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The Molecular Envelope around the Red Supergiant VY CMa
We present millimeter interferometric observations of the molecularenvelope around the red supergiant VY CMa with the Submillimeter Array(SMA). The high angular resolution (<2") allows us to derive thestructure of the envelope as observed in the 1.3 mm continuum,12CO(2-1), 13CO(2-1), andSO(65-54) lines emission. The circumstellarenvelope is resolved into three components: (1) a dense, compact, anddusty central component, embedded in (2) a more diffuse and extendedenvelope, and (3) a high-velocity component. We construct a simplemodel, consisting of a spherically symmetric slowly expanding envelopeand bipolar outflows with a wide opening angle (~120°) viewed closeto the line of sight (i=15deg). Our model can explain themain features of the SMA data and previous single-dish CO multilineobservations. An episode of enhanced mass loss along the bipolardirection is inferred from our modeling. The SMA data provide a betterunderstanding of the complicated morphology seen in the optical/IRhigh-resolution observations.
| Evolution of the Circumstellar Molecular Envelope. I. A BIMA CO Survey of Evolved Stars
This paper reports the results of a small imaging survey of eightevolved stars including two AGB stars (IRC +10216 and Mira), fiveproto-planetary nebula (PPN) candidates (AFGL 2688, IRAS 22272+5435, HD161796, 89 Her, and HD 179821), and a planetary nebula (PN, NGC 7027).We present high-resolution 12CO J=1-->0 maps of their fullmolecular envelopes made by combining BIMA Millimeter Array and NRAO 12m telescope observations. For the PPNe and PN, the neutral molecularenvelopes are compared with images taken at optical, near-IR, and mid-IRwavelengths. Drawing from the literature, we augmented our BIMA surveysample to 38 well-studied sources with CO emission maps. We classifiedthis sample of sources based on the kinematics and morphologies of theCO emission into three types: spherical/elliptical/shell sources, disksources, and structured outflow sources. Confirming previous studies, wefind strong evidence for the photodissociation of the molecular envelopeas an object evolves from the AGB to PN stages. While the spherical AGBstars follow theoretical expectations for mass-loss rate versus envelopesize, the post-AGB structured outflow sources have significantly highermass-loss rates than expected probably because of their recentsuperwinds. We find evidence that the structured outflows are clearlyyounger than the AGB wind. The disk sources have little correlationbetween mass-loss rate and envelope size because their properties aredetermined more by the properties of the central stars and diskevolution than by the mass-loss rate history that shapes the sphericaland structured-outflow sources.
| Circumstellar Atomic Hydrogen in Evolved Stars
We present new results of a spectroscopic survey of circumstellar H I inthe direction of evolved stars made with the NançayRadiotelescope. The H I line at 21 cm has been detected in thecircumstellar shells of a variety of evolved stars: asymptotic giantbranch stars, oxygen-rich and carbon-rich stars, semiregular and Miravariables, and planetary nebulae. The emissions are generally spatiallyresolved, i.e., larger than 4', indicating shell sizes on the order of 1pc, which opens the possibility of tracing the history of mass loss overthe past ~104-105 yr. The line profiles aresometimes composite. The individual components generally have aquasi-Gaussian shape; in particular, they seldom show the double-hornprofile that would be expected from the spatially resolved opticallythin emission of a uniformly expanding shell. This probably implies thatthe expansion velocity decreases outward in the external shells (0.1-1pc) of these evolved stars. The H I line profiles do not necessarilymatch those of the CO rotational lines. Furthermore, the centroidvelocities do not always agree with those measured in the CO linesand/or the stellar radial velocities. The H I emissions may also beshifted in position with respect to the central stars. Without excludingthe possibility of asymmetric mass ejection, we suggest that these twoeffects could also be related to a nonisotropic interaction with thelocal interstellar medium. H I was detected in emission toward severalsources (ρ Per, α Her, δ2 Lyr, U CMi) thatotherwise have not been detected in any radio lines. Conversely, it wasnot detected in the two oxygen-rich stars with substantial mass-lossrate, NML Tau and WX Psc, possibly because these sources are young, withhydrogen in molecular form, and/or because the temperature of thecircumstellar H I gas is very low (<5 K).This paper is dedicated to the memory of Marie-Odile Mennessier(1940-2004).
| First Surface-resolved Results with the Infrared Optical Telescope Array Imaging Interferometer: Detection of Asymmetries in Asymptotic Giant Branch Stars
We have measured nonzero closure phases for about 29% of our sample of56 nearby asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars, using the three-telescopeInfrared Optical Telescope Array (IOTA) interferometer at near-infraredwavelengths (H band) and with angular resolutions in the range 5-10 mas.These nonzero closure phases can only be generated by asymmetricbrightness distributions of the target stars or their surroundings. Wediscuss how these results were obtained and how they might beinterpreted in terms of structures on or near the target stars. We alsoreport measured angular sizes and hypothesize that most Mira stars wouldshow detectable asymmetry if observed with adequate angular resolution.
