ALMA observations of CO(1-0) and CO(2-1) emissions of the circumstellar
envelope of EP Aqr, an oxygen-rich AGB star, are reported. A thorough analysis
of their properties is presented using an original method based on the
separation of the data-cube into a low velocity component associated with an
equatorial outflow and a faster component associated with a bipolar outflow. A
number of important and new results are obtained concerning the distribution in
space of the effective emissivity, the temperature, the density and the flux of
matter. A mass loss rate of (1.6±0.4)10−7 solar masses per year is
measured. The main parameters defining the morphology and kinematics of the
envelope are evaluated and uncertainties inherent to de-projection are
critically discussed. Detailed properties of the equatorial region of the
envelope are presented including a measurement of the line width and a precise
description of the observed inhomogeneity of both morphology and kinematics. In
particular, in addition to the presence of a previously observed spiral
enhancement of the morphology at very small Doppler velocities, a similarly
significant but uncorrelated circular enhancement of the expansion velocity is
revealed, both close to the limit of sensitivity. The results of the analysis
place significant constraints on the parameters of models proposing
descriptions of the mass loss mechanism, but cannot choose among them with
confidence.Comment: 26 pages, 31 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA