Imaging the outward motions of clumpy dust clouds around the red supergiant Antares with VLT/VISIR

We present a 0.5"-resolution diffraction-limited 17.7 micron image of the red supergiant Antares obtained with the VLT mid-infrared instrument VISIR. The VISIR image shows six clumpy dust clouds located at 0.8"--1.8" (43--96 stellar radii = 136--306 AU) away from the star. We also detected compact emission within a radius of 0.5" from the star. Comparison of our VISIR image taken in 2010 and the 20.8 micron image taken in 1998 with the Keck telescope reveals the outward motions of four dust clumps. The proper motions of these dust clumps amount to 0.2"--0.6" in 12 years. This translates into expansion velocities (projected onto the plane of the sky) of 13--40 km/s with an uncertainty of +/-7 km/s. The velocities of the dust clumps cannot be explained by a simple accelerating outflow, implying the possible random nature of the dust cloud ejection mechanism. The inner compact emission seen in the 2010 VISIR image is presumably newly formed dust, because it is not detected in the image taken in 1998. The mass of the dust clouds is estimated to be (3-6)x10^{-9} Msun. These values are lower by a factor of 3--7 than the amount of dust ejected in one year estimated from the (gas+dust) mass-loss rate of 2x10^{-6} Msun/yr, suggesting that the continuous mass loss is superimposed on the clumpy dust cloud ejection.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic

High spectral resolution spectroscopy of the SiO fundamental lines in red giants and red supergiants with VLT/VISIR

We present high spectral resolution (R = 30000) spectroscopic observations of the SiO fundamental lines near 8.1 micron in 16 bright red giants and red supergiants using VLT/VISIR. Our sample consists of seven normal K--M giants, three Mira stars, three optically bright red supergiants, two dusty red supergiants, and the enigmatic object GCIRS3 near the Galactic center. We detected SiO fundamental lines in all of our program stars except for GCIRS3. The SiO lines in normal K and M giants as well as optically bright red supergiants do not show P-Cyg profiles or blueshifts, which means the absence of systematic outflows in the SiO line forming region. On the other hand, we detected P-Cyg profiles in the SiO lines in the dusty red supergiants VY CMa and VX Sgr (with the latter being a new detection), which suggest outflow velocities of 27 and 17 km/s, respectively. We derived basic stellar parameters (effective temperature, surface gravity, luminosity, and mass) for the normal K--M giants and optically bright red supergiants in our sample and compared the observed VISIR spectra with synthetic spectra predicted from MARCS photospheric models. Most of the SiO lines observed in the program stars warmer than ~3400 K are reasonably reproduced by the MARCS models, which allowed us to estimate the silicon abundance as well as the 28Si/29Si and 28Si/30Si ratios. However, we detected possible absorption excess in some SiO lines. Moreover, the SiO lines in the cooler red giants and red supergiant cannot be explained by the MARCS models at all even if the dust emission is taken into account. This disagreement may be a signature of the dense, extended molecular outer atmosphere.Comment: 13 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic

Scaling of the critical slip distance in granular layers

We investigate the nature of friction in granular layers by means of numerical simulation focusing on the critical slip distance, over which the system relaxes to a new stationary state. Analyzing a transient process in which the sliding velocity is instantaneously changed, we find that the critical slip distance is proportional to the sliding velocity. We thus define the relaxation time, which is independent of the sliding velocity. It is found that the relaxation time is proportional to the layer thickness and inversely proportional to the square root of the pressure. An evolution law for the relaxation process is proposed, which does not contain any length constants describing the surface geometry but the relaxation time of the bulk granular matter. As a result, the critical slip distance is scaled with a typical length scale of a system. It is proportional to the layer thickness in an instantaneous velocity change experiment, whereas it is scaled with the total slip distance in a spring-block system on granular layers.Comment: 4 papge

Spatially resolving the thermally inhomogeneous outer atmosphere of the red giant Arcturus in the 2.3 micron CO lines

