310 research outputs found
Modeling dust emission in PN IC 418
We investigated the infrared (IR) dust emission from PN IC 418, using a
detailed model controlled by a previous determination of the stellar properties
and the characteristics of the photoionized nebula, keeping as free parameters
the dust types, amounts and distributions relative to the distance of the
central star. The model includes the ionized region and the neutral region
beyond the recombination front (Photodissociation region, or PDR), where the
[OI] and [CII] IR lines are formed. We succeeded in reproducing the observed
infrared emission from 2 to 200~\mm. The global energy budget is fitted by
summing up contributions from big grains of amorphous carbon located in the
neutral region and small graphite grains located in the ionized region (closer
to the central star).
Two emission features seen at 11.5 and 30~\mm are also reproduced by assuming
them to be due to silicon carbide (SiC) and magnesium and iron sulfides
(MgFeS), respectively. For this, we needed to consider ellipsoidal
shapes for the grains to reproduce the wavelength distribution of the features.
Some elements are depleted in the gaseous phase: Mg, Si, and S have sub-solar
abundances (-0.5 dex below solar by mass), while the abundance of C+N+O+Ne by
mass is close to solar. Adding the abundances of the elements present in the
dusty and gaseous forms leads to values closer to but not higher than solar,
confirming that the identification of the feature carriers is plausible. Iron
is strongly depleted (3 dex below solar) and the small amount present in dust
in our model is far from being enough to recover the solar value. A remaining
feature is found as a residue of the fitting process, between 12 and 25~\mm,
for which we do not have identification.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics. V2: adding
reference
A spectroscopic atlas of post-AGB stars and planetary nebulae selected from the IRAS Point Source Catalogue
Aims: We study the optical spectral properties of a sample of stars showing
far infrared colours similar to those of well-known planetary nebulae. The
large majority of them were unidentified sources or poorly known in the
literature at the time when this spectroscopic survey started, some 15 years
ago.
Methods: We present low-resolution optical spectroscopy, finding charts and
improved astrometric coordinates of a sample of 253 IRAS sources.
Results: We have identified 103 sources as post-AGB stars, 21 as ``transition
sources'', and 36 as planetary nebulae, some of them strongly reddened. Among
the rest of sources in the sample, we were also able to identify 38 young
stellar objects, 5 peculiar stars, and 2 Seyfert galaxies. Up to 49 sources in
our spectroscopic sample do not show any optical counterpart, and most of them
are suggested to be heavily obscured post-AGB stars, rapidly evolving on their
way to becoming planetary nebulae.
Conclusions: An analysis of the galactic distribution of the sources
identified as evolved stars in the sample is presented together with a study of
the distribution of these stars in the IRAS two-colour diagram. Finally, the
spectral type distribution and other properties of the sources identified as
post-AGB in this spectroscopic survey are discussed in the framework of stellar
evolution.Comment: 69 pages, 413 figures. Accepted by Astronomy and Astrophysic
An infrared study of galactic OH/IR stars. I. An optical/near-IR atlas of the Arecibo sample
In this paper we present optical and near-infrared finding charts, accurate
astrometry (~1") and single-epoch near-infrared photometry for 371 IRAS
sources, 96% of those included in the so-called Arecibo sample of OH/IR stars
(Eder et al. 1988; Lewis et al. 1990a; Chengalur et al. 1993). The main
photometric properties of the stars in the sample are presented and discussed
as well as the problems found during the process of identification of the
optical/near-infrared counterparts. In addition, we also identify suitable
reference stars in each field to be used for differential photometry purposes
in the future.
We find that 39% of the sources (144 in number) have no optical counterpart,
8 of them being invisible even at near infrared wavelengths. The relative
distribution of sources with and without optical counterpart in the IRAS
two-colour diagram and their characteristic near infrared colours are
interpreted as the consequence of the increasing thickness of their
circumstellar shells. Among the objects not detected at near infrared
wavelengths four non-variable sources are proposed to be heavily obscured
post-AGB stars which have just very recently left the AGB. Eight additional
objects with unusually bright and/or blue near-infrared colours are identified
as candidate post-AGB stars and/or proto-planetary nebulae.Comment: 28 pages, 9 figures, for associated finding charts see:
http://www.edpsciences.org/articles/aa/full/2005/08/aa1709/FINDING_CHARTS/are
cibo_index.htm
On the evolutionary connection between AGB stars and PNe
The `O-rich AGB sequence' is a sequence of colours describing the location of
O-rich AGB stars in the IRAS two-colour diagram [12]--[25] vs [25]--[60]. We
propose an evolutionary scenario for this sequence in which all stars,
independent of their progenitor mass, start the AGB phase in the blue part of
the `O-rich AGB sequence' and then evolve toward redder colors, although only
the more massive stars would reach the very end of the `O-rich AGB sequence'.
