Sizing up the Stars:

Main Sequence Stellar Diameters with the CHARA Array

Possessing the longest optical interferometric baselines in the world, the CHARA Array is uniquely suited to measure the diameters of stars, which are generally unresolved by other optical interferometers.

I propose to perform a survey of nearby, main sequence, A, F, and G-type stars with the CHARA Array in order to determine their angular diameters to better than 4% accuracy.  In determining these quantities, I will establish an effective temperature scale for these stars as well as absolute luminosities, critical to testing stellar atmosphere and evolution models, as well as the practical application of accurately plotting the H-R diagram.  The accuracy and target sample range are aimed at refining, as well as expanding, the existing diameter measurements, which are used in the calibration of numerous less direct methods based on photometric parameters to predict stellar diameters and effective temperatures of stars.

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