Luciano Cerrigone

SPITZER DETECTION OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS AND SILICATE FEATURES IN POST-AGB STARS AND YOUNG PLANETARY NEBULAE

We have observed a small sample of hot post-asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars with the Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) and the Infrared Spectrograph (IRS) on board the Spitzer Space Telescope. The stars were selected from the literature on the basis of their far-infrared (IR) excess (i.e., post-AGB candidates) and B spectral type (i.e., close to the ionization of the envelope). The combination of our IRAC observations with Two Micron All Sky Survey and IRAS catalog data, along with previous radio observations in the cm range (where available) allowed us to model the spectral energy distributions of our targets and find that in almost all of them at least two shells of dust at different temperatures must be present, the hot dust component ranging up to 103 K. In several targets, grains larger than 1 μm are needed to match the far-IR data points. In particular, in IRAS 17423-1755 grains up to 100 μm must be introduced to match the emission in the millimeter range. We obtained IRS spectra to identify the chemistry of the envelopes and found that more than one-third of the sources in our sample have mixed chemistry, showing both mid-IR bands attributed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and silicate features. The analysis of the PAH features indicates that these molecules are located in the outflows, far away from the central stars. We consider the larger than expected percentage of mixed-chemistry targets as a selection bias toward stars with a disk or torus around them. Our results strengthen the current picture of mixed chemistry being due to the spatial segregation of different dust populations in the envelopes.

Identification of Three New Protoplanetary Nebulae Exhibiting the Unidentified Feature at 21 μm

Among its great findings, the Infrared Astronomical Satellite mission showed the existence of an unidentified mid-IR feature around 21 μm. Since its discovery, this feature has been detected in all C-rich protoplanetary nebulae (PPNe) of intermediate spectral type (F-G) and—weakly—in a few PNe and asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars, but the nature of its carriers remains unknown. In this paper, we show the detection of this feature in the spectra of three new stars transiting from the AGB to the PN stage obtained with the Spitzer Space Telescope. Following a recent suggestion, we try to model the spectral energy distributions of our targets with amorphous carbon and FeO, which might be responsible for the unidentified feature. The fit thus obtained is not completely satisfactory, since the shape of the feature is not well matched. In an attempt to relate the unidentified feature to other dust features, we retrieved mid-IR spectra of all 21 μm sources currently known from Infrared Space Observatory and Spitzer online archives and noticed a correlation between the flux emitted in the 21 μm feature and that emitted at 7 and 11 μm (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon bands and hydrogenated amorphous carbon broad emission). Such a correlation may point to a common nature of the carriers.

Millimeter observations of planetary nebulae A contribution to the Planck pre-launch catalogue

Aims. We present 43 GHz (7 mm) observations of a sample of radio-bright Planetary nebulae aimed to obtain, together with far-IR measurements (IRAS), reliable estimates of the fluxes emitted in the millimetre and sub-millimetre band, and, therefore, to test their detectability by the forthcoming ESA PLANCK mission. This spectral range, even though very important to constrain the physics of circumstellar environments, is still far from being completely exploited. Methods. The new millimetre 43 GHz observations were obtained by using the 32 m INAF-IRA Noto Radiotelescope. To estimate the millimetre and sub-millimetre fluxes, we extrapolated and summed the ionized gas (free-free radio emission) and dust (thermal emission) contributions in this frequency range. By comparison of the derived flux densities to the predicted sensitivity we investigate the possible detection of such source for all the channels of PLANCK Results. We conclude that almost 80% of our sample will be detected by PLANCK, with a higher detection rate in the higher frequency channels, where there is a good combination of brighter intrinsic flux from the sources and reduced extended Galactic foregrounds contamination despite poorer instrumental sensitivity. From the new 43 GHz, combined with single-dish 5 GHz observations from the literature, we derive radio spectral indexes, which are consistent with optically thin free-free nebula. This result indicates that the high frequency radio spectrum of our sample sources is dominated by thermal free-free, and other emissions, if present, are negligible.

7 mm continuum observations of ultra compact HII regions

Aims. Ultra compact HII (UCHII) regions are indicators of high-mass star formation sites and are distributed mainly in the Galactic plane. They exhibit a broad band spectrum with significant emission between near-IR and radio wavelengths. We intend to investigate the possible contribution of the forthcoming ESA Planck mission to the science of UCHII regions by evaluating the possibility of detecting UCHIIs that are bright in the radio regime. Methods. We performed new 7 mm observations of a sample of UCHII regions. The observations were designed to acquire highfrequency radio spectra. For each source in our sample, the free-free radio spectrum has been modeled. Along with far-IR measurements, our spectra allow us to estimate the flux densities of the sources in the millimeter and sub-millimeter bands. We extrapolated and summed the ionized-gas (free-free radio emission) and dust (thermal emission) contributions in the afore mentioned wavelength ranges. The possibility of Planck detecting the selected sources can be assessed by comparing the estimated flux densities to the expected sensitivity in each Planck channel. To obtain a realistic estimation of the noise produced by the Galactic emission, the Planck sky model software package was used. Results. For each target source, from our new 7 mm data and other radio measurements from the literature, important physical parameters such as electron density and their spatial distribution, source geometry and emission measure were derived. We conclude that, in the case of the present sample, located close to the Galactic center, Planck will have a very low detection rate. In contrast, assuming that our sample is representative of the whole UCHII-region population, we derive a very high probability of detecting this kind of source with Planck if located instead close to the anticenter. From the analysis of the ionized-gas properties, we suggest that the selected sample could also be contaminated by other kinds of Galactic objects.

Probing the magnetosphere of the M8.5 dwarf TVLM 513−46546 by modelling its auroral radio emission. Hint of star exoplanet interaction?

In this paper we simulate the cyclic circularly-polarised pulses of the ultra-cool dwarf TVLM513-46546, observed with the VLA at 4.88 and 8.44 GHz on May 2006, by using a 3D model of the auroral radio emission from the stellar magnetosphere. During this epoch, the radio light curves are characterised by two pulses left-hand polarised at 4.88 GHz, and one doubly-peaked (of opposite polarisations) pulse at 8.44 GHz. To take into account the possible deviation from the dipolar symmetry of the stellar magnetic field topology, the model described in this paper is also able to simulate the auroral radio emission from a magnetosphere shaped like an offset-dipole. To reproduce the timing and pattern of the observed pulses, we explored the space of parameters controlling the auroral beaming pattern and the geometry of the magnetosphere. Through the analysis of the TVLM513-46546 auroral radio emission, we derive some indications on the magnetospheric field topology that is able to simultaneously reproduce the timing and patterns of the auroral pulses measured at 4.88 and 8.44 GHz. Each set of model solutions simulates two auroral pulses (singly or doubly peaked) per period. To explain the presence of only one 8.44 GHz pulse per period, we analyse the case of auroral radio emission limited only to a magnetospheric sector activated by an external body, like the case of the interaction of Jupiter with its moons.

Identification of three new protoplanetary nebulae exhibiting the unidentified feature at 21 μm

Since its discovery, the feature at 21 μm has been detected in all C-rich proto-PNe of intermediate spectral type (A–G) and – weakly – in a few PNe and AGB stars, but the nature of its carriers remains unknown. In this paper, we show the detection of this feature in the spectra of three new stars obtained with the Spitzer Space Telescope. In the attempt to relate the unidentified feature to other dust features, we retrieved mid-IR spectra of all the 21 μm sources currently known from ISO and Spitzer archives and noticed a correlation between the flux emitted in the 21 μm feature and that emitted at 7 and 11 μm (PAH bands and HAC broad emission). Such a correlation may point to a common nature of the carriers.

Investigating the formation of planetary nebulae

The formation of planetary nebulae is a poorly understood phase of stellar evolution. In particular it is still not clear what mechanism leads to the complicated morphologies observed in such sources. We have started a systematic study of objects in transition from post-AGB to planetary nebula, and in this poster we show some preliminary results.