AMBER/VLTI Snapshot Survey on Circumstellar Environments

TL;DR

The AMBER/VLTI Snapshot Survey (OHANA) investigates the gaseous circumstellar environments of hot stars using high-resolution interferometry to understand mass-loss processes at unprecedented spatial scales.

Contribution

This survey combines AMBER's high spectral resolution with VLTI's spatial resolution to characterize the extent and kinematics of gaseous environments around hot stars.

Findings

Characterized the size and kinematics of gaseous emission regions.

Provided new insights into mass-loss mechanisms of hot stars.

Demonstrated the effectiveness of high-resolution interferometry for circumstellar studies.

Abstract

OHANA is an interferometric snapshot survey of the gaseous circumstellar environments of hot stars, carried out by the VLTI group at the Paranal observatory. It aims to characterize the mass-loss dynamics (winds/disks) at unexplored spatial scales for many stars. The survey employs the unique combination of AMBER's high spectral resolution with the unmatched spatial resolution provided by the VLTI. Because of the spatially unresolved central OBA-type star, with roughly neutral colour terms, their gaseous environments are among the easiest objects to be observed with AMBER, yet the extent and kinematics of the line emission regions are of high astrophysical interest.