Studies of OH-Infrared Stars

目前天文学中一个引起强烈兴趣的课题是质量损失 来自星星 质量损失发生在几乎所有阶段 恒星的演化，尽管质量损失的速率不同， 相当大。 质量损失中最神秘的阶段之一 发生在红巨星阶段， 类似于太阳。 这些恒星可能会脱落10-3 从而产生行星状星云 （这是拱星的气体壳，膨胀速度为 几公里/秒）。 一些最明亮的红色星系周围的质量损失区域 巨星的特征是强的氢氧脉泽发射。 的 主要研究者（PI）建议进行理论研究 和观测上的区域。 研究的目的 是为了更好地理解质量脱落过程;描述在 更详细的几何，动态，热力学，和 质量损失区域的磁结构;并确定 这种质量损失对化学演化的集体影响 银河系。

A subject of intense current interest in astronomy is mass loss from stars. Mass loss occurs during virtually all phases of stellar evolution, though the rate of mass loss varies considerably. One of the more enigmatic phases of mass loss occurs during the red giant phase of stars that have masses similar to that of the sun. These stars may shed up to 10-3 solar masses per year and thereby produce planetary nebulae (which are circumstellar gaseous shells that expand at speeds of a few km/sec). The mass loss regions surrounding some of the most luminous red giants are characterized by strong hydroxyl maser emission. The Principal Investigator (PI) proposes to investigate theoretically and observationally such regions. The objective of the research is to understand better the mass shedding process; to describe in greater detail the geometric, dynamic, thermodynamic, and magnetic structure of the mass loss regions; and to determine the collective influence of this mass loss on the chemical evolution of the galaxy.