Research Interest
My current research interest is narrow-band, near-infrared photometry of Mira stars. Mira stars are large amplitude, long period pulsating variable stars whose spectra and light curves exhibit peculiarities and cycle to cycle differences. Knowledge of the atmospheric structure of these stars is of fundamental importance to theories of stellar atmospheres and stellar evolution. We are carrying out a photometric study of several Mira variables using a set of three narrow-band interference filters to monitor an infrared continuum magnitude, a color index, and TiO spectral bands for these stars [see figure below]. Since the light curves of Miras do not repeat well from pulsation cycle to pulsation cycle, continuous monitoring is needed. The narrow-band filter set allows us to determine a light curve similar to a bolometric curve and at the same time determine the spectral type. Our goal is to determine the causes of the differences in the shapes, amplitudes, and phasing of the light curves which may be attributed to changes in temperature, diameter, and/or spectroscopic effects. Students help to obtain, reduce, and analyze data to produce more complete light curves with parallel spectral type information.