Discovery of multiple dust shells beyond 1 arcmin in the circumstellar envelope of IRC +10216 using<i>Herschel</i>/PACS

Decin, L.; Royer, P.; Cox, Nicholas; Vandenbussche, B.; Ottensamer, R.; Blommaert, J. A. D. L.; Groenewegen, M. A. T.; Barlow, M. J.; Lim, T.; Kerschbaum, F.; Posch, Thomas; Waelkens, Christoffel

doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201117360

Cited by 42 publications

(74 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…To emphasize the shell morphology in the inner envelope, we removed the extended envelope halo by subtracting a smooth, azimuthally averaged profile represented by a power law r −α for r < 240 (see Decin et al 2011). The method has been tested in detail to determine if artefacts from the point-spread function (PSF) still affect the data (Royer et al, in prep.).…”

Section: Herschel Pacs and Spire Imagesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The last few years have provided more and more evidence that, at least for a fraction of evolved stars, the mass is not lost in a homogeneous way, but irregular and clumpy structures prevail (e.g. Weigelt et al 2002;Kervella et al 2009;Decin et al 2011). This might have serious consequences for the total amount of mass lost during these late evolutionary stages.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the MESS GTKP (Groenewegen et al 2011) several known and new interaction objects have been imaged with the PACS and SPIRE instruments (e.g. CW Leo, Ladjal et al 2010;Decin et al 2011;Cox et al 2012), among which several supergiants. Betelgeuse (α Ori, M2 Iab) is the closest supergiant, and it serves as the prototype of the red oxygen-rich supergiants.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The enigmatic nature of the circumstellar envelope and bow shock surrounding Betelgeuse as revealed byHerschel

Decin

Cox

Royer

et al. 2012

A&A

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Context. The interaction between stellar winds and the interstellar medium (ISM) can create complex bow shocks. The photometers on board the Herschel Space Observatory are ideally suited to studying the morphologies of these bow shocks. Aims. We aim to study the circumstellar environment and wind-ISM interaction of the nearest red supergiant, Betelgeuse. Methods. Herschel PACS images at 70, 100, and 160 μm and SPIRE images at 250, 350, and 500 μm were obtained by scanning the region around Betelgeuse. These data were complemented with ultraviolet GALEX data, near-infrared WISE data, and radio 21 cm GALFA-HI data. The observational properties of the bow shock structure were deduced from the data and compared with hydrodynamical simulations. Results. The infrared Herschel images of the environment around Betelgeuse are spectacular, showing the occurrence of multiple arcs at ∼6-7 from the central target and the presence of a linear bar at ∼9 . Remarkably, no large-scale instabilities are seen in the outer arcs and linear bar. The dust temperature in the outer arcs varies between 40 and 140 K, with the linear bar having the same colour temperature as the arcs. The inner envelope shows clear evidence of a non-homogeneous clumpy structure (beyond 15 ), probably related to the giant convection cells of the outer atmosphere. The non-homogeneous distribution of the material even persists until the collision with the ISM. A strong variation in brightness of the inner clumps at a radius of ∼2 suggests a drastic change in mean gas and dust density ∼32 000 yr ago. Using hydrodynamical simulations, we try to explain the observed morphology of the bow shock around Betelgeuse. Conclusions. Different hypotheses, based on observational and theoretical constraints, are formulated to explain the origin of the multiple arcs and the linear bar and the fact that no large-scale instabilities are visible in the bow shock region. We infer that the two main ingredients for explaining these phenomena are a non-homogeneous mass-loss process and the influence of the Galactic magnetic field. The hydrodynamical simulations show that a warm interstellar medium, reflecting a warm neutral or partially ionized medium, or a higher temperature in the shocked wind also prevent the growth of strong instabilities. The linear bar is probably an interstellar structure illuminated by Betelgeuse itself.

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Section: Herschel Pacs and Spire Imagesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The enigmatic nature of the circumstellar envelope and bow shock surrounding Betelgeuse as revealed byHerschel

Decin

Cox

Royer

et al. 2012

A&A

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“…A review of techniques is given by Marengo (2009). Recent advances include millimeter interferometry of the molecular gas (e.g., Castro-Carrizo et al 2010) and imaging of the thermal dust A&A 551, A110 (2013) emission, in the mid-infrared with ground-based observations (e.g., Lagadec et al 2011) and in the far infrared with Herschel (Decin et al 2011). In this paper, we report progress using a different technique: observing the envelopes in dust-scattered Galactic light.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deep optical imaging of asymptotic giant branch circumstellar envelopes

Mauron

Huggins

Cheung

2013

A&A

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We report results of a program to image the extended circumstellar envelopes of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars in dust-scattered Galactic light. The goal is to characterize the shapes of the envelopes to probe the mass-loss geometry and the presence of hidden binary companions. The observations consist of deep optical imaging of 22 AGB stars with high mass loss rates: 16 with the ESO 3.6 m NTT telescope, and the remainder with other telescopes. The circumstellar envelopes are detected in 15 objects, with mass loss rates > ∼ 2 × 10 −6 M yr −1 . The surface brightness of the envelopes shows a strong decrease with Galactic radius, which indicates a steep radial gradient in the interstellar radiation field. The envelopes range from circular to elliptical in shape, and we characterize them by the ellipticity (E = major/minor axis) of iso-intensity contours. We find that ∼50% of the envelopes are close to circular with E < ∼ 1.1, and others are more elliptical with ∼20% with E > ∼ 1.2. We interpret the shapes in terms of populations of single stars and binaries whose envelopes are flattened by a companion. The distribution of E is qualitatively consistent with expectations based on population synthesis models of binary AGB stars. We also find that ∼50% of the sample exhibit small-scale, elongated features in the central regions. We interpret these as the escape of light from the central star through polar holes, which are also likely produced by companions. Our observations of envelope flattening and polar holes point to a hidden population of binary companions within the circumstellar envelopes of AGB stars. These companions are expected to play an important role in the transition to post-AGB stars and the formation of planetary nebulae.

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“…Interferometric mm-CO maps of so-called detached shells are intriguing examples of that (Olofsson et al 2000). Similar structures are also evident from dust emisson (Kerschbaum et al 2010;Decin et al 2011) or scattered light (Mauron et al 2000). The…”

Section: Long-term Changes In Mass Lossmentioning

confidence: 62%

Variable Red Giants

Kerschbaum¹,

Nowotny²

2011

Proc. IAU

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Abstract. The longest-known class of pulsating variable stars, namely pulsating red giants, is also the one that involves the most complex physical processes. Pulsation, mass loss, nuclear synthesis, mixing, atmospheric and circumstellar chemistry and dust formation all interrelate with one another and make both the observational studies and the modelling efforts quite challenging. The paper outlines some of the current key questions, and recommends observational strategies.

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Discovery of multiple dust shells beyond 1 arcmin in the circumstellar envelope of IRC +10216 usingHerschel/PACS

Cited by 42 publications

References 31 publications

The enigmatic nature of the circumstellar envelope and bow shock surrounding Betelgeuse as revealed byHerschel

The enigmatic nature of the circumstellar envelope and bow shock surrounding Betelgeuse as revealed byHerschel

Deep optical imaging of asymptotic giant branch circumstellar envelopes

Variable Red Giants

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