Astrophysical measurements with the VERITAS Stellar Intensity Interferometer
arXiv:1908.03587
The paper reports on the development and first observational results of using VERITAS imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes for optical intensity interferometry to study the spatial structure of O/B/A type stars, initially with two telescopes and later extending to all four.
Abstract
Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes have long been viewed as potential light collectors to be used for long baseline optical intensity interferometry observations. Intensity interferometry, as implemented with Cherenkov telescopes, is well suited for studying the spatial structure of stars of O/B/A stellar types at short optical wavelengths. Such observations complement those with the current generation of optical amplitude interferometers, which are typically restricted to longer wavelengths. Dedicated intensity interferometry instrumentation has been developed for the VERITAS observatory with engineering tests and observations occurring since October 2018. Here, the first results using two of the VERITAS telescopes are reported. The system has already been extended to the two additional telescopes, enabling SII observations with all four VERITAS telescopes.
Submitted to the 36th International Cosmic Ray Conference