Interferometry and the Fundamental Properties of Stars

TL;DR

Advances in long-baseline interferometry have significantly improved the measurement of fundamental stellar parameters, enhancing our understanding of diverse star types beyond traditional binary system methods.

Contribution

The paper reviews recent progress in interferometric techniques and their impact on determining stellar properties across various star classes.

Findings

Interferometry has improved measurements of stellar radii and temperatures.

Significant contributions to understanding early-type and late-type stars.

Progress in characterizing brown dwarfs and evolved stars.

Abstract

For many decades the determination of accurate fundamental parameters for stars (masses, radii, temperatures, luminosities, etc.) has mostly been the domain of eclipsing binary systems. That has begun to change as long-baseline interferometric techniques have improved significantly, and powerful new instruments have come online. This paper will review the status of the field, and in particular how the knowledge of precise stellar properties helps us understand stars. Main-sequence stars similar to the Sun are by far the best studied, but much remains to be done for other kinds of objects such as early-type as well as late-type stars including brown dwarfs, evolved stars, metal-poor stars, and pre-main sequence stars. Progress is illustrated with several examples of how interferometry has contributed significantly in some of these areas.