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Title: Long Term Evolution of Surface Features on the Red Supergiant AZ Cyg
Abstract

We presentH-band interferometric observations of the red supergiant (RSG) AZ Cyg that were made with the Michigan Infra-Red Combiner (MIRC) at the six-telescope Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy (CHARA) Array. The observations span 5 yr (2011–2016), which offers insight into the short and long-term evolution of surface features on RSGs. Using a spectrum of AZ Cyg obtained with SpeX on the NASA InfraRed Telescope Facility (IRTF) and synthetic spectra calculated from spherical MARCS, spherical PHOENIX, and SAtlas model atmospheres, we deriveTeffis between 3972 K and 4000 K andloggbetween −0.50 and 0.00, depending on the stellar model used. Using fits to the squared visibility and GAIA parallaxes, we measure its average radiusR=91150+57R. Reconstructions of the stellar surface using our model-independent imaging codes SQUEEZE and OITOOLS.jl show a complex surface with small bright features that appear to vary on a timescale of less than one year and larger features that persist for more than one year. The 1D power spectra of these images suggest a characteristic size of 0.52–0.69Rfor the larger, long lived features. This is close to the values of 0.51–0.53Rthat are derived from 3D RHD models of stellar surfaces. We conclude that interferometric imaging of this star is in line with predictions of 3D RHD models but that short-term imaging is needed to more stringently test predictions of convection in RSGs.

 
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Award ID(s):
1715788 1636624 2034336 1814777
NSF-PAR ID:
10307616
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; more » ; ; ; ; ; ; « less
Publisher / Repository:
DOI PREFIX: 10.3847
Date Published:
Journal Name:
The Astrophysical Journal
Volume:
919
Issue:
2
ISSN:
0004-637X
Format(s):
Medium: X Size: Article No. 124
Size(s):
["Article No. 124"]
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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