The outer atmosphere of K giants shows thermally inhomogeneous structures consisting of the hot chromospheric gas and the cool molecular gas. We present spectro-interferometric observations of the multicomponent outer atmosphere of the well-studied K1.5 giant Arcturus (alpha Boo) in the CO first overtone lines near 2.3 micron. We observed Arcturus with the AMBER instrument at the Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) at 2.28--2.31 micron with a spectral resolution of 12000 and at projected baselines of 7.3, 14.6, and 21.8 m. The high spectral resolution of the VLTI/AMBER instrument allowed us to spatially resolve Arcturus in the individual CO lines. Comparison of the observed interferometric data with the MARCS photospheric model shows that the star appears to be significantly larger than predicted by the model. It indicates the presence of an extended component that is not accounted for by the current photospheric models for this well-studied star. We found out that the observed AMBER data can be explained by a model with two additional CO layers above the photosphere. The inner CO layer is located just above the photosphere, at 1.04 +/- 0.02 stellar radii, with a temperature of 1600 +/- 400 K and a CO column density of 10^{20 +/- 0.3} cm^-2. On the other hand, the outer CO layer is found to be as extended as to 2.6 +/- 0.2 stellar radii with a temperature of 1800 +/- 100 K and a CO column density of 10^{19 +/- 0.15} cm^-2. The properties of the inner CO layer are in broad agreement with those previously inferred from the spatially unresolved spectroscopic analyses. However, our AMBER observations have revealed that the quasi-static cool molecular component extends out to 2--3 stellar radii, within which region the chromospheric wind steeply accelerates.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic

Clumpy dust clouds and extended atmosphere of the AGB star W Hya revealed with VLT/SPHERE-ZIMPOL and VLTI/AMBER II. Time variations between pre-maximum and minimum light

Our recent visible polarimetric images of the well-studied AGB star W Hya taken at pre-maximum light (phase 0.92) with VLT/SPHERE-ZIMPOL have revealed clumpy dust clouds close to the star at ~2 Rstar. We present second-epoch SPHERE-ZIMPOL observations of W Hya at minimum light (phase 0.54) in the continuum (645, 748, and 820 nm), in the Halpha line (656.3 nm), and in the TiO band (717 nm) as well as high-spectral resolution long-baseline interferometric observations in 2.3 micron CO lines with the AMBER instrument at the Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI). The high-spatial resolution polarimetric images have allowed us to detect clear time variations in the clumpy dust clouds as close as 34--50~mas (1.4--2.0 Rstar) to the star. We detected the formation of a new dust cloud and the disappearance of one of the dust clouds detected at the first epoch. The Halpha and TiO emission extends to ~150 mas (~6 Rstar), and the Halpha images reveal time variations. The degree of linear polarization is higher at minimum light (13--18%) than that at pre-maximum light. The power-law-type limb-darkened disk fit to the AMBER data in the continuum results in a limb-darkened disk diameter of 49.1+/-1.5 mas and a limb-darkening parameter of 1.16+/-0.49, indicating that the atmosphere is more extended with weaker limb-darkening compared to pre-maximum light. Our Monte Carlo radiative transfer modeling suggests the predominance of small (0.1 micron) grains of Al2O3, Mg2SiO4, and MgSiO3 at minimum light, in marked contrast to the predominance of large (0.5 micron) grains at pre-maximum light. The variability phase dependence of the grain size implies that small grains might just have started to form at minimum light in the wake of a shock, while the pre-maximum light phase might have corresponded to the phase of efficient grain growth.Comment: 14 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic

Vigorous atmospheric motion in the red supergiant star Antares

Red supergiant stars represent a late stage of the evolution of stars more massive than about nine solar masses, in which they develop complex, multi-component atmospheres. Bright spots have been detected in the atmosphere of red supergiants using interferometric imaging. Above the photosphere of a red supergiant, the molecular outer atmosphere extends up to about two stellar radii. Furthermore, the hot chromosphere (5,000 to 8,000 kelvin) and cool gas (less than 3,500 kelvin) of a red supergiant coexist at about three stellar radii. The dynamics of such complex atmospheres has been probed by ultraviolet and optical spectroscopy. The most direct approach, however, is to measure the velocity of gas at each position over the image of stars as in observations of the Sun. Here we report the mapping of the velocity field over the surface and atmosphere of the nearby red supergiant Antares. The two-dimensional velocity field map obtained from our near-infrared spectro-interferometric imaging reveals vigorous upwelling and downdrafting motions of several huge gas clumps at velocities ranging from about -20 to +20 kilometres per second in the atmosphere, which extends out to about 1.7 stellar radii. Convection alone cannot explain the observed turbulent motions and atmospheric extension, suggesting that an unidentified process is operating in the extended atmosphere.Comment: 27 pages, 8 figures, published in Natur

