Georgia State telescope array finds stellar models may underestimate star limb darkening
Astronomers using Georgia State University's CHARA Array measured 31 nearby stars and found that they darken toward their edges more strongly at near-infrared wavelengths than several widely used stellar-atmosphere models predict.
The research team measured how brightness changes from the center of each stellar disk to its edge, an effect called limb darkening, across 31 bright stars in late stages of their lives. The observed decrease in limb-darkening strength between two near-infrared wavelengths was about 38 percent, while the atmosphere models tested predicted a smaller decrease of about 17 to 22 percent. The study, led by CHARA staff scientist Narsireddy Anugu, was published in the Astronomical Journal and the team found no evidence of large starspots or hidden companion stars in the sample.
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