scholarly journals Tomography of cool giant and supergiant star atmospheres

2020 ◽  
Vol 642 ◽  
pp. A235
Author(s):  
Kateryna Kravchenko ◽  
Markus Wittkowski ◽  
Alain Jorissen ◽  
Andrea Chiavassa ◽  
Sophie Van Eck ◽  
...  

Context. Asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars are characterized by substantial mass loss, however the mechanism behind it not yet fully understood. The knowledge of the structure and dynamics of AGB-star atmospheres is crucial to better understanding the mass loss. The recently established tomographic method, which relies on the design of spectral masks containing lines that form in given ranges of optical depths in the stellar atmosphere, is an ideal technique for this purpose. Aims. We aim to validate the capability of the tomographic method in probing different geometrical depths in the stellar atmosphere and recovering the relation between optical and geometrical depth scales. Methods. We applied the tomographic method to high-resolution spectro-interferometric VLTI/AMBER observations of the Mira-type AGB star S Ori. The interferometric visibilities were extracted at wavelengths contributing to the tomographic masks and fitted to those computed from a uniform disk model. This allows us to measure the geometrical extent of the atmospheric layer probed by the corresponding mask. We then compared the observed atmospheric extension with others measured from available 1D pulsation CODEX models and 3D radiative-hydrodynamics CO5BOLD simulations. Results. While the average optical depths probed by the tomographic masks in S Ori decrease (with ⟨log τ0⟩ = −0.45, − 1.45, and − 2.45 from the innermost to the central and outermost layers), the angular diameters of these layers increase, from 10.59 ± 0.09 mas through 11.84 ± 0.17 mas, up to 14.08 ± 0.15 mas. A similar behavior is observed when the tomographic method is applied to 1D and 3D dynamical models. Conclusions. This study derives, for the first time, a quantitative relation between optical and geometrical depth scales when applied to the Mira star S Ori, or to 1D and 3D dynamical models. In the context of Mira-type stars, knowledge of the link between the optical and geometrical depths opens the way to deriving the shock-wave propagation velocity, which cannot be directly observed in these stars.

1996 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 185-186
Author(s):  
Jessica M. Chapman

Radio emission at centimetre and millimetre wavelengths provides a powerful tool for studying the circumstellar envelopes of evolved stars. These include stars on the asymptotic giant branch (AGB), post-AGB stars and a small number of massive M-type supergiant stars. The AGB stars and M-type supergiants are characterised by extremely high mass-loss rates. The mass loss in such an evolved star is driven by radiation pressure acting on grains which form in the outer stellar atmosphere. The grains are accelerated outwards and transfer momentum to the gas through grain–gas collisions. The outflowing dust and gas thus form an expanding circumstellar envelope through which matter flows from the star to the interstellar medium, at a typical velocity of 15 km s−1. For a recent review of circumstellar mass loss see Chapman, Habing & Killeen (1995).


1999 ◽  
Vol 169 ◽  
pp. 329-336
Author(s):  
Yoji Osaki

AbstractWe discuss a possible role of non-radial oscillations as a cause of mass-loss in hot stars. In particular, we propose a working model for the episodic mass-loss in Be stars. In this model, equatorial mass loss is thought to be driven by wave-breaking phenomenon of large-amplitude non-radial waves and a circumstellar disk could thus be formed around the equatorial plane of a rapidly rotating star. A kind of relaxation-oscillation cycle could be established between the Be phase and non-Be phase, in which an interplay between non-radial oscillations in stellar atmosphere and the circumstellar disk is essential. We also discuss a viscous decretion-disk model for the circumstellar envelope around Be stars.


2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (S287) ◽  
pp. 230-234
Author(s):  
Olga Suárez ◽  
José Francisco Gómez ◽  
Philippe Bendjoya ◽  
Luis. F. Miranda ◽  
Martín. A. Guerrero ◽  
...  

