Imaging the circumstellar dust around AGB stars with PolCor
Artikel i vetenskaplig tidskrift, 2011

Aims. The aim of this paper is to investigate how the new imaging Polarimeter and Coronograph (PolCor) at the Nordic Optical Telescope** (NOT) can be used in the study of circumstellar structures around AGB stars. The purpose is to prepare for a study of a larger sample. Methods. We have observed two types of AGB stars using the PolCor instrument on the NOT: the binary S-type star W Aql and two carbon stars with detached shells, U Cam and DR Ser. The polarized light traces the dust distribution around the stars. From the polarimeter images the polarized intensity, the polarization degree, and the polarization angle over the images are calculated. The location and extent of dust structures are examined in the images. The total dust mass and the dust-to-gas ratios of the detached shells are also calculated. Results. The images of the circumstellar envelope of W Aql show what seems to be an elongated structure in the south-west direction. The detached shells of U Cam and DR Ser are clearly seen in the images. This is the first time the detached shell around DR Ser has been imaged. The radii (R(sh)) and widths (Delta R(sh)) of the shells are determined and found to be R(sh) = 7 ''.9 and 7 ''.6, and Delta R(sh) = 0 ''.9 and 1 ''.2, for U Cam and DR Ser, respectively. This is consistent with previous results. The dust masses of the feature south-west of W Aql, and in the shells of U Cam and DR Ser are also estimated and found to be 1 x 10(-6), 5 x 10(-7), and 2 x 10(-6) M(circle dot), respectively. Conclusions. W Aql is a known binary and the shape of the circumstellar envelope seems to be in line with what could be expected from binary interaction on these scales. For the shells, the results are in agreement with previous investigations. Ages and formation time-scales are also estimated for the detached shells and found to be consistent with the thermal-pulse-formation scenario.

stars: AGB and post-AGB

detached shells

mass-loss

stars: late-type

molecular envelope

stars: mass-loss

giant branch stars

planetary-nebulae

stars:

optical-properties

binaries: general

carbon

carbon stars

stellar light

evolved stars

protoplanetary nebula candidates

stars: imaging

Författare

S. Ramstedt

Universität Bonn

Matthias Maercker

Universität Bonn

European Southern Observatory (ESO)

G. Olofsson

Stockholms universitet

Hans Olofsson

Chalmers, Rymd- och geovetenskap, Onsala rymdobservatorium

Fredrik Schöier

Chalmers, Rymd- och geovetenskap, Onsala rymdobservatorium

Astronomy and Astrophysics

0004-6361 (ISSN) 1432-0746 (eISSN)

Vol. 531 A148

Ämneskategorier

Astronomi, astrofysik och kosmologi

DOI

10.1051/0004-6361/201015964

Mer information

Senast uppdaterat

2018-03-29