Asteroid sizes determined with thermophysical model and stellar occultations

Context. The sizes of many asteroids, especially slowly rotating, low-amplitude targets, remain poorly constrained due to selection effects. These biases limit the availability of high-quality data, leaving size estimates reliant on spherical shape assumptions. Such approximations introduce significant uncertainties propagating, for example, into density determinations or thermophysical and compositional studies, affecting our understanding of asteroid properties. Aims. This work targets poorly studied main-belt asteroids, for most of which no shape models were previously available. Using only high-quality, dense light curves, thermal infrared observations (systematically including WISE data), and stellar occultations, we aimed to produce reliable shape models and scale them using two independent techniques, allowing for size comparison at the end. We conducted two observing campaigns to achieve this: one to obtain dense photometric light curves and another to acquire multi-chord stellar occultations by these objects. Methods. Shape and spin models were reconstructed using light curve inversion techniques. Sizes were determined via two methods: (1) advanced thermophysical modelling using the convex inversion thermophysical model (CITPM), which optimises spin and shape models to light curve data in the visible range together with infrared data, and (2) scaling the shape models with stellar occultations. Results. We obtained precise sizes and shape models for 15 asteroids. CITPM and occultation-derived sizes agree within 5% for most cases, demonstrating the reliability of the modelling approach. Larger discrepancies are usually linked to incomplete occultation chord coverage. The study also provides insights into surface properties, including albedo, surface roughness and thermal inertia. Conclusions. The use of high-quality data, coupled with an advanced TPM that uses both thermal and visible data while allowing the shape model to be adjusted according to both types of data, enabled us to determine sizes with precision comparable to those derived from multichord stellar occultations. We resolved substantial inconsistencies in previous size determinations for target asteroids, providing good input for future studies on asteroid densities and surface properties.