The Structure of the β Leonis Debris Disk
Abstract
We combine nulling interferometry at 10 μm using the MMT and Keck Telescopes with spectroscopy, imaging, and photometry from 3 to 100 μm using Spitzer to study the debris disk around β Leo over a broad range of spatial scales, corresponding to radii of 0.1 to ~100 AU. We have also measured the close binary star o Leo with both Keck and MMT interferometers to verify our procedures with these instruments. The β Leo debris system has a complex structure: (1) relatively little material within 1 AU (2) an inner component with a color temperature of ~600 K, fitted by a dusty ring from about 2-3 AU and (3) a second component with a color temperature of ~120 K fitted by a broad dusty emission zone extending from about ~5 AU to ~55 AU. Unlike many other A-type stars with debris disks, β Leo lacks a dominant outer belt near 100 AU.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- December 2010
- DOI:
- 10.1088/0004-637X/724/2/1238
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1010.0003
- Bibcode:
- 2010ApJ...724.1238S
- Keywords:
-
- circumstellar matter;
- infrared: stars;
- planetary systems;
- stars: individual: β Leo o Leo;
- techniques: interferometric;
- Astrophysics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics;
- Astrophysics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 14 page body, 3 page appendix, 15 figures