In the Shadow of the Transiting Disk: Imaging epsilon Aurigae in Eclipse

TL;DR

This study used interferometric imaging during epsilon Aurigae's eclipse ingress to reveal a dark, opaque, tilted disk as the eclipsing body, refining the system's geometric and mass models.

Contribution

First direct imaging of the eclipsing disk in epsilon Aurigae, confirming its dark, tilted nature and refining system parameters.

Findings

Eclipsing body is a dark, opaque, tilted disk.

Data exclude alternative models for the system.

F-star is not a massive supergiant.

Abstract

Eclipses of the single-line spectroscopic binary star, epsilon Aurigae, provide an opportunity to study the poorly-defined companion. We used the MIRC beam combiner on the CHARA array to create interferometric images during eclipse ingress. Our results demonstrate that the eclipsing body is a dark disk that is opaque and tilted, and therefore exclude alternative models for the system. These data constrain the geometry and masses of the components, providing evidence that the F-star is not a massive supergiant star.