The structure of circumstellar envelopes

Copious mass loss on the Asymptotic Giant Branch dominates the late stages of stellar evolution. Maps of extended circumstellar envelopes provide a history of mass loss and trace out anisotropic mass loss. This review concentrates on observations of millimeter wavelength molecular line emission, on high resolution maps of maser emission and on observations of submillimeter, millimeter and radio wavelength continuum emission. Radio continuum observations show that AGB stars are larger at radio than at optical wavelengths. The extended chromospheres indicated by these observations extend to distances from the star large enough for dust to form, thereby initiating mass loss. Molecular line maps have found time-variable mass loss for some stars, including detached shells indicating interrupted mass loss and evidence for a rapid increase in the mass loss rate at the end of the AGB phase. Maps of circumstellar envelopes show evidence of flattening, bipolar outflow and angular variations in both the mass loss rate and the outflow velocity. As stars evolve away from the AGB and planetary nebula formation begins, these structures become more pronounced, and fast bipolar molecular winds are observed. The time scales derived from the dynamical times of these winds and from the expansion rates of the central planetary nebulae are very rapid in some cases, about 100 years, in agreement with the predictions of stellar evolution theory.     

Submillimetre photometry of post-asymptotic giant branch stars

Stars in the post-asymptotic giant branch (post-AGB) phase of evolution are surrounded by detached circumstellar envelopes containing dust which emits thermally in the mid- and far-infrared. Here we present 850-μm SCUBA photometry of nine candidate post-AGB stars. All targets are detected at 850 μm and we use these fluxes to estimate the envelope dust masses and, by comparison with the 100-μm IRAS fluxes, the dust emissivity index.     

Axisymmetry in protoplanetary nebulae: using imaging polarimetry to investigate envelope structure

We use ground-based imaging polarimetry to detect and image the dusty circumstellar envelopes of a sample of protoplanetary nebulae (PPNe) at near-infrared wavelengths. This technique allows the scattered light from the faint envelope to be separated from the glare of the bright central star, and is particularly well suited to this class of object. We detect extended (up to 9-arcsec diameter) circumstellar envelopes around 15 out of 16 sources with a range of morphologies including bipolars and shells. The distribution of scattered light in combination with its polarization (up to 40 per cent) provides unambiguous evidence for axisymmetry in 14 objects, showing this to be a common trait of PPNe. We suggest that the range of observed envelope morphologies results from the development of an axisymmetric dust distribution during the superwind phase at the end of the AGB. We identify shells seen in polarized light with scattering from these superwind dust distributions, which allows us to provide constraints on the duration of the superwind phase. In one object (IRAS 19475+3119) the circumstellar envelope has a two-armed spiral structure, which we suggest results from the interaction of the mass-losing star with a binary companion.     

Detection of detached dust envelopes around oxygen-rich AGB stars

Extended emission components are clearly found in the IRAS scan data of optically visible oxygen-rich AGB stars which show no 10µm silicate band feature in the IRAS LRS spectra but a strong infrared excess in the IRAS photometric data. It is most likely that these stars really have their circumstellar dust envelopes, which are detached from the central stars, indicating a halting of mass loss for a significant period.     

AGB星的ISO观测

概述了ＩＲＡＳ升空以来在ＡＧＢ星研究方面的进展和发现的问题,比较详细地报告了６０ｃｍ空间红外望远镜ＩＳＯ携带的探测器及其性能,以及它的成像和光谱观测对研究ＡＧＢ星的演化的影响,尤其是对ＡＧＢ星星周包层的化学环境的研究的重要作用。     

Observations with a mid-infrared camera of AGB star envelopes

We observed 17 AGB and post-AGB circumstellar envelopes wuth the midinfrared camera TIRCAM. The collected photometry is compared with the IRAS LRS spectra and a two color diagram for the chemical classification of the dust is developed.     

Near infrared observations and analyses of molecular outflows

We present results of near infrared observation of 21 molecular outflow sources and two non-outflow sources with compact cores. Combined with IRAS and other surface station observations we analyse their spectra and find that the outflow sources have, on average, steeper spectral gradients than the non-outflow sources in the range 2.28–25 μ. Most of the bipolar outflow sources have gradients greater than 2.0. Using a revised blackbody photosphere model we calculate the contributions to the JHK fluxes by the central young star and the circumstellar envelope. For the sources with known bolometric luminosity we derive the photospheric temperature of the central star and the circumstellar extinction. Results show that most of the young stars associated with molecular outflows are probably T Tauri stars (5000–7000 K) or emission line stars (9000–26000 K). The circumstellar extinction in JHK is around 10 to 20 magnitudes. These facts show that molecular outflow sources are young objects still embedded deep inside or around the interior of compact cores. Fitting the 3.5– 25 μ and 60–100 μ spectra with a λ^-1 dust emission model to five source gives a negative power law for the temperature profile of the circumstellar shell with exponents between 0.39 and 0.48, close to the theoretical results for molecular clouds associated with HI I regions.     

The study of evolved stars with ALMA

Intense mass loss occurs for low- and intermediate-mass stars on the asymptotic giant branch (AGB), and for the higher mass (≳8 M_⊙) stars during their red supergiant evolution. These winds affect the evolution of the stars profoundly, creates circumstellar envelopes of gas and dust, as well as enrich the interstellar medium with heavy elements and grain particles. The mass loss characteristics are well-studied, but the basic processes are still not understood in detail, and the mass-loss rate of an individual star cannot be derived from first principles. These objects also provide us with fascinating systems, in which intricate interplays between various physical and chemical processes take place, and their relative simplicity in terms of geometry, density distribution, and kinematics makes them excellent astrophysical laboratories. The review concentrates on the aspects of AGB stars and their mass loss which are of particular interest in connection with ALMA.     

Magnetic fields in planetary nebulae and post-AGB nebulae

Magnetic fields are an important but largely unknown ingredient of planetary nebulae. They have been detected in oxygen-rich asymptotic giant branch (AGB) and post-AGB stars, and may play a role in the shaping of their nebulae. Here we present SCUBA submillimetre polarimetric observations of four bipolar planetary nebulae and post-AGB stars, including two oxygen-rich and two carbon-rich nebulae, to determine the geometry of the magnetic field by dust alignment. Three of the four sources (NGC 7027, 6537 and 6302) present a well-defined toroidal magnetic field oriented along their equatorial torus or disc. NGC 6302 may also show field lines along the bipolar outflow. CRL 2688 shows a complex field structure, where part of the field aligns with the torus, whilst an other part approximately aligns with the polar outflow. It also presents marked asymmetries in its magnetic structure. NGC 7027 shows evidence for a disorganized field in the south-west corner, where the SCUBA shows an indication for an outflow. The findings show a clear correlation between field orientation and nebular structure.     

Chemical Evolution from the AGB to the Planetary Nebula Phase

An overview is given on the wealth of data recently provided by large mm-wave radiotelescopes on AGB stars, planetary nebulae (PNe), and transition objects. The observations reveal that there is an observable chemical evolution in the neutral gas as a star evolves beyond the AGB, through the proto-PN and PN phases. Significant changes in the abundances of some key molecules (such as CS, CN, HCO+, HCN, and HC3N) take place during the fast evolution of the envelopes. Chemistry can thus be used as a rough clock to date the evolutionary stage of post-AGB envelopes and proto-PN objects. However, once the PN is formed, the observed abundances in the molecular clumps of the envelope remain relatively constant. The chemical evolution of the molecular envelopes likely occurs through the development of photon-dominated regions produced by the ultraviolet field of the central star. The main chemical processes which likely control the evolution are also reviewed. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Observations and modelling of spectral energy distributions of carbon stars with optically thin envelopes

We present broad-band photometry in the optical, near-infrared and submillimetre, and mid-infrared spectrophotometry of a selection of carbon stars with optically thin envelopes. Most of the observations were carried out simultaneously.   Beside the emission feature at 11.3 μ m due to silicon carbide grains in the circumstellar environment, many of our mid-infrared spectra show an emission feature at 8.6 μ m. All the observed spectral energy distributions exhibit a very large far-infrared flux excess. Both these features are indeed common to many carbon stars surrounded by optically thin envelopes.   We have modelled the observed spectral energy distributions by means of a full radiative transfer treatment, paying particular attention to the features quoted above. The peak at 8.6 μ m is usually ascribed to the presence of hydrogenated amorphous carbon grains. We find also that the feature at 8.6 μ m might be reproduced by assuming that the stars have a circumstellar environment formed of both carbon- and oxygen-rich dust grains, although this is in contrast with what one should expect in a carbon-rich environment. The far-infrared flux excess is usually explained by the presence of a cool detached dust shell. Following this hypothesis, our models suggest a time-scale for the modulation of the mass-loss rate of the order of some 10³ yr.     

Terminal Outflow Velocities from the Mass-Losing AGB Stars

We have calculated terminal gas outflow velocities from the circumstellar shells of the AGB stars. Our results confirm that, in case of the stationary dust driven winds, the dynamics of the outflow is governed essentially by the dust properties and stellar luminosities, while only marginally by other stellar parameters. Although being far from comprehensive, our calculations also indicate that the dust driven winds may only occur in cool, luminous, low mass objects. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A detailed abundance analysis of the hot post-AGB star ZNG-1 in M10

We present a model-atmosphere analysis for the bright ( V ∼13) star ZNG-1, in the globular cluster M10. From high-resolution ( R ∼40 000) optical spectra we confirm ZNG-1 to be a post-asymptotic giant branch (post-AGB) star. The derived atmospheric parameters are T _eff=26 500±1000 K and log  g =3.6±0.2 dex . A differential abundance analysis reveals a chemical composition typical of hot post-AGB objects, with ZNG-1 being generally metal poor, although helium is approximately solar. The most interesting feature is the large carbon underabundance of more than 1.3 dex. This carbon deficiency, along with an observed nitrogen enhancement relative to other elements, may suggest that ZNG-1 evolved off the AGB before the third dredge-up occurred. Also, iron depletions observed in other similar stars suggest that gas–dust fractionation in the AGB progenitor could be responsible for the observed composition of these objects. However, we need not invoke either scenario since the chemical composition of ZNG-1 is in good agreement with abundances found for a Population II star of the same metallicity.     

