用干涉法测量太阳系天体的大小、形状、表面特征和自转
Measuring the Sizes, Shapes, Surface Features and Rotations of Solar System Objects with Interferometry
摘要：
我们认为干涉测量的应用，以测量的大小和形状的小天体在太阳系，不能在空间上解决今天的单碟望远镜。假设椭球形状，我们的研究结果表明，干涉仪可以测量物体的大小，以优于15%的不确定性，如果边缘暗化是未知的。假设一个Minnaert散射模型，理论上可以从同时测量的几个不同的投影基线长度的vibrants，以提高尺寸和形状的确定，以百分之几的准确性，推导出边缘变暗参数。利用矮行星妊神星的三维形状模型，证明了将光度光变曲线、可见光变曲线和可见相位中心位移相结合，可以得到其自转周期和自转方向，并可以估计其自转极点。由于其细长的形状和暗红色的斑点，妊神星的旋转导致其光学中心在天空中以环形移动，如果没有暗红色的斑点，延伸约80 \muas，如果有暗红色的斑点，延伸约200 \muas。这种移动很容易被设计用于行星探测的天基天体测量干涉仪检测到。作为一个例子，我们考虑空间干涉测量飞行任务对研究太阳系小天体的可能贡献。我们表明，这样的任务可以在表征最明亮的柯伊伯带天体和半人马座以及大量的主带小行星的基本物理特性方面做出重大贡献。我们编制了一份柯伊伯带天体和半人马座天体的清单，这些天体和半人马座天体可能在科学上很有趣，并可通过此类任务观察到。
英文摘要：
We consider the application of interferometry to measuring the sizes and shapes of small bodies in the solar system that cannot be spatially resolved by today's single-dish telescopes. Assuming ellipsoidal shapes, our results indicate that interferometers can measure the size of an object to better than 15% uncertainty if the limb-darkening is unknown. Assuming a Minnaert scattering model, one can theoretically derive the limb-darkening parameters from simultaneous measurements of visibilities at several different projected baseline lengths to improve the size and shape determination to an accuracy of a few percent. With a 3-D shape model for the dwarf planet Haumea, we demonstrate that when photometric light curve, visibility light curve, and visibility phase center displacement are combined, the rotational period and sense of rotation can all be derived, and the rotational pole can be estimated. Because of its elongated shape and the dark red spot, the rotation of Haumea causes its optical photocenter to move in a loop on the sky, extending of ~80 \muas without the dark red spot, and ~200 \muas with it. Such movements are easily detectable by space-based astrometric interferometer designed e.g. for planet detection. As an example, we consider the possible contributions to the study of small bodies in the solar system by the Space Interferometry Mission. We show that such a mission could make substantial contributions in characterizing the fundamental physical properties of the brightest Kuiper Belt Objects and Centaurs as well as a large number of main belt asteroids. We compile a list of Kuiper Belt Objects and Centaurs that are potentially scientifically interesting and observable by such missions.
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