Th. Posch

Steps toward interstellar silicate mineralogy - VII. Spectral properties and crystallization behaviour of magnesium silicates produced by the sol-gel method

Amorphous silicate particles are generally assumed to be the main dust component in the envelopes of oxygen-rich evolved stars and may be considered the precursors of the pure crystalline enstatite and forsterite particles detected by ISO. We present optical constants in the broad wavelength range 0.2-500 µm for a unique series of pure amorphous Mg-silicates (Mg/Si in the range 0.7-2.4). They have been prepared by the sol-gel process, a chemical technique based on the condensation of Mg- and Si-hydroxides in a liquid phase. The salient feature of these Mg-silicates is the very small content of Si-OH bonds in the silicate network, which considerably reduces the activation energy of crystallization and, thus, decreases the temperature threshold for crystallization as well as crystallization time. The astrophysical relevance of our sol-gel silicates is shown by a comparison of optically thin model spectra based on dust emissivities with ISO-SWS spectra of AGB stars and with 10 µm emission profiles of such stars obtained by ground-based spectroscopy. As paradigmatic cases of AGB spectra with respect to the appearance of the silicate bands, TY Dra (slender bands and deep trough between them) and R Cas (broad bands and widely filled-up trough) were used, for which ISO-SWS spectra are available. The dust emissivity derived from TY Dra can be excel- lently reproduced by the models, suggesting that the dust grains consist indeed of pure amorphous Mg-silicates. Satisfactory agreement was also found with the mean 10 µm profiles of some groups of AGB stars and supergiants. Spectra with strong dust emission in the silicate trough like R Cas require additional contributions by other dust components, probably oxides. A rough orientation on the spectral properties of such potential trough opacity contributors has been obtained by subtracting a pure silicate spectrum (TY Dra) from a spectrum with a nearly filled trough and a less pronounced 20 µm band (R Cas). In agreement with other amorphous silicates, the spectral index of the new silicate analogues amounts to −2.

MESS (Mass-loss of Evolved StarS), a Herschel key program

MESS (Mass-loss of Evolved StarS) is a guaranteed time key program that uses the PACS and SPIRE instruments on board the Herschel space observatory to observe a representative sample of evolved stars, that include asymptotic giant branch (AGB) and post-AGB stars, planetary nebulae and red supergiants, as well as luminous blue variables, Wolf-Rayet stars and supernova remnants. In total, of order 150 objects are observed in imaging and about 50 objects inspectroscopy. This paper describes the target selection and target list, and the observing strategy. Key science projects are described, and illustrated using results obtained during Herschel’s science demonstration phase. Aperture photometry is given for the 70 AGB and post-AGB stars observed up to October 17, 2010, which constitutes the largest single uniform database of far-IR and sub-mm fluxes for late-type stars.

Infrared Properties of Solid Titanium Oxides: Exploring Potential Primary Dust Condensates

We present optical constants and opacities of solid TiO2 ,T i 2O3, magnesium and calcium titanates, largely based on laboratory measurements. These dust species deserve interest as potential primary condensates in oxygen-rich dusty environments. Of the three known solid TiO2 phases, only one (rutile) has been extensively studied so far with respect to its mid-IR optical properties. We compare these with our measurements of the optical constants of anatase, brookite, and CaTiO3. Furthermore, for several Mg-Ti-oxides, powder transmission spectra are shown. While all known TiO2 modifications have their strongest bands between 13 and 13.5 lm (for spherical particles), CaTiO3, MgTiO3, and other Mg titanates have principal maxima of their absorption coefficients between 14 and 19 lm. This makes a spectroscopic identification of circumstellar Ti oxide particles rather difficult, because both the 13 and the 14–19 lm region are crowded with other features in the spectra of oxygen-rich circumstellar shells. Subject headings: circumstellar matter — methods: laboratory — molecular data — solar system: formation — stars: AGB and post-AGB — stars: mass loss

Herschel's view into Mira's head ⋆

Herschel’s PACS instrument observed the environment of the binary system Mira Ceti in the 70 and 160µm bands. These images reveal bright structures shaped as five broken arcs and faint er filaments in the ejected material of Mira’s primary star, t he famous AGB star o Ceti. The overall shape of the IR emission around Mira deviates significantly from the expected alignment with Mira’s exceptionally high space velocity. The observed broken arcs are neither connected to each other nor are they of a circular shape; they stretch over angular ranges of 80 to 100 degrees. By comparing Herschel and GALEX data, we found evidence for the disruption of the IR arcs by the fast outflow visible in both Hα and the far UV. Radial intensity profiles are derived, which p lace the arcs at distances of 6‐85 ′′ (550 ‐ 8000 AU) from the binary. Mira’s IR environment appears to be shaped by the complex interaction of Mira’s wind with its companion, the bipolar jet, and the ISM.

Detection of anhydrous hydrochloric acid, HCl, in IRC +10216 with the Herschel SPIRE and PACS spectrometers - detection of HCl in IRC +10216

We report on the detection of anhydrous hydrochloric acid (hydrogen chlorine, HCl) in the carbon-rich star IRC+10216 using the spectroscopic facilities onboard the Herschel satellite. Lines from J = 1-0 up to J = 7-6 have been detected. From the observed intensities, we conclude that HCl is produced in the innermost layers of the circumstellar envelope with an abundance relative to H-2 of 5 x 10(-8) and extends until the molecules reach its photodissociation zone. Upper limits to the column densities of AlH, MgH, CaH, CuH, KH, NaH, FeH, and other diatomic hydrides have also been obtained.

