Context. Optical long-baseline interferometry is moving a crucial step forward with the advent of general-user scientific instruments that equip large aperture and hectometric baseline facilities, such as the Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI). Aims. AMBER is one of the VLTI instruments that combines up to three beams with low, moderate and high spectral resolutions in order to provide milli-arcsecond spatial resolution for compact astrophysical sources in the near-infrared wavelength domain. Its main specifications are based on three key programs on young stellar objects, active galactic nuclei central regions, masses, and spectra of hot extra-solar planets. Methods. These key science goals led to scientific specifications, which were used to propose and then validate the instrument concept. AMBER uses single-mode fibers to filter the entrance signal and to reach highly accurate, multiaxial three-beam combination, yielding three baselines and a closure phase, three spectral dispersive elements, and specific self-calibration procedures. Results. The AMBER measurements yield spectrally dispersed calibrated visibilities, color-differential complex visibilities, and a closure phase allows astronomers to contemplate rudimentary imaging and highly accurate visibility and phase differential measurements. AMBER was installed in 2004 at the Paranal Observatory. We describe here the present implementation of the instrument in the configuration with which the astronomical community can access it. Conclusions. After two years of commissioning tests and preliminary observations, AMBER has produced its first refereed publications, allowing assessment of its scientific potential.

Context. Among optical stellar interferometers, the CHARA Array located at Mt Wilson in California offers the potential of very long baselines (up to 330 m) and the prospect of coupling multiple beam combiners. This paper presents the principle and the measured performance of VEGA, Visible spEctroGraph and polArimeter installed in September 2007 at the coherent focus of the array. Aims. With 0.3 ms of arc of spatial resolution and up to 30 000 of spectral resolution, VEGA intends to measure fundamental parameters of stars, to study stellar activities and to image and analyze circumstellar environments. We describe the observing modes that have been implemented for this spectro-polarimeter and show actual performances measured on the sky during the first observing runs. Methods. The astrophysical programs are described in relation to the observing modes of the instrument, the presentation of the spectrograph and of the interface table is shown and finally the data is presented. We discuss the perspectives of further development in the framework of the CHARA Array. Results. We show that VEGA/CHARA is fully operational. The current limiting magnitude is nearly 7 but the results depend on the observing conditions (seeing, spectral resolution, etc.). We have validated the stability of the instrumental visibility at the level of 1 to 2% over half an hour and of the instrumental polarization for various declinations. Some examples of squared visibility and differential visibility are presented. Conclusions. The spectro-polarimeter VEGA has been installed and successfully tested on CHARA. It will permit stellar physics studies at unprecedented spectral and spatial resolutions.

Context. In long baseline interferometry, the raw fringe contrast must be calibrated to obtain the true visibility and then those observables that can be interpreted in terms of astrophysical parameters. The selection of suitable calibration stars is crucial for obtaining the ultimate precision of interferometric instruments like the VLTI. Potential calibrators must have spectro-photometric properties and a sky location close to those of the scientific target. Aims. We have developed software (SearchCal) that builds an evolutive catalog of stars suitable as calibrators within any given user-defined angular distance and magnitude around the scientific target. We present the first version of SearchCal dedicated to the bright-object case (V ≤ 10; K ≤ 5). Methods. Star catalogs available at the CDS are consulted via web requests. They provide all the useful information for selecting of calibrators. Missing photometries are computed with an accuracy of 0.1 mag and the missing angular diameters are calculated with a precision better than 10%. For each star the squared visibility is computed by taking the wavelength and the maximum baseline of the foreseen observation into account. Results. SearchCal is integrated into ASPRO, the interferometric observing preparation software developed by the JMMC, available at the address: http://mariotti.fr.

Aims. In this paper, we present an innovative data reduction method for single-mode interferometry. It has been specifically developed for the AMBER instrument, the three-beam combiner of the Very Large Telescope Interferometer, but it can be derived for any single-mode interferometer. Methods. The algorithm is based on a direct modelling of the fringes in the detector plane. As such, it requires a preliminary calibration of the instrument in order to obtain the calibration matrix that builds the linear relationship between the interferogram and the interferometric observable, which is the complex visibility. Once the calibration procedure has been performed, the signal processing appears to be a classical least-square determination of a linear inverse problem. From the estimated complex visibility, we derive the squared visibility, the closure phase, and the spectral differential phase. Results. The data reduction procedures have been gathered into the so-called amdlib software, now available for the community, and are presented in this paper. Furthermore, each step in this original algorithm is illustrated and discussed from various on-sky observations conducted with the VLTI, with a focus on the control of the data quality and the effective execution of the data reduction procedures. We point out the present limited performances of the instrument due to VLTI instrumental vibrations which are difficult to calibrate.

Context. The ratio of pulsation to radial velocity (the projection factor) is currently limiting the accuracy of the Baade-Wesselink method, and in particular of its interferometric version recently applied to several nearby Cepheids. Aims. This work aims at establishing a link between the line asymmetry evolution over the Cepheids' pulsation cycles and their projection factor, with the final objective to improve the accuracy of the Baade-Wesselink method for distance determinations. Methods. We present HARPS high spectral resolution observations (R = 120 000) of nine galactic Cepheids: R Tra, S Cru, Y Sgr, β Dor, ζ Gem, Y Oph, RZ Vel, Car and RS Pup, having a good period sampling (P = 3.39d to P = 41.52d). We fit spectral line profiles by an asymmetric bi-Gaussian to derive radial velocity, Full-Width at Half-Maximum in the line (FWHM) and line asymmetry for all stars. We then extract correlations curves between radial velocity and asymmetry. A geometric model providing synthetic spectral lines, including limb-darkening, a constant FWHM (hereafter σ C ) and the rotation velocity is used to interpret these correlations curves. Results. For all stars, comparison between observations and modelling is satisfactory, and we were able to determine the projected rotation velocities and σ C for all stars. We also find a correlation between the rotation velocity (V rot sin i) and the period of the star: V rot sin i = (−11.5 ± 0.9) log (P) + (19.8 ± 1.0) [km s−1 ]. Moreover, we observe a systematic shift in observational asymmetry curves (noted γ O ), related to the period of the star, which is not explained by our static model: γ O = (−10.7 ± 0.1) log (P) + (9.7 ± 0.2) [in %]. For long-period Cepheids, in which velocity gradients, compression or shock waves seem to be large compared to short-or mediumperiod Cepheids we observe indeed a greater systematic shift in asymmetry curves. Conclusions. This new way of studying line asymmetry seems to be very promising for a better understanding of Cepheids atmosphere and to determine, for each star, a dynamic projection factor.

Context. The projection factor is a key quantity for the interferometric Baade-Wesselink (hereafter IBW) and surface-brightness (hereafter SB) methods of determining the distance of Cepheids. Indeed, it allows a consistent combination of angular and linear diameters of the star. Aims. We aim to determine consistent projection factors that include the dynamical structure of the Cepheids' atmosphere.Methods. Hydrodynamical models of δ Cep and Car have been used to validate a spectroscopic method of determining the projection factor. This method, based on the amplitude of the radial velocity curve, is applied to eight stars observed with the HARPS spectrometer. The projection factor is divided into three sub-concepts : (1) a geometrical effect, (2) the velocity gradient within the atmosphere, and (3) the relative motion of the "optical" pulsating photosphere compared to the corresponding mass elements (hereafter f o−g ). Both, (1) and (3) are deduced from geometrical and hydrodynamical models, respectively, while (2) is derived directly from observations.Results. The Fe i 4896.439 Å line is found to be the best one to use in the context of IBW and SB methods. A coherent and consistent period-projection factor relation (hereafter Pp relation) is derived for this specific spectral line: p = [−0.064 ± 0.020] log P + [1.376 ± 0.023]. This procedure is then extended to derive dynamic projection factors for any spectral line of any Cepheid. Conclusions. This Pp relation is an important tool for removing bias in the calibration of the period-luminosity relation of Cepheids. Moreover, it reveals a new physical quantity f o−g to investigate in the near future.

Abstract. The recent VINCI/VLTI observations presented in Paper I have nearly doubled the total number of available angular diameter measurements of Cepheids. Taking advantage of the significantly larger color range covered by these observations, we derive in the present paper high precision calibrations of the surface brightness-color relations using exclusively Cepheid observations. These empirical laws make it possible to determine the distance to Cepheids through a BaadeWesselink type technique. The least dispersed relations are based on visible-infrared colors, for instance F V (V − K) = −0.1336 ±0.0008 (V − K) + 3.9530 ±0.0006 . The convergence of the Cepheid (this work) and dwarf star (Kervella et al. 2004c) visible-infrared surface brightness-color relations is strikingly good. The astrophysical dispersion of these relations appears to be very small, and below the present detection sensitivity.

Abstract. We report the angular diameter measurements of seven classical Cepheids, X Sgr, η Aql, W Sgr, ζ Gem, β Dor, Y Oph and Car that we have obtained with the VINCI instrument, installed at ESO's VLT Interferometer (VLTI). We also present reprocessed archive data obtained with the FLUOR/IOTA instrument on ζ Gem, in order to improve the phase coverage of our observations. We obtain average limb darkened angular diameter values of θ