AbstractWater fountains are evolved stars showing water masers with velocity spanning more than ~100 km/s. They usually appear at the end of the Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) phase or at the beginning of the post-AGB phase, and their masers trace the first manifestation of axisymmetric collimated mass-loss. For the first time, masers with water fountain characteristics have been detected towards a PN (IRAS 15103–5754), which might require a revision of the current theories about jet formation and survival times. IRAS 15103-5754 was observed using the ATCA interferometer at 22 GHz (both continuum and water maser). The main results of these observations are summarized here. The evolutionary classification of this object is also discussed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 492 (2) ◽  
pp. 2383-2392 ◽  
Author(s):  
V V Gvaramadze ◽  
A Y Kniazev ◽  
N Castro ◽  
I Y Katkov

ABSTRACT We report the discovery of a square axisymmetric circumstellar nebula around the emission-line star HD 93795 in the archival Spitzer Space Telescope 24 $\rm{\mu m}$ data. We classify HD 93795 as a B9 Ia star using optical spectra obtained with the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT). A spectral analysis carried out with the stellar atmosphere code fastwind indicates that HD 93795 only recently left the main sequence and is evolving redward for the first time. We discuss possible scenarios for the origin of the nebula and suggest that HD 93795 was originally a binary system and that the nebula was formed because of the merger of the binary components. We also discuss a discrepancy between distance estimates for HD 93795 based on the Gaia data and the possible membership of this star of the Car OB1 association, and conclude that HD 93795 could be at the same distance as Car OB1.


Author(s):  
Jie Yu ◽  
Saskia Hekker ◽  
Timothy R Bedding ◽  
Dennis Stello ◽  
Daniel Huber ◽  
...  

Abstract Mass loss by red giants is an important process to understand the final stages of stellar evolution and the chemical enrichment of the interstellar medium. Mass-loss rates are thought to be controlled by pulsation-enhanced dust-driven outflows. Here we investigate the relationships between mass loss, pulsations, and radiation, using 3213 luminous Kepler red giants and 135000 ASAS–SN semiregulars and Miras. Mass-loss rates are traced by infrared colours using 2MASS and WISE and by observed-to-model WISE fluxes, and are also estimated using dust mass-loss rates from literature assuming a typical gas-to-dust mass ratio of 400. To specify the pulsations, we extract the period and height of the highest peak in the power spectrum of oscillation. Absolute magnitudes are obtained from the 2MASS Ks band and the Gaia DR2 parallaxes. Our results follow. (i) Substantial mass loss sets in at pulsation periods above ∼60 and ∼100 days, corresponding to Asymptotic-Giant-Branch stars at the base of the period-luminosity sequences C′ and C. (ii) The mass-loss rate starts to rapidly increase in semiregulars for which the luminosity is just above the red-giant-branch tip and gradually plateaus to a level similar to that of Miras. (iii) The mass-loss rates in Miras do not depend on luminosity, consistent with pulsation-enhanced dust-driven winds. (iv) The accumulated mass loss on the Red Giant Branch consistent with asteroseismic predictions reduces the masses of red-clump stars by 6.3%, less than the typical uncertainty on their asteroseismic masses. Thus mass loss is currently not a limitation of stellar age estimates for galactic archaeology studies.


Author(s):  
T M Lawlor

Abstract We present stellar evolution calculations from the Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) to the Planetary Nebula (PN) phase for models of initial mass 1.2 M⊙ and 2.0 M⊙ that experience a Late Thermal Pulse (LTP), a helium shell flash that occurs following the AGB and causes a rapid looping evolution between the AGB and PN phase. We use these models to make comparisons to the central star of the Stingray Nebula, V839 Ara (SAO 244567). The central star has been observed to be rapidly evolving (heating) over the last 50 to 60 years and rapidly dimming over the past 20–30 years. It has been reported to belong to the youngest known planetary nebula, now rapidly fading in brightness. In this paper we show that the observed timescales, sudden dimming, and increasing Log(g), can all be explained by LTP models of a specific variety. We provide a possible explanation for the nebular ionization, the 1980’s sudden mass loss episode, the sudden decline in mass loss, and the nebular recombination and fading.


BIBECHANA ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Binil Aryal

Dust structures around the white dwarf WD 0253+209 is studied in 100 and 60 micron infrared image. These images are received from Infrared Astronomical Satellite Survey (IRAS Survey). The post Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) emission of the white dwarf's precursors' wind and the ambient interstellar matter is studied. The distribution of the relative flux density is studied and analyzed in the context of the dust color temperature, mass loading trend and the amount of total mass deposited due the interaction in the interstellar medium. The twisted curved emission structure at 100 micron in the region of interest is probably due to the interaction between the ambient interstellar medium and the He-flashes of the parent planetary nebula of the central white dwarf WD 0253+209. The total mass of the filamentary arc is found to be ~ 5 solar masses, as predicted. The mass loss rate of the post AGB star goes up to 10-5 solar masses per year. It is concluded that the first He-flash occurred at least ~2500 years ago.Keywords: white dwarf; interstellar medium; flux density; interstellar dust; mass of the gasDOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/bibechana.v8i0.4806BIBECHANA 8 (2012) 1-7


2020 ◽  
Vol 634 ◽  
pp. A84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Á. Skúladóttir ◽  
C. J. Hansen ◽  
A. Choplin ◽  
S. Salvadori ◽  
M. Hampel ◽  
...  

