First evidence for a spatially resolved disk structure around the Herbig Ae star R CrA

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We present mid-infrared interferometric observations of the Herbig Ae star R CrA obtained with MIDI at the VLTI using several projected baselines in the UT2-UT3 configuration. The observations show resolved circumstellar emission in the wavelength range 8-13 micron on a 6 AU scale with a non-symmetric intensity distribution, providing support for an inclined disk geometry. Visibilities are best fitted using a uniform ring model with outer radius in the range 6-10 AU, in the wavelength range 8-13 micron. The inclination of the ring with respect to the plane of the sky is found to be 45 deg., consistent with the 40 deg. suggested from near-infrared imaging polarimetry (Clark et al. 2000, MNRAS, 319, 337).