Exploring the water and carbon monoxide shell around Betelgeuse with VLTI/AMBER

We present the results of the analysis of our recent interferometric observations of Betelgeuse, using the AMBER instrument of the VLTI. Using the medium spectral resolution mode ($R \sim 1500$) we detected the presence of the water vapour and carbon monoxide (CO) molecules in the H and K bands. We also derived the photospheric angular diameter in the continuum. By analysing the depth of the molecular lines and the interferometric visibilities, we derived the column densities of the molecules, as well as the temperature and the size of the corresponding regions in the atmosphere of Betelgeuse (the MOLsphere) using a single shell model around the photosphere. Our results confirm the findings by Perrin \et al\ (\cite{Perrin2004}) and Ohnaka \et al\ (\cite{Ohnaka2011}) that the H$_2$O and CO molecules are distributed around Betelgeuse in a MOLsphere extending to approximately 1.3 times the star's photospheric radius.Comment: Betelgeuse Workshop, November 2012, Paris. To be published in the European Astronomical Society Publications Series, 2013, Editors: Pierre Kervella, Thibaut Le Bertre \& Guy Perri

Temperature and pore pressure effects on the shear strength of granite in the brittle-plastic transition regime

Currently published lithospheric strength profiles lack constraints from experimental data for shear failure of typical crustal materials in the brittle-plastic transition regime in wet environments. Conventional triaxial shear fracture experiments were conducted to determine temperature and pore pressure effects on shear fracture strength of wet and dry Tsukuba granite. Experimental conditions were 70MPa < P-C < 480MPa, 10MPa < P-p < 300MPa, 25 A degreesC < T < 480 degreesC, at a constant strain rate of 10(-5)s(-1). An empirical relation is proposed which can predict the shear strength of Tsukuba granite, within the range of experimental conditions. Mechanical pore pressure effects are incorporated in the effective stress law. Chemical effects are enhanced at temperatures above 300 degreesC. Below 300 degreesC wet and dry granite strengths are temperature insensitive and wholly within the brittle regime. Above 400 degreesC, semi-brittle effects and ductility are observed

Spatially resolved, high-spectral resolution observation of the K giant Aldebaran in the CO first overtone lines with VLTI/AMBER

Aim: We present a high-spatial and high-spectral resolution observation of the well-studied K giant Aldebaran with AMBER at the Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI). Our aim is to spatially resolve the outer atmosphere (so-called MOLsphere) in individual CO first overtone lines and derive its physical properties, which are important for understanding the mass-loss mechanism in normal (i.e., non-Mira) K--M giants. Methods: Aldebaran was observed between 2.28 and 2.31 micron with a projected baseline length of 10.4m and a spectral resolution of 12000. Results: The uniform-disk diameter observed in the CO first overtone lines is 20--35% larger than is measured in the continuum. We have also detected a signature of inhomogeneities in the CO-line-forming region on a spatial scale of ~45 mas, which is more than twice as large as the angular diameter of the star itself. While the MARCS photospheric model reproduces the observed spectrum well, the angular size in the CO lines predicted by the MARCS model is significantly smaller than observed. This is because the MARCS model with the parameters of Aldebaran has a geometrical extension of only ~2% (with respect to the stellar radius). The observed spectrum and interferometric data in the CO lines can be simultaneously reproduced by placing an additional CO layer above the MARCS photosphere. This CO layer is extended to 2.5 +/- 0.3 stellar radii with CO column densities of 5x10^{19}--2x10^{20} cm^-2 and a temperature of 1500 +/- 200 K. Conclusions: The high spectral resolution of AMBER has enabled us to spatially resolve the inhomogeneous, extended outer atmosphere (MOLsphere) in the individual CO lines for the first time in a K giant. Our modeling of the MOLsphere of Aldebaran suggests a rather small gradient in the temperature distribution above the photosphere up to 2--3 stellar radii.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic