Optimization of the preparation and analysis of interferometric observations in the infrared of circumstellar disks

该项目的目标是优化在红外波长范围内对环绕恒星盘的长基线干涉观测。下一代长基线红外干涉仪将允许人们重建广泛范围的天体物理对象的图像，而不是现有的极少数仍然相当实验性的研究。然而，有必要对这些观测进行非常详细的准备，以限制亮度分布的细节，以便解决特定的科学案例。在这个项目中，我们将重点放在马蒂斯，非常大的望远镜干涉仪的第二代光束合成器。马蒂斯将允许人们组合最多4个望远镜，从而例如重建来自星盘中潜在行星形成区的中红外再发射辐射的图像。特别是，我们将调查最佳观测策略，以解决与年轻恒星周围星盘的演化和其最内部区域的行星形成过程有关的关键问题，b)调查和优化图像重建的选定技术，c)基于直接测量(可见性、闭合阶段)与图像重建(即，模型无关图像)相比评估模型拟合的潜力，d)评估补充观测的必要性/潜力，在其他波长范围和/或角度分辨率下获得的数据，以便更好地限制仅在红外波段进行干涉观测得出的结论，并将这些研究结果应用于对实际数据的分析，这些数据将在拟议项目的最后一年(第三年)可用。选择特定的仪器(马蒂斯)和物体类别(环星盘)将使我们能够继续专注于用红外长基线干涉术解决的科学问题的前沿的现实情景。然而，与此同时，在许多情况下，所获得的结果将是非常一般性的，从而对不久的将来在广泛的天体物理对象类领域中的长基线干涉测量产生影响。

The goal of this project is to optimize long-baseline interferometric observations of circumstellar disks in the infrared wavelength range.The next generation of long-baseline infrared interferometers will allow one to reconstruct images of a broad range of astrophysical objects, instead of the very few, still rather experimental studies existing today. However, a very detailed preparation of these observations will be necessary to constrain the brightness distribution in such detail that specific science cases can be addressed.In this project we will focus on MATISSE, a second generation beam combiner at the Very Large Telescope Interferometer. MATISSE will allow one to combine up to 4 telescopes and thus, for example, to reconstruct images of the mid-infrared reemission radiation from the potential planet-forming region in circumstellar disks.In particular, we willa) Investigate the optimum observing strategy for addressing key questions related to the evolution of circumstellar disks around young stars and the process of planet formation in their innermost regions,b) Investigate and optimize selected techniques for image reconstruction,c) Evaluate the potential of model fitting based on the direct measures (visibilities, closure phases) as compared to image reconstruction (i.e., model-independent images),d) Evaluate the need for / potential of complementary observations, obtained at other wavelength ranges and/or angular resolution in order to better constrain conclusions derived from interferometric observations in the infrared alone, ande) Apply the results of these studies in the analysis of real data which will become available during the last (third) year of the proposed project.The choice of a specific instrument (MATISSE) and class of objects (circumstellar disks) will allow us to stay focused on realistic scenarios on the forefront of scientific problems addressed with infrared long-baseline interferometry. At the same time, however, the results to be obtained will in many cases be of very general nature and thus have an impact on the near-future long-baseline interferometry in a broad field of astrophysical object classes.