Imaging Scattered Light from the Inner Nebulae of Miras and Post-AGB Stars

对米拉星内部星云和 AGB 后恒星的散射光进行成像

• 批准号: 9421474
• 负责人: Arlin P. Crotts
• 金额: $ 7.7万
• 依托单位: Columbia University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1994
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1994-09-15 至 1997-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9421474&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Imaging; Scattered; Light; Inner; Nebulae

ABSTRACT CROTTS, Arlin AST-9421474 Mass loss on the Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) is still one of the most poorly understood topics in modern astronomy. The goal of this program is to study, with unprecedented time resolution, the most recent mass loss history and changes in dust shell morphology of stars in the AGB and post-AGB phase. Utilizing the adaptive optics system at the Starfire Optical Range the investigators will make subarcsec resolution maps of the scattered light from the inner parts of circumstellar envelopes (CSEs) around Miras and post-AGB stars. The intensity of scattered light as function of angular distance to the central star maps out the dust density distribution and contains information about recent variations in mass loss rate and morphology. A better understanding of the AGB mass loss process is not only crucial for a better understanding of the late stages of stellar evolution, but also supports other areas in astronomy such as the recycling of processed material into interstellar medium and studies of old stellar populations and galactic chemical evolution. * * *

Arlin AST-9421474渐近巨星分支上的质量损失仍然是现代天文学中最鲜为人知的课题之一。该计划的目标是以前所未有的时间分辨率研究恒星在AGB和后AGB阶段的最新质量损失历史和尘埃壳形态的变化。利用星火光学范围的自适应光学系统，研究人员将制作木拉和后AGB恒星周围的星周包层(CSE)内部的散射光的亚角秒分辨率地图。散射光的强度作为到中央恒星的角距离的函数，绘制出尘埃密度分布图，并包含关于质量损失率和形态的最新变化的信息。更好地理解AGB质量损失过程不仅对更好地理解恒星演化的后期阶段至关重要，而且还支持天文学的其他领域，如将加工过的物质回收到星际介质中，以及研究古老的恒星种群和星系化学演化。***