on the physical parameters. Furthermore, we constructed high-resolution images of V838 Mon in theHKbands using the MIRA and SQUEEZE algorithms to study the immediate surroundings of the star. Lastly, we also modelled the spectral features seen in theKandMbands at various temperatures. Results.The image reconstructions show a bipolar structure that surrounds the central star in the post-merger remnant. In theKband, the super-resolved images show an extended structure (uniform disk diameter ~1.94 mas) with a clumpy morphology that is aligned along a north-west position angle (PA) of −40°. On the other hand, in theHband, the extended structure (uniform disk diameter ~1.18 mas) lies roughly along the same PA. Yet the northern lobe is slightly misaligned with respect to the southern lobe, which results in the closure phase deviations. Conclusions.The VLTI and CHARA imaging results show that V838 Mon is surrounded by features resembling jets that are intrinsically asymmetric. This is further confirmed by the closure phase modelling. Further observations with VLTI can help to determine whether this structure shows any variations over time and also if such bi-polar structures are commonly formed in other stellar merger remnants.
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Probing Gas and Dust around B[e] Stars at the Highest Angular Resolution: A Decade of Interferometric Studies
Long-baseline interferometry is the one and only technique offering the sub-milliarcsecond resolution needed to spatially resolve the close environment of stars. Since the construction of modern facilities such as the Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) in Chile, and the Center for High Resolution Array (CHARA) in California, it became a key technique to probe massive stars and their often complex circumstellar environments. The more recent generation of instruments even combines the power of interferometry and spectroscopy allowing to put more constraints on chemical, physical, and dynamical properties of circumstellar gas and dust. Here I briefly present the technique and the current generation of instruments, I review the main results obtained in the last decade on B[e] stars, and, I present the upcoming second generation of instruments at VLTI and the current plan to upgrade CHARA.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1715788
- PAR ID:
- 10062127
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- The B[e] Phenomenon: Forty Years of Studies, ASP Conference Series
- Volume:
- 508
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 163 - 172
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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