The slow (s) and intermediate (i) neutron (n) capture processes occur both in asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars, and in massive stars. To study the build-up of the s- and i-products at low metallicity, we investigate the abundances of Y, Ba, La, Nd, and Eu in 98 stars, at −2.4 <  [Fe/H] <  −0.9, in the Sculptor dwarf spheroidal galaxy. The chemical enrichment from AGB stars becomes apparent at [Fe/H] ≈ −2 in Sculptor, and causes [Y/Ba], [La/Ba], [Nd/Ba] and [Eu/Ba] to decrease with metallicity, reaching subsolar values at the highest [Fe/H] ≈ −1. To investigate individual nucleosynthetic sites, we compared three n-rich Sculptor stars with theoretical yields. One carbon-enhanced metal-poor (CEMP-no) star with high [Sr, Y, Zr] >  +0.7 is best fit with a model of a rapidly-rotating massive star, the second (likely CH star) with the i-process, while the third has no satisfactory fit. For a more general understanding of the build-up of the heavy elements, we calculate for the first time the cumulative contribution of the s- and i-processes to the chemical enrichment in Sculptor, and compare with theoretical predictions. By correcting for the r-process, we derive [Y/Ba]s/i = −0.85 ± 0.16, [La/Ba]s/i = −0.49 ± 0.17, and [Nd/Ba]s/i = −0.48 ± 0.12, in the overall s- and/or i-process in Sculptor. These abundance ratios are within the range of those of CEMP stars in the Milky Way, which have either s- or i-process signatures. The low [Y/Ba]s/i and [La/Ba]s/i that we measure in Sculptor are inconsistent with them arising from the s-process only, but are more compatible with models of the i-process. Thus we conclude that both the s- and i-processes were important for the build-up of n-capture elements in the Sculptor dwarf spheroidal galaxy.


1981 ◽  
Vol 59 ◽  
pp. 353-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. A. Willson

Mira variables are found at the tip of the asymptotic giant branch, with L≈3000-5000Lʘ and TeH3000K. (Feast 1981; Willson 1981a). They are fundamental mode pulsators (Willson 1979, 1981a). A typical Mira has P~350 days, R~200-300Rʘ, M~1-2Mʘ (Willson 1979; 1981a). From the atmospheric velocities of the Miras plus a fundamental mode period-massradius relation one finds present masses for the Miras which are not very different from their progenitor masses (Willson 1981a). This suggests that pre-Mira mass loss is moderate -- ≲20% of the mass is lost before pulsation starts. In fact one expects only moderate mass loss before the Mira stage;


2019 ◽  
Vol 484 (2) ◽  
pp. 1865-1888 ◽  
Author(s):  
D T Hoai ◽  
P T Nhung ◽  
P Tuan-Anh ◽  
P Darriulat ◽  
P N Diep ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT ALMA observations of CO(1–0) and CO(2–1) emissions of the circumstellar envelope of EP Aqr, an oxygen-rich asymptotic giant branch star, are reported. A thorough analysis of their properties is presented using an original method based on the separation of the data cube into a low-velocity component associated with an equatorial outflow and a faster component associated with a bipolar outflow. A number of important and new results are obtained concerning the distribution in space of the effective emissivity, the temperature, the density, and the flux of matter. A mass-loss rate of (1.6 ± 0.4)×10−7 solar masses per year is measured. The main parameters defining the morphology and kinematics of the envelope are evaluated and uncertainties inherent to de-projection are critically discussed. Detailed properties of the equatorial region of the envelope are presented including a measurement of the line width and a precise description of the observed inhomogeneity of both morphology and kinematics. In particular, in addition to the presence of a previously observed spiral enhancement of the morphology at very small Doppler velocities, a similarly significant but uncorrelated circular enhancement of the expansion velocity is revealed, both close to the limit of sensitivity. The results of the analysis place significant constraints on the parameters of models proposing descriptions of the mass-loss mechanism, but cannot choose among them with confidence.


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