ORCID Profile
0000-0003-2356-643X
Current Organisation
Uppsala University
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Publisher: EDP Sciences
Date: 09-2021
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202140952
Abstract: Aims. We aim to constrain the sizes of, and investigate deviations from spherical symmetry in, the CO circumstellar envelopes (CSEs) of 16 S-type stars, along with an additional 7 and 4 CSEs of C-type and M-type AGB stars, respectively. Methods. We map the emission from the CO J = 2–1 and 3–2 lines observed with the Atacama Compact Array (ACA) and its total power (TP) antennas, and fit with a Gaussian distribution in the uv - and image planes for ACA-only and TP observations, respectively. The major axis of the fitted Gaussian for the CO(2–1) line data gives a first estimate of the size of the CO-line-emitting CSE. We investigate possible signs of deviation from spherical symmetry by analysing the line profiles and the minor-to-major axis ratio obtained from visibility fitting, and by investigating the deconvolved images. Results. The sizes of the CO-line-emitting CSEs of low-mass-loss-rate (low-MLR) S-type stars fall between the sizes of the CSEs of C-stars, which are larger, and those of M-stars, which are smaller, as expected because of the differences in their respective CO abundances and the dependence of the photodissociation rate on this quantity. The sizes of the low-MLR S-type stars show no dependence on circumstellar density, as measured by the ratio of the MLR to terminal outflow velocity, irrespective of variability type. The density dependence steepens for S-stars with higher MLRs. While the CO(2–1) brightness distribution size of the low-density S-stars is in general smaller than the predicted photodissociation radius (assuming the standard interstellar radiation field), the measured size of a few of the high-density sources is of the same order as the expected photodissociation radius. Furthermore, our results show that the CO CSEs of most of the S-stars in our s le are consistent with a spherically symmetric and smooth outflow. For some of the sources, clear and prominent asymmetric features are observed which are indicative of intrinsic circumstellar anisotropy. Conclusions. As the majority of the S-type CSEs of the stars in our s le are consistent with a spherical geometry, the CO envelope sizes obtained in this paper will be used to constrain detailed radiative transfer modelling to directly determine more accurate MLR estimates for the stars in our s le. For several of our sources that present signs of deviation from spherical symmetry, further high-resolution observations would be necessary to investigate the nature of, and the physical processes behind, these asymmetrical structures. This will provide further insight into the mass-loss process and its related chemistry in S-type AGB stars.
Publisher: EDP Sciences
Date: 08-2020
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/201936874
Abstract: Context. This is the first publication from the DEATHSTAR project. The overall goal of the project is to reduce the uncertainties of the observational estimates of mass-loss rates from evolved stars on the Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB). Aim. The aim in this first publication is to constrain the sizes of the 12 CO emitting region from the circumstellar envelopes around 42 mostly southern AGB stars, of which 21 are M-type and 21 are C-type, using the Atacama Compact Array (ACA) at the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array. The symmetry of the outflows is also investigated. Methods. Line emission from 12 CO J = 2→1 and 3→2 from all of the sources were mapped using the ACA. In this initial analysis, the emission distribution was fit to a Gaussian distribution in the u v -plane. A detailed radiative transfer analysis will be presented in a future publication. The major and minor axis of the best-fit Gaussian at the line center velocity of the 12 CO J = 2→1 emission gives a first indication of the size of the emitting region. Furthermore, the fitting results, such as the Gaussian major and minor axis, center position, and the goodness of fit across both lines, constrain the symmetry of the emission distribution. For a subs le of sources, the measured emission distribution is compared to predictions from previous best-fit radiative transfer modeling results. Results. We find that the CO envelope sizes are, in general, larger for C-type than for M-type AGB stars, which is as expected if the CO/H 2 ratio is larger in C-type stars. Furthermore, the measurements show a relation between the measured (Gaussian) 12 CO J = 2→1 size and circumstellar density that, while in broad agreement with photodissociation calculations, reveals large scatter and some systematic differences between the different stellar types. For lower mass-loss-rate irregular and semi-regular variables of both M- and C-type AGB stars, the 12 CO J = 2→1 size appears to be independent of the ratio of the mass-loss rate to outflow velocity, which is a measure of circumstellar density. For the higher mass-loss-rate Mira stars, the 12 CO J = 2→1 size clearly increases with circumstellar density, with larger sizes for the higher CO-abundance C-type stars. The M-type stars appear to be consistently smaller than predicted from photodissociation theory. The majority of the sources have CO envelope sizes that are consistent with a spherically symmetric, smooth outflow, at least on larger scales. For about a third of the sources, indications of strong asymmetries are detected. This is consistent with what was found in previous interferometric investigations of northern sources. Smaller scale asymmetries are found in a larger fraction of sources. Conclusions. These results for CO envelope radii and shapes can be used to constrain detailed radiative transfer modeling of the same stars so as to determine mass-loss rates that are independent of photodissociation models. For a large fraction of the sources, observations at higher spatial resolution will be necessary to deduce the nature and origin of the complex circumstellar dynamics revealed by our ACA observations.
No related grants have been discovered for Susanne Höfner.