The sources located in the blue part of the sequence are mainly Mira variables,
whose mean period is increasing with the IRAS colours. Most of them will evolve
into O-rich Type II (and III) Planetary Nebulae. Part of the stars located in
the red part of the sequence will change their chemical composition from O-rich
to C-rich during their evolution in the AGB phase, and might evolve into C-rich
Type II Planetary Nebulae. Hot bottom burning may prevent the conversion to
carbon stars of the rest of sources located in the red part of the sequence and
they will end up as N-rich Type I Planetary Nebulae.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figures, proceedings of the conference 'Planetary Nebulae
as Astrophysical Tools', held in Gdansk, Poland (June 28 - July 2, 2005
Time-dependent ejection velocity model for the outflow of Hen 3--1475
We present 2D axisymmetric and 3D numerical simulations of the
proto-planetary nebula Hen 3-1475, which is characterized by a remarkably
highly collimated optical jet, formed by a string of shock-excited knots along
the axis of the nebula. It has recently been suggested that the kinematical and
morphological properties of the Hen 3-1475 jet could be the result of an
ejection variability of the central source (Riera et al. 2003). The
observations suggest a periodic variability of the ejection velocity
superimposed on a smoothly increasing ejection velocity ramp. From our
numerical simulations, we have obtained intensity maps (for different optical
emission lines) and position-velocity diagrams, in order to make a direct
comparison with the HST observations of this object. Our numerical study allows
us to conclude that a model of a precessing jet with a time-dependent ejection
velocity, which is propagating into an ISM previously perturbed by an AGB wind,
can succesfully explain both the morphological and the kinematical
characteristics of this proto-planetary nebula.Comment: Astronomy and Astrophysics (accepted) (8 figures
THROES: a caTalogue of HeRschel Observations of Evolved Stars. I. PACS range spectroscopy
This is the first of a series of papers presenting the THROES (A caTalogue of
HeRschel Observations of Evolved Stars) project, intended to provide a
comprehensive overview of the spectroscopic results obtained in the
far-infrared (55-670 microns) with the Her- schel space observatory on
low-to-intermediate mass evolved stars in our Galaxy. Here we introduce the
catalogue of interactively reprocessed PACS (Photoconductor Array Camera and
Spectrometer) spectra covering the 55-200 microns range for 114 stars in this
category for which PACS range spectroscopic data is available in the Herschel
Science Archive (HSA). Our sample includes objects spanning a range of
evolutionary stages, from the asymptotic giant branch to the planetary nebula
phase, displaying a wide variety of chemical and physical properties. The
THROES/PACS catalogue is accessible via a dedicated web-based inter- face
(https://throes.cab.inta-csic.es/) and includes not only the science-ready
Herschel spectroscopic data for each source, but also complementary photometric
and spectroscopic data from other infrared observatories, namely IRAS (Infrared
Astronomical Satellite), ISO (Infrared Space Observatory) or AKARI, at
overlapping wavelengths. Our goal is to create a legacy-value Herschel dataset
that can be used by the scientific community in the future to deepen our
knowledge and understanding of these latest stages of the evolution of
low-to-intermediate mass stars.Comment: 38 page
High resolution optical spectroscopy of IRAS 09425-6040 (=GLMP 260)
We present high resolution optical spectroscopic observations of IRAS
09425-6040, a peculiar, extremely red, C-rich AGB star showing prominent O-rich
dust features in its ISO infrared spectrum attributed to crystalline silicates.
Our analysis shows that IRAS 09425-6040 is indeed a C-rich star slightly
enriched in lithium (log (Li/H) + 12 ~ 0.7) with a low 12C/13C = 15+-6 ratio.
We also found some evidence that it may be enriched in s-elements. Combining
our results with other observational data taken from the literature we conclude
that the star is possibly an intermediate-mass TP-AGB star (M > 3 M_sun) close
to the end of its AGB evolution which may have only very recently experienced a
radical change in its chemistry, turning into a carbon-rich AGB star.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in A&
High resolution spectroscopy of the high velocity hot post-AGB star LS III +52 24 (IRAS 22023+5249)
The first high-resolution (R~50,000) optical spectrum of the B-type star, LS
III +52 24, identified as the optical counterpart of the hot post-AGB candidate
IRAS 22023+5249 (I22023) is presented. We report the detailed identifications
of the observed absorption and emission features in the full wavelength range
(4290-9015 A) as well as the atmospheric parameters and photospheric abundances
(under the Local Thermodinamic Equilibrium approximation) for the first time.
The nebular parameters (Te, Ne) are also derived. We estimate Teff=24,000 K,
log g=3.0, xi=7 kms-1 and the derived abundances indicate a slightly
metal-deficient evolved star with C/O<1. The observed P-Cygni profiles of
hydrogen and helium clearly indicate on-going post-AGB mass loss. The presence
of [N II] and [S II] lines and the non-detection of [O III] indicate that
photoionisation has just started. The observed spectral features, large
heliocentric radial velocity, atmospheric parameters, and chemical composition
indicate that I22023 is an evolved post-AGB star belonging to the old disk
population. The derived nebular parameters (Te=7000 K, Ne=1.2x104 cm-3) also
suggest that I22023 may be evolving into a compact, young low-excitation
Planetary Nebula. Our optical spectroscopic analysis together with the recent
Spitzer detection of double-dust chemistry (the simultaneous presence of
carbonaceous molecules and amorphous silicates) in I22023 and other B-type
post-AGB candidates may point to a binary system with a dusty disk as the
stellar origin common to the hot post-AGB stars with O-rich central stars.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS (22 pages, 4 figures, and 8
tables). arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:0707.059
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