| On the Energy Flux Reaching Planets during the Parent Star's Evolutionary Track:The Earth-Sun System
The total flux of energy emitted by a star is a basic source of almostall physical and chemical processes in the atmosphere and on the surfaceof a planet. On the other hand, the upper parts of atmosphere,ionosphere, and magnetosphere are influenced to a great extent by tinyenergy fluxes contained in the stellar XUV radiation and wind that aremostly responsible for ionization and photodissociation of atmosphericconstituents and their escape. The latter problem is essential for theeventual detection of planets around stars. This paper demonstratesquantitatively how the above energy fluxes vary during a star'sevolution. The results are presented for a solar-type star and a planetlocated initially at a distance of 1 AU from the star, providing insightinto the past and future of the Sun and Earth. Among other things, theadopted model predicts that the maximum values of the energy fluxreaching the Earth during giant phases of the Sun are greater than therespective values observed at present (the quiet Sun) by about 5 ordersof magnitude for the solar wind, 3 orders of magnitude for the totalradiation, and 2 orders of magnitude for the XUV radiation. On the otherhand, the latter increases enormously (about 6 orders of magnitude)during a brief period of the post-asymptotic giant stage and decreasesfast when moving to and during the white dwarf phase.
| CO line emission from circumstellar envelopes
Aims.We present the results of a multi-transition CO observationalprogram conducted on a sample of AGB and post-AGB stars envelopes. Wehave collected maps and single pointing observations of these envelopesin 5 rotational transitions ranging from J = 1-0 to J = 6-5, includingin particular new observations of the CO line at 691 GHz at the CSO. Theuse of such a set of mm and submm CO line on stellar envelopes is rareand limited to the work of some authors on IRC+10216. Methods:.Using a model for the CO emission of an AGB circumstellar envelope, incombination with a standard LVG approach, we have conducted a systematicmodelling analysis using the whole set of CO data collected for a sampleof 12 sources. We simultaneously fit all five transitions, taking intoaccount the spatial information provided by the maps. Results: .Wefind mass-loss rates in the range 1 × 10-7 to 4 ×10-4 M_ȯ/yr, and envelope temperatures ranging from 20 Kto 1000 K at a radius of 1016 cm. There seem to be a generalanti-correlation between mass loss rates and temperature, the high massloss rate AGBs having low temperatures, and vice versa. We show thatmost AGB data can be fitted using a constant mass loss rate, at leastwithin the calibration uncertainties associated with the data collectedat different frequencies. For some cases though (e.g. CIT 6, R Hya,χ Cyg), a change in the mass loss rate history needs to be invokedto reconcile data at low- and high-J, a scenario already mentioned byseveral authors to explain observations of WX Psc.
| BIMA CO Observation of EP Aquarii: The Semiregular Pulsating Star with a Double-Component Line Profile
This paper reports the results of a Berkeley-Illinois-MarylandAssociation array interferometric observation of EP Aqr, a semiregularpulsating star with a double-component line profile in the CO J=1-0line. The broad component shows a flat-topped profile, and the narrowcomponent shows a spiky strong peak. Although previous single-dishobservations suggested that the CO J=2-1 line exhibits a Gaussian-likeprofile, the CO J=1-0 line does not. The spatial distributions of boththe narrow and the broad components appear to be roughly round with thesame peak positions. No significant velocity gradient is seen. Thespatial-kinetic properties of the molecular envelope of EP Aqr arereminiscent of a multiple-shell structure model rather than of a bipolarflow and disk model. A problem with this interpretation is that noevidence of interaction between the narrow- and broad-component regionsis seen. A Gaussian-like feature seen in the CO J=2-1 line might play akey role in understanding the spatiokinetic properties of the molecularenvelope of EP Aqr.
| Atomic hydrogen in asymptotic giant branch circumstellar environments. A case study: X Her
We report the detection of the HI line at 21 cm from the circumstellarshell around the asymptotic giant branch star X Her using theposition-switching technique with the Nançay Radio Telescope. Atthe star position, the line shows two components: (i) a broad one [fullwidth at half-maximum (FWHM) ~ 13 kms-1] centred at -72.2kms-1 and (ii) a narrow one (FWHM ~ 4 kms-1)centred at ~-70.6kms -1. Our map shows that the sourceassociated to the broad component is asymmetric with material flowingpreferentially towards the north-east. This source extends to ~10 arcmin(~0.4pc) from the star in that direction. On the other hand, the narrowcomponent is detected only at the star position and indicates materialflowing away from the observer. The total mass of atomic hydrogen is~6.5 × 10-3Msolar which, within a factor of2, agrees with the estimate obtained from IRAS data at 60 μm.