PACS and SPIRE spectroscopy of the red supergiant VY CMa

With a luminosity >10 5 Land a mass-loss rate of ∼2 × 10 −4 Myr −1 , the red supergiant VY CMa truly is a spectacular object. Because of its extreme evolutionary state, it could explode as supernova any time. Studying its circumstellar material, into which the supernova blast will run, provides interesting constraints on supernova explosions and on the rich chemistry taking place in such complex circumstellar envelopes. We have obtained spectroscopy of VY CMa over the full wavelength range offered by the PACS and SPIRE instruments of Herschel, i.e. 55-672 micron. The observations show the spectral fingerprints of more than 900 spectral lines, of which more than half belong to water. In total, we have identified 13 different molecules and some of their isotopologues. A first analysis shows that water is abundantly present, with an ortho-to-para ratio as low as ∼1.3:1, and that chemical non-equilibrium processes determine the abundance fractions in the inner envelope.

The detached dust shells of AQ Andromedae, U Antliae, and TT Cygni ,

Detached circumstellar dust shells are detected around three carbon variables using Herschel-PACS. Two of them are already known on the basis of their thermal CO emission and two are visible as extensions in IRAS imaging data. By model fits to the new data sets, physical sizes, expansion timescales, dust temperatures, and more are deduced. A comparison with existing molecular CO material shows a high degree of correlation for TT Cyg and U Ant but a few distinct differences with other observables are also found.

Morphological effects on IR band profiles - Experimental spectroscopic analysis with application to observed spectra of oxygen-rich AGB stars

Aims. To trace the source of the unique 13, 19.5, and 28 μm emission features in the spectra of oxygen-rich circumstellar shells around AGB stars, we have compared dust extinction spectra obtained by aerosol measurements. Methods. We have measured the extinction spectra for 19 oxide powder samples of eight different types, such as Ti-compounds (TiO, TiO2 ,T i 2O3 ,T i 3O5 ,A l 2TiO5 ,C aTiO 3), α-, γ-, χ-δ-κ-Al2O3 ,a nd MgAl 2O4 in the infrared region (10–50 μm) paying special attention to the morphological (size, shape, and agglomeration) effects and the differences in crystal structure. Results. Anatase (TiO2) particles with rounded edges are the possible 13, 19.5 and 28 μm band carriers as the main contributor in the spectra of AGB stars, and spherically shaped nano-sized spinel and Al2TiO5 dust grains are possibly associated with the anatase, enhancing the prominence of the 13 μm feature and providing additional features at 28 μm. The extinction data sets obtained by the aerosol and CsI pellet measurements have been made available for public use at http://elbe.astro.uni-jena.de.

X Herculis and TX Piscium: two cases of ISM interaction with stellar winds observed by Herschel

The asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars X Her and TX Psc have been imaged at 70 and 160 μm with the PACS instrument onboard the Herschel satellite, as part of the large MESS (Mass loss of Evolved StarS) guaranteed time key program. The images reveal an axisymmetric extended structure with its axis oriented along the space motion of the stars. This extended structure is very likely to be shaped by the interaction of the wind ejected by the AGB star with the surrounding interstellar medium (ISM). As predicted by numerical simulations, the detailed structure of the wind-ISM interface depends upon the relative velocity between star+wind and the ISM, which is large for these two stars (108 and 55 km s −1 for X Her and TX Psc, respectively). In both cases, there is a compact blob upstream whose origin is not fully elucidated, but that could be the signature of some instability in the wind-ISM shock. Deconvolved images of X Her and TX Psc reveal several discrete structures along the outermost filaments, which could be Kelvin-Helmholtz vortices. Finally, TX Psc is surrounded by an almost circular ring (the signature of the termination shock?) that contrasts with the outer, more structured filaments. A similar inner circular structure seems to be present in X Her as well, albeit less clearly.

Large-scale environments of binary AGB stars probed by Herschel - I. Morphology statistics and case studies of R Aquarii and W Aquilae

The Mass loss of Evolved StarS (MESS) sample offers a selection of 78 asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars and red supergiants (RSGs) observed with the PACS photometer on-board Herschel at 70 μm and 160 μm. For most of these objects, the dusty AGB wind is not spherically symmetric and the wind shape can be subdivided into four classes. In the present paper we concentrate on the influence of a companion on the morphology of the stellar wind. Literature was searched to find binaries in the MESS sample, which were subsequently linked to their wind-morphology class to assert that the binaries are not distributed equally among the classes. In the second part of the paper we concentrate on the circumstellar environment of the two prominent objects R Aqr and W Aql. Each shows a characteristic signature of a companion interaction with the stellar wind. For the symbiotic star R Aqr, PACS revealed two perfectly opposing arms that in part reflect the previously observed ring-shaped nebula in the optical. However, from the far-IR there is evidence that the emitting region is elliptical rather than circular. The outline of the wind of W Aql seems to follow a large Archimedean spiral formed by the orbit of the companion but also shows strong indications of an interaction with the interstellar medium. We investigated the nature of the companion of W Aql and found that the magnitude of the orbital period supports the size of the spiral outline.