Near-IR Observations of Vega-like Stars with the VLTI: β Pic, α PsA, ∊ Eri and τ Cet

We have conducted K band interferometric observations of four nearby main-sequence Vega-like stars at the VLTI with very long baselines. The very high resolution allowed us to probe the innermost region of the disks, where planets are supposed to be formed. The diameters of three bright and nearby prototypes β Pictoris, Fomalhaut (α PsA) and ∊ Eridani as well as τ Ceti have been measured with VINCI, the VLTI commissioning instrument, with a high accuracy. The derived diameters were used to constrain their age with help of the evolution code CESAM. The precision achieved with VINCI allowed us to discuss the shape of their photosphere and the possible detection of warm circumstellar material within the narrow interferometric field of view.