Perspectives in Radiative Transfer and Interferometry
S. Wolf, F. Allard and Ph. Stee (eds)
EAS Publications Series, 28 (2008) 53-59
DOI: 10.1051/eas:0828009
Determining Accurate Distances to Cepheids Using the Interferometric Baade-Wesselink Method: Possible Interferometric Biases
A. MérandGeorgia State University - the CHARA Array, Mount Wilson Observatory, CA 91023 Mount Wilson (USA)
antoine@chara-array.org
(Published online: 22 April 2008)
Abstract
Cepheids have been used to determined distance throughout the last
century, thanks to the Period-Luminosity (P-L) relation. However, this
relation has to be observationally calibrated in order to accurately
determined distances. One of the most promising technique to directly
measure distances to Cepheids, hence calibrate the P-L relation, is
the quasi geometric interferometric parallax pulsation, or
Baade-Wesselink (Baade 1926; Wesselink 1946) method hereafter IBWM. We
will present here some of the known interferometric biases to the
method: the uncertainty related to the knowledge of the center-to-limb
darkening of the pulsating Cepheid, and the possible presence of faint
circumstellar envelopes (CSE). These two aspects have been or will be
studied using observational techniques, but still lack comprehensive
modeling, which is mandatory to fully understand and correct for this
biases in case of sparse observational material.
© EAS, EDP Sciences 2008


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