POSTER PAPER 9.01
Hot Spots in Numerical Simulations of Betelgeuse
Bernd Freytag
Institute: Department for Astronomy and Space Physics at Uppsala University
Contact Email: Bernd.Freytag@astro.uu.se
Abstract:
The spatial inhomogeneities on the surface of Betelgeuse
revealed by modern interferometric observations are typically
modelled as zero to three hot spots on a circular disk.
While the surface structure appears to be generally consistent with an
explanation as large-scale granular intensity fluctuations, the nature of the
spots remains unclear.
The newly developed code COBOLD is now able to produce the first
3D radiation hydrodynamics simulations of a red supergiant, including realistic
but simplified microphysics and non-local radiation transport.
The resulting models show giant convection cells,
high spatial intensity fluctuations,
and a surface pattern rather dissimilar to solar granulation.
Some bright features over downdrafts might be interpreted as hot spots in
low-resolution observations.
Index Keywords: Hot Spots; Alpha Ori; 3-D Simulations
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Manuscript submitted: 2001-Sep-06
"The Future of Cool-Star Astrophysics", 2003, Eds. A. Brown,
G. M. Harper, & T. R. Ayres.
Proceedings of 12th Cambridge Workshop on Cool Stars, Stellar Systems,
& The Sun,
© 2003 University of Colorado.