Dust metamorphosis in the galaxy

Summary Cosmic dust grains play an important role for the thermal, dynamical, and chemical structure of the interstellar medium. This is especially true for the star formation process and the late stages of stellar evolution. Dust grains determine the spectral appearance of protostars, very young stellar objects with disk-like structures as well as of evolved stars with circumstellar envelopes.In this review, we will demonstrate that solid particles in interstellar space are both agent and subject of galactic evolution. We will especially discuss the different dust populations in circumstellar envelopes, the diffuse interstellar medium, and the molecular clouds with strong emphasis on the evolutionary aspects and the metamorphosis of these populations.     

Mid-IR Imaging and Modelling of AGB Circumstellar Envelopes

We present new mid-IR images of AGB and post-AGB circumstellar envelopes (CSEs) obtained with the 10–20 μm imaging camera CAMIRAS mounted at the TIRGO infrared telescope (Gornergrat, Switzerland). Diffraction limited images of the sources are obtained, and extended emission for the brightest sources is detected for several arcseconds. Simple radiative transfer modelling is necessary to fit the observed data and derive the physical and chemical state of the envelope. This kind of analysis is an important test for dust formation theories, because it gives indications of dust properties along their condensation path through the envelope. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Mass Loss and Circumstellar Dust Shells at T Tauri Stars

The mass loss of T Tauri stars leads to the production of dust in circumstellar space. The total amount of lost mass (and therefore of produced dust) is observed to be positiv correlated with the intensity of the H and Call emission lines of the objects. This fact is used in the present paper to explain quantitatively another correlation, namely the observation, that the interstellar extinction which is found by star counts in the wider surroundings of a T Tauri star is roughly proportional to the intensity of its Hα emission. By this, the outflow of circumstellar matter into the interstellar space seems to be observable directly.     

Extrasolar planets and the rotation and axisymmetric mass-loss of evolved stars

I examine the implications of the recently found extrasolar planets on the planet-induced axisymmetric mass-loss model for the formation of elliptical planetary nebulae (PNe). This model attributes the low departure from spherical mass-loss of upper asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars to envelope rotation which results from deposition of orbital angular momentum of the planets. Since about half of all PNe are elliptical, i.e., have low equatorial to polar density contrast, it was predicted that about 50 per cent of all Sun-like stars have Jupiter-like planets around them, i.e., a mass about equal to that of Jupiter, M _J, or more massive. In the light of the new findings that only 5 per cent of Sun-like stars have such planets, and a newly proposed mechanism for axisymmetric mass-loss, the cool magnetic spots model, I revise this prediction. I predict that indeed ∼50 per cent of PN progenitors do have close planets around them, but the planets can have much lower masses, as low as ∼0.01 M _J, in order to spin-up the envelopes of AGB stars efficiently. To support this claim, I follow the angular momentum evolution of single stars with main-sequence mass in the range of 1.3–2.4 M_⊙ , as they evolve to the post-AGB phase. I find that single stars rotate much too slowly to possess any significant non-spherical mass-loss as they reach the upper AGB. It seems, therefore, that planets, in some cases even Earth-like planets, are sufficient to spin-up the envelope of these AGB stars for them to form elliptical PNe. The prediction that on average several such planets orbit each star, as in the Solar system, still holds.     

Radiative Transfer Models of Dust Shells Around Post-AGB Stars

We present a radiative transfer analysis of circumstellar dust shells around the Post-AGB stars HD 179821, HD 56126, HD 101584 and early R star HD 100764, using the code DUSTY. Parameters like mass-loss, shell inner radius, dust temperature, outflow velocity etc., are derived for HD 179821and HD 56126 whose observed SED could be reproduced by our models. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Circumstellar Shells of the Mass-Losing Asymptotic Giant Branch Stars: Limits for the Dust-Driven Winds

We investigated whether the radiation pressure on dust grains alone may account for driving winds in semiregular, irregular and non-variable AGB stars. A simple theoretical model is employed to calculate the limits for the radiatively driven winds and to compare theoretical predictions with observations. Present analysis indicates, that for most of the objects in the studied sample of 67 oxygen-rich and 40 carbon-rich mass-losing AGB stars radiation pressure on dust grains alone is not effective enough to drive the observed circumstellar outflows.