| Phase Lags in the Optical-Infrared Light Curves of Asymptotic Giant Branch Stars
To search for phase lags in the optical-infrared light curves ofasymptotic giant branch stars, we have compared infrared data from theCOBE DIRBE satellite with optical light curves from the AAVSO and othersources. We found 17 examples of phase lags between the times ofinfrared and optical maximum, and 4 stars with no observed lags. Thereis a clear difference between the Mira variables and the semiregularvariables in the sample, with the maximum in the optical preceding thatin the near-infrared in the Miras, while in most of the semiregularvariables no lags are observed. Comparison to published theoreticalmodels indicates that the phase lags in the Miras are due to strongtitanium oxide absorption in the visual at stellar maximum, and suggeststhat Miras pulsate in the fundamental mode, while at least somesemiregular variables are first-overtone pulsators. There is a clearoptical-near-infrared phase lag in the carbon-rich Mira V CrB; this islikely due to C2 and CN absorption variations in the optical.
| BIMA Array Observations of the Highly Unusual SiO Maser Source with a Bipolar Nebulosity IRAS 19312+1950
We report the results of mapping observations of the bipolar nebula withSiO maser emission, IRAS 19312+1950, in the CO (J=1-0 and 2-1),13CO (J=1-0 and 2-1), C18O (J=1-0), CS (J=2-1), SO(JK=32-21), and HCO+ (J=3-2)lines with the Berkeley-Illinois-Maryland Association array. Theevolutional status of this source has been evoking a controversy sinceits discovery, although SiO maser sources are usually identified aslate-type stars with active mass loss. In line profiles, two kinematicalcomponents are found, as reported in previous single-dish observations:a broad pedestal component and a narrow component. Spatiokineticproperties of a broad-component region traced by 12CO linesare roughly explained by a simple spherical outflow model with anexpanding velocity typical of an AGB star, although some properties ofthe broad-component region still conflict with properties of a typicalAGB spherical outflow. A narrow-component region apparently exhibits abipolar flow. The angular size of the narrow-component region isspatially larger than that of the broad-component region. The intensitydistribution of the CS emission avoids the central region of the source,and that of the SO broad-component emission exhibits a small featurepeaked exactly at the mapping center. According to the present results,if the broad component really originates in a spherical outflow, anoxygen-rich evolved stellar object seems to be a natural interpretationfor the central star of IRAS 19312+1950.
| Oxygen-rich AGB stars with optically thin dust envelopes
The dust composition and dynamics of the circumstellar envelopes ofoxygen-rich AGB stars with low mass-loss rates (5 ×10-8-10-5 Mȯ yr-1) havebeen investigated. We have analyzed the ISO-SWS spectra of twenty-eightoxygen-rich AGB stars with optically thin shells, and modelled theobservations with the radiative transfer code DUSTY using the opticalconstants from laboratory dust analogues. This has allowed us todetermine the composition of the dust and the physical conditions at theinner edge of the shell. Moreover, by comparing with CO observationsavailable in the literature, we have determined the gas-to-dust massratios and the mass-loss rates of these sources, and analyzed thewind-driving mechanism. The results show that the small amounts of dustpresent in these envelopes, characterized by visual optical depths inthe 0.03-0.6 range, are enough to drive the wind by radiation pressureon the grains. In some sources there are indications of circumstellardust that does not contribute to the wind-driving, and that maydistributed in a disk or clumps. Other sources show signs of variablemass-loss rates. A grain mixture in the shell consisting of aluminiumoxide, melilite, olivine, spinel and Mg{0.1}Fe{0.9}O fit the observedspectra well. From these species, only melilite is required to have afractional abundance greater than 25% in all cases. Although spinelreproduces the 13 μm feature, the absence of the 16.8 μm peak inour SWS spectra casts doubts on this identification. The outcome of themodelling reveals that the olivine content in these CSEs increases withpressure and temperature at the inner edge. Moreover, the aluminiumoxide percentage in the dust of the envelopes shows a positivecorrelation with the gas-to-dust mass ratio. These results, togetherwith the derived dust compositions, are consistent with thethermodynamic dust condensation sequence scenario and its freezing-outdue to kinetics. However, the temperatures at the inner edge of theshell are substantially lower than those predicted by theory.
| Disklike Structure in the Semiregular Pulsating Star X Herculis
This paper reports the results of a Berkeley-Illinois-Maryland (BIMA)array interferometric observation of a semiregular pulsating star withan unusual narrow molecular line profile, X Her, in the CO J=1-0 line.In the CO spectrum, a double-component profile (including narrow andbroad components) is seen, as reported by previous observations. Thenarrow component consists of two spiky peaks. The spatial structure ofthe board component shows bipolar shape, and that of the narrowcomponent shows an elliptical/spherical shape. The two peaks in thenarrow component show a systematic difference in the integratedintensity map. The kinematical and geometrical properties of the narrowcomponent are reminiscent of a Keplerian rotating disk with a centralmass of 0.9 Msolar, although an interpretation as anexpansion disk seems to be more natural. A secondary bipolar flowinstead of the disk also cannot be fully excluded as an interpretationof the narrow line.
| High-Resolution Mid-Infrared Imaging of the Asymptotic Giant Branch Star RV Bootis with the Steward Observatory Adaptive Optics System
We present high-resolution (~0.1"), very high Strehl ratio (0.97+/-0.03)mid-IR adaptive optics (AO) images of the asymptotic giant branch (AGB)star RV Boo utilizing the MMT adaptive secondary AO system. RV Boo wasobserved at a number of wavelengths over two epochs (9.8 μm in 2003May and 8.8, 9.8, and 11.7 μm in 2004 February) and appeared slightlyextended at all wavelengths. While the extension is very slight at 8.8and 11.7 μm, the extension is somewhat more pronounced at 9.8 μm.With such high Strehl ratios, we can achieve superresolutions of 0.1" bydeconvolving RV Boo with a point-spread function (PSF) derived from anunresolved star. We tentatively resolve RV Boo into a 0.16" FWHMextension at a position angle of 120°. At a distance of390+250-100 pc, this corresponds to a FWHM of60+40-15 AU. We measure a total flux at 9.8 μmof 145+/-24 Jy for the disk and star. Based on a dust thermal emissionmodel for the observed IR spectral energy distribution and the 9.8 μmAO image, we derive a disk dust mass of 1.6×10-6Msolar and an inclination of 30°-45° from edge-on. Wediscuss whether the dust disk observed around RV Boo is an example ofthe early stages in the formation of asymmetric structure in planetarynebulae.
| CHARM2: An updated Catalog of High Angular Resolution Measurements
We present an update of the Catalog of High Angular ResolutionMeasurements (CHARM, Richichi & Percheron \cite{CHARM}, A&A,386, 492), which includes results available until July 2004. CHARM2 is acompilation of direct measurements by high angular resolution methods,as well as indirect estimates of stellar diameters. Its main goal is toprovide a reference list of sources which can be used for calibrationand verification observations with long-baseline optical and near-IRinterferometers. Single and binary stars are included, as are complexobjects from circumstellar shells to extragalactic sources. The presentupdate provides an increase of almost a factor of two over the previousedition. Additionally, it includes several corrections and improvements,as well as a cross-check with the valuable public release observationsof the ESO Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI). A total of 8231entries for 3238 unique sources are now present in CHARM2. Thisrepresents an increase of a factor of 3.4 and 2.0, respectively, overthe contents of the previous version of CHARM.The catalog is only available in electronic form at the CDS viaanonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/431/773
| A study of bright Southern long period variables
In this paper we present radial velocity curves of AGB variables thatexhibit various kinds of anomalies: semiregular variables (SRVs) withtypical mira periods, SRVs exceeding the mira 2.5 mag amplitude limit,miras with secondary maxima in their light curves, and a SRV with a longsecondary period. The stars with reliable Hipparcos parallaxes from thisand from previous studies are plotted in a log P-MK-diagram.Our objects nicely follow the log P-MK-relations determinedfor the LMC. This allows the pulsation mode to be identified. While allmiras fall on the fundamental mode sequence, the SRVs fall on both thefirst overtone and fundamental mode sequences. The SRVs on thefundamental mode sequence occur at both high and low luminosities, someof them being more luminous than larger amplitude miras. Thisdemonstrates observationally that some parameter other than luminosityaffects the stability of long period variables, probably mass. Firstovertone pulsators all show velocity amplitudes around 4 kms-1. For the fundamental mode pulsators, the velocityamplitude shows a correlation with light amplitude. The two miras R Cenand R Nor, known for their double-peaked light curves, have velocitycurves that are quite different. The R Nor velocity curve shows noevidence of the double peaks, meaning that the true pulsation period isthe time between alternate minima or maxima. There is slight evidencefor a double bump in the R Cen velocity curve. It is suggested thatthese stars are relatively massive (3-5 Mȯ).
| Local kinematics of K and M giants from CORAVEL/Hipparcos/Tycho-2 data. Revisiting the concept of superclusters
The availability of the Hipparcos Catalogue has triggered many kinematicand dynamical studies of the solar neighbourhood. Nevertheless, thosestudies generally lacked the third component of the space velocities,i.e., the radial velocities. This work presents the kinematic analysisof 5952 K and 739 M giants in the solar neighbourhood which includes forthe first time radial velocity data from a large survey performed withthe CORAVEL spectrovelocimeter. It also uses proper motions from theTycho-2 catalogue, which are expected to be more accurate than theHipparcos ones. An important by-product of this study is the observedfraction of only 5.7% of spectroscopic binaries among M giants ascompared to 13.7% for K giants. After excluding the binaries for whichno center-of-mass velocity could be estimated, 5311 K and 719 M giantsremain in the final sample. The UV-plane constructed from these datafor the stars with precise parallaxes (σπ/π≤20%) reveals a rich small-scale structure, with several clumpscorresponding to the Hercules stream, the Sirius moving group, and theHyades and Pleiades superclusters. A maximum-likelihood method, based ona Bayesian approach, has been applied to the data, in order to make fulluse of all the available stars (not only those with precise parallaxes)and to derive the kinematic properties of these subgroups. Isochrones inthe Hertzsprung-Russell diagram reveal a very wide range of ages forstars belonging to these groups. These groups are most probably relatedto the dynamical perturbation by transient spiral waves (as recentlymodelled by De Simone et al. \cite{Simone2004}) rather than to clusterremnants. A possible explanation for the presence of younggroup/clusters in the same area of the UV-plane is that they have beenput there by the spiral wave associated with their formation, while thekinematics of the older stars of our sample has also been disturbed bythe same wave. The emerging picture is thus one of dynamical streamspervading the solar neighbourhood and travelling in the Galaxy withsimilar space velocities. The term dynamical stream is more appropriatethan the traditional term supercluster since it involves stars ofdifferent ages, not born at the same place nor at the same time. Theposition of those streams in the UV-plane is responsible for the vertexdeviation of 16.2o ± 5.6o for the wholesample. Our study suggests that the vertex deviation for youngerpopulations could have the same dynamical origin. The underlyingvelocity ellipsoid, extracted by the maximum-likelihood method afterremoval of the streams, is not centered on the value commonly acceptedfor the radial antisolar motion: it is centered on < U > =-2.78±1.07 km s-1. However, the full data set(including the various streams) does yield the usual value for theradial solar motion, when properly accounting for the biases inherent tothis kind of analysis (namely, < U > = -10.25±0.15 kms-1). This discrepancy clearly raises the essential questionof how to derive the solar motion in the presence of dynamicalperturbations altering the kinematics of the solar neighbourhood: doesthere exist in the solar neighbourhood a subset of stars having no netradial motion which can be used as a reference against which to measurethe solar motion?Based on observations performed at the Swiss 1m-telescope at OHP,France, and on data from the ESA Hipparcos astrometry satellite.Full Table \ref{taba1} is only available in electronic form at the CDSvia anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/430/165}
| Period-luminosity relation for M-type semiregular variables from Hipparcos parallaxes
We have studied the period-luminosity (P-L) relationships of oxygen-richsemiregular (SR) variables in several wavelength bands using Hipparcosparallaxes with an accuracy of better than 10 per cent. We have shownthat there is a clear dependence on period of absolute magnitude in theU,B,V,R,IC,J,H,K,L,M,N, [12], [25], [60] and [100] bands, andthat the slope of the linear Mλ- logP relation is asmooth function of wavelength. We point out that this relation can inprinciple be used to derive absolute bolometric magnitude as a functionof period.The behaviour of the second periods of SR variables in the P-L relationin the V and K bands is also discussed.
| Spectral Classification of Stars in A Supplement to the Bright Star Catalogue
MK spectral types are given for about 584 stars in A Supplement to theBright Star Catalogue. These are compared with Hipparcos parallaxes tocheck the reliability of those classifications. The estimated errors are+/-1.2 subtypes, and 10% of the luminosity classes may be wrong.
| Bipolar outflow on the asymptotic giant branch - the case of IRC+10011
Near-infrared imaging of the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) starIRC+10011 (= CIT3) reveals the presence of a bipolar structure withinthe central ~0.1 arcsec of a spherical dusty wind. We show that theimage asymmetries originate from ~10-4 Msolar ofswept-up wind material in an elongated cocoon whose expansion is drivenby bipolar jets. We perform detailed 2D radiative transfer calculationswith the cocoon modelled as two cones extending to ~1100 au within anopening angle of ~30°, embedded in a wind with the standardr-2 density profile. The cocoon expansion started <~200 yrago, while the total lifetime of the circumstellar shell is ~5500 yr.Similar bipolar expansion, at various stages of evolution, has beenrecently observed in a number of other AGB stars, culminating in jetbreakout from the confining spherical wind. The bipolar outflow istriggered at a late stage in the evolution of AGB winds, and IRC+10011provides its earliest example thus far. These new developments enable usto identify the first instance of symmetry breaking in the evolutionfrom AGB to planetary nebula.
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| ``Thermal'' SiO radio line emission towards M-type AGB stars: A probe of circumstellar dust formation and dynamics
An extensive radiative transfer analysis of circumstellar SiO``thermal'' radio line emission from a large sample of M-type AGB starshas been performed. The sample contains 18 irregulars of type Lb (IRV),7 and 34 semiregulars of type SRa and SRb (SRV), respectively, and 12Miras. New observational data, which contain spectra of several groundvibrational state SiO rotational lines, are presented. The detectionrate was about 60% (44% for the IRVs, and 68% for the SRVs). SiOfractional abundances have been determined through radiative transfermodelling. The abundance distribution of the IRV/SRV sample has a medianvalue of 6*E-6, and a minimum of 2*E-6 and amaximum of 5*E-5. The high mass-loss rate Miras have a muchlower median abundance, la 10-6. The derived SiO abundancesare in all cases well below the abundance expected from stellaratmosphere equilibrium chemistry, on average by a factor of ten. Inaddition, there is a trend of decreasing SiO abundance with increasingmass-loss rate. This is interpreted in terms of depletion of SiOmolecules by the formation of silicate grains in the circumstellarenvelopes, with an efficiency which is high already at low mass-lossrates and which increases with the mass-loss rate. The high mass-lossrate Miras appear to have a bimodal SiO abundance distribution, a lowabundance group (on average 4*E-7) and a high abundance group(on average 5*E-6). The estimated SiO envelope sizes agreewell with the estimated SiO photodissociation radii using an unshieldedphotodissociation rate of 2.5*E-10 s-1. The SiOand CO radio line profiles differ in shape. In general, the SiO lineprofiles are narrower than the CO line profiles, but they havelow-intensity wings which cover the full velocity range of the CO lineprofile. This is interpreted as partly an effect of selfabsorption inthe SiO lines, and partly (as has been done also by others) as due tothe influence of gas acceleration in the region which produces asignificant fraction of the SiO line emission. Finally, a number ofsources which have peculiar CO line profiles are discussed from thepoint of view of their SiO line properties.Based on observations using the SEST at La Silla, Chile, the 20 mtelescope at Onsala Space Observatory, Sweden, the JCMT on Hawaii, andthe IRAM 30 m telescope at Pico Veleta, Spain.
| Guilt by Association: The 13 Micron Dust Emission Feature and Its Correlation to Other Gas and Dust Features
A study of all full-scan spectra of optically thin oxygen-richcircumstellar dust shells in the database produced by the ShortWavelength Spectrometer on ISO reveals that the strength of severalinfrared spectral features correlates with the strength of the 13 μmdust feature. These correlated features include dust features at 19.8and 28.1 μm and the bands produced by warm carbon dioxide molecules(the strongest of which are at 13.9, 15.0, and 16.2 μm). The databasedoes not provide any evidence for a correlation of the 13 μm featurewith a dust feature at 32 μm, and it is more likely that a weakemission feature at 16.8 μm arises from carbon dioxide gas ratherthan dust. The correlated dust features at 13, 20, and 28 μm tend tobe stronger with respect to the total dust emission in semiregular andirregular variables associated with the asymptotic giant branch than inMira variables or supergiants. This family of dust features also tendsto be stronger in systems with lower infrared excesses and thus lowermass-loss rates. We hypothesize that the dust features arise fromcrystalline forms of alumina (13 μm) and silicates (20 and 28 μm).Based on observations with the ISO, a European Space Agency (ESA)project with instruments funded by ESA member states (especially thePrincipal Investigator countries: France, Germany, the Netherlands, andthe United Kingdom) and with the participation of the Institute of Spaceand Astronautical Science (ISAS) and the National Aeronautics and SpaceAdministration (NASA).
| Infrared Colors and Variability of Evolved Stars from COBE DIRBE Data
For a complete 12 μm flux-limited sample of 207 IRAS sources(F12>=150 Jy, |b|>=5deg), the majority ofwhich are AGB stars (~87%), we have extracted light curves in seveninfrared bands between 1.25 and 60 μm using the database of theDiffuse Infrared Background Experiment (DIRBE) instrument on the CosmicBackground Explorer (COBE) satellite. Using previous infrared surveys,we filtered these light curves to remove data points affected by nearbycompanions and obtained time-averaged flux densities and infraredcolors, as well as estimates of their variability at each wavelength. Inthe time-averaged DIRBE color-color plots, we find clear segregation ofsemiregulars, Mira variables, carbon stars, OH/IR stars, and red giantswithout circumstellar dust (i.e., V-[12]<5) and with little or novisual variation (ΔV<0.1 mag). The DIRBE 1.25-25 μm colorsbecome progressively redder and the variability in the DIRBE databaseincreases along the oxygen-rich sequence nondusty slightly varying redgiants-->SRb/Lb-->SRa-->Mira-->OH/IR and the carbon-richSRb/Lb-->Mira sequence. This supports previous assertions that theseare evolutionary sequences involving the continued production andejection of dust. The carbon stars are redder than their oxygen-richcounterparts for the same variability type, except in theF12/F25 ratio, where they are bluer. Of the 28sources in the sample not previous noted to be variable, 18 are clearlyvariable in the DIRBE data, with amplitudes of variation of ~0.9 mag at4.9 μm and ~0.6 mag at 12 μm, consistent with them being verydusty Mira-like variables. We also present individual DIRBE light curvesof a few selected stars. The DIRBE light curves of the semiregularvariable L2 Pup are particularly remarkable. The maxima at1.25, 2.2, and 3.5 μm occur 10-20 days before those at 4.9 and 12μm, and, at 4.9 and 12 μm, another maximum is seen between the twonear-infrared maxima.
| Mass loss and rotational CO emission from Asymptotic Giant Branch stars
We present submillimeter observations of rotational transitions ofcarbon monoxide from J = 2 -> 1 up to 7 -> 6 for a sample ofAsymptotic Giant Branch stars and red supergiants. It is the first timethat the high transitions J=6 -> 5 and 7 -> 6 are included in sucha study. With line radiative transfer calculations, we aim to determinethe mass-loss history of these stars by fitting the CO line intensities.We find that the observed line intensities of the high transitions,including the J=4 -> 3 transition, are significantly lower than thepredicted values. We conclude that the physical structure of the outflowof Asymptotic Giant Branch stars is more complex than previouslythought. In order to understand the observed line intensities andprofiles, a physical structure with a variable mass-loss rate and/or agradient in stochastic gas velocity is required. A case study of the AGBstar WX Psc is performed. We find that the CO linestrengths may be explained by variations in mass-loss on time scalessimilar to those observed in the separated arc-like structures observedaround post-AGB stars. In addition, a gradient in the stochasticvelocity may play a role. Until this has been sorted out fully, any massloss determinations based upon single CO lines will remain suspect.
| Reprocessing the Hipparcos data of evolved stars. III. Revised Hipparcos period-luminosity relationship for galactic long-period variable stars
We analyze the K band luminosities of a sample of galactic long-periodvariables using parallaxes measured by the Hipparcos mission. Theparallaxes are in most cases re-computed from the Hipparcos IntermediateAstrometric Data using improved astrometric fits and chromaticitycorrections. The K band magnitudes are taken from the literature andfrom measurements by COBE, and are corrected for interstellar andcircumstellar extinction. The sample contains stars of several spectraltypes: M, S and C, and of several variability classes: Mira, semiregularSRa, and SRb. We find that the distribution of stars in theperiod-luminosity plane is independent of circumstellar chemistry, butthat the different variability types have different P-L distributions.Both the Mira variables and the SRb variables have reasonablywell-defined period-luminosity relationships, but with very differentslopes. The SRa variables are distributed between the two classes,suggesting that they are a mixture of Miras and SRb, rather than aseparate class of stars. New period-luminosity relationships are derivedbased on our revised Hipparcos parallaxes. The Miras show a similarperiod-luminosity relationship to that found for Large Magellanic CloudMiras by Feast et al. (\cite{Feast-1989:a}). The maximum absolute Kmagnitude of the sample is about -8.2 for both Miras and semi-regularstars, only slightly fainter than the expected AGB limit. We show thatthe stars with the longest periods (P>400 d) have high mass lossrates and are almost all Mira variables.Based on observations from the Hipparcos astrometric satellite operatedby the European Space Agency (ESA \cite{Hipparcos}).Table \ref{Tab:data1} is only available in electronic form at the CDSvia anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/403/993
| Hipparcos red stars in the HpV_T2 and V I_C systems
For Hipparcos M, S, and C spectral type stars, we provide calibratedinstantaneous (epoch) Cousins V - I color indices using newly derivedHpV_T2 photometry. Three new sets of ground-based Cousins V I data havebeen obtained for more than 170 carbon and red M giants. These datasetsin combination with the published sources of V I photometry served toobtain the calibration curves linking Hipparcos/Tycho Hp-V_T2 with theCousins V - I index. In total, 321 carbon stars and 4464 M- and S-typestars have new V - I indices. The standard error of the mean V - I isabout 0.1 mag or better down to Hp~9 although it deteriorates rapidly atfainter magnitudes. These V - I indices can be used to verify thepublished Hipparcos V - I color indices. Thus, we have identified ahandful of new cases where, instead of the real target, a random fieldstar has been observed. A considerable fraction of the DMSA/C and DMSA/Vsolutions for red stars appear not to be warranted. Most likely suchspurious solutions may originate from usage of a heavily biased color inthe astrometric processing.Based on observations from the Hipparcos astrometric satellite operatedby the European Space Agency (ESA 1997).}\fnmsep\thanks{Table 7 is onlyavailable in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp tocdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/397/997
| Infrared investigation from earth and space on the evolutionary state of a sample of LPV
We selected a sample of highly reddened AGB stars among the sourcesobserved with the SWS instrument on the ISO satellite. These SWS dataallow us to compute the source's photometry in the mid-IR filters of thecamera TIRCAM at the TIRGO telescope. Our photometric data, supplementedwith other measurements taken from the literature, permit to select thecarbon-rich sources in the sample. For these stars, a linear relationholds between dust mass loss and the color index [8.8]-[12.5]. One maythen, from photometric data alone, evaluate the total mass loss (forwhich we used the estimate of \citet{loup}, based on radio data). Theoxygen-rich sources, on the other hand, are distributed in two branches,of which the upper one appears superimposed with carbon stars; the starsin this group have both high luminosity and high wind velocity andtherefore higher masses. Finally S stars lie between the carbon-starbranch and the low-mass oxygen-rich stars, in agreement with theirintermediate evolutionary status.
| Beobachtungsegebnisse Bundesdeutsche Arbeitsgemainschaft fur Veranderliche Sterne e.V.
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| Velocity variability of semiregular and irregular variables
We compare velocities from near infrared lines with center-of-massvelocities for a sample of semiregular and irregular variables to searchfor indications for a convective blueshift. It is shown that a generalblueshift is present but that the light variability is obviously notdominated by convective cells but rather by stellar pulsation. All starsof our sample show a similar shape and amplitude in the velocityvariations. Long secondary periods are a common feature in these objectsand strongly influence the measured velocity shifts. The star V366 Aqlis found to be the first SRV showing line doubling.
| Mass loss rates of a sample of irregular and semiregular M-type AGB-variables
We have determined mass loss rates and gas expansion velocities for asample of 69 M-type irregular (IRV 22 objects) and semiregular (SRV; 47objects) AGB-variables using a radiative transfer code to model theircircumstellar CO radio line emission. We believe that this sample isrepresentative for the mass losing stars of this type. The (molecularhydrogen) mass loss rate distribution has a median value of 2.0 x10-7 Msun yr-1, and a minimum of 2.0 x10-8 Msun yr-1 and a maximum of 8 x10-7 Msun yr-1. M-type IRVs and SRVswith a mass loss rate in excess of 5 x 10-7 Msunyr-1 must be very rare, and among these mass losing stars thenumber of sources with mass loss rates below a few 10-8Msun yr-1 must be small. We find no significantdifference between the IRVs and the SRVs in terms of their mass losscharacteristics. Among the SRVs the mass loss rate shows no dependenceon the period. Likewise the mass loss rate shows no correlation with thestellar temperature. The gas expansion velocity distribution has amedian of 7.0 km s-1, and a minimum of 2.2 km s-1and a maximum of 14.4 km s-1. No doubt, these objects samplethe low gas expansion velocity end of AGB winds. The fraction of objectswith low gas expansion velocities is very high, about 30% havevelocities lower than 5 km s-1, and there are objects withvelocities lower than 3 km s-1: V584 Aql,T Ari, BI Car, RXLac, and L2 Pup. The mass loss rate and thegas expansion velocity correlate well, a result in line with theoreticalpredictions for an optically thin, dust-driven wind. In general, themodel produces line profiles which acceptably fit the observed ones. Anexceptional case is R Dor, where the high-quality,observed line profiles are essentially flat-topped, while the model onesare sharply double-peaked. The sample contains four sources withdistinctly double-component CO line profiles, i.e., a narrow featurecentered on a broader feature: EP Aqr, RVBoo, X Her, and SV Psc.We have modelled the two components separately for each star and derivemass loss rates and gas expansion velocities. We have compared theresults of this M-star sample with a similar C-star sample analysed inthe same way. The mass loss rate characteristics are very similar forthe two samples. On the contrary, the gas expansion velocitydistributions are clearly different. In particular, the number oflow-velocity sources is much higher in the M-star sample. We found noexample of the sharply double-peaked CO line profile, which is evidenceof a large, detached CO-shell, among the M-stars. About 10% of theC-stars show this phenomenon.
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Observation and Astrometry data
| Constellation: | Hercules |
| Right ascension: | 16h02m39.17s |
| Declination: | +47°14'25.3" |
| Apparent magnitude: | 6.502 |
| Distance: | 137.741 parsecs |
| Proper motion RA: | -68.2 |
| Proper motion Dec: | 65.8 |
| B-T magnitude: | 7.969 |
| V-T magnitude: | 6.624 |
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