POWRE: Infrared Variability of Mira Stars

AST-0073853史密斯宇宙背景探测器（COBE）卫星数据库将用于开发富含碳和氧的Mira恒星的近红外（NIR），中红外（MIR）和远红外（FIR）光变曲线。这些新的光变曲线将与视觉光变曲线进行比较。 这将首次提供光球层变化和星周壳层变化之间的联系。 目前，在少数恒星中观察到了和平号或远红外线的变化。 一般来说，只有一小部分的可见光曲线已被采样。COBE DIRBE仪器的数据将用于提供信息，以大幅增加样本量，通常会更好地对光变曲线进行采样。 这些数据将被用来搜索光学和红外光曲线之间的相位滞后，并搜索不同波长处变化幅度的差异。 这项研究的成果将是一个Mira变星红外光曲线图集。 该图集将包含光度数据以及星周参数的估计。 这些结果将对目前的尘埃形成、破坏和星周包层加热模型提供强有力的限制。该项目由天文科学司和数学和物理科学理事会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.***