Angular diameter measurements of evolved variables by lunar occultations at 2.2 and 3.8 micron

Abstract

We report the angular diameters of two Mira variables (U Ari and Z Sco), three semiregular (SR) and irregular variables (SW Vir, eta Gem and mu Gem) and a supergiant SR variable (TV Gem) by lunar occultation observations in the near-IR broad K-band (2.2 micron). Lunar occultations of eta Gem and mu Gem were also observed for the first time simultaneously in both the K and L' bands, yielding angular diameters at 2.2 and 3.8 micron. Effective temperatures and linear radii are also derived for all the observed sources and compared with earlier measurements. The mode of pulsation of both Mira and SR sources in our sample is discussed.