POWRE: Infrared Variability of Mira Stars

宇宙背景探索者（COBE）卫星数据库将用于绘制富碳和富氧的Mira恒星的近红外（NIR）、中红外（MIR）和远红外（FIR）光曲线。这些新的光曲线将与视觉光曲线进行比较。这将首次提供光球变化与星周壳变化之间的联系。目前，已经在少数恒星中观测到MIR或FIR的变异性。一般来说，只有一小部分可见光曲线被采样。COBE DIRBE仪器数据将用于提供信息，以显着增加样本量，通常具有更好的光曲线采样。该数据将用于搜索光学和红外光曲线之间的相位滞后，以及搜索不同波长下变化幅度的差异。研究的结果将是一个Mira变星的红外光曲线图谱。该地图集将包含光度数据以及对星周参数的估计。这些结果将为当前的星周包层尘埃形成、破坏和加热模型提供强有力的约束。本项目由数学和物理科学理事会天文科学司和多学科活动办公室资助

AST-0073853SmithThe Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) satellite database will be used to develop Near-Infrared (NIR), Mid-Infrared (MIR), and Far-Infrared (FIR) light curves of carbon and oxygen-rich Mira stars. These new light curves will be compared to visual light curves. This will provide, for the first time, the link between photospheric variations and circumstellar shell variations. At present, MIR or FIR variability has been observed in a handful of stars. Generally, only a small fraction of the visual light curve has been sampled. The COBE DIRBE instrument data will be used to provide information to increase the sample size dramatically, generally with better sampling of the light curve. This data will be used to search for phase lags between the optical and infrared light curves and to search for differences in the amplitude of the variations at different wavelengths. The result of the research will be an atlas of infrared light curves of Mira variable stars. The atlas will contain the photometric data as well as estimates of the circumstellar parameters. These results will provide strong constraints on current models of dust formation, destruction, and heating in circumstellar envelopes.This project is funded by the Division of Astronomical Sciences and the Office of Multidisciplinary Activities in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate.***