MIPS Infrared Imaging of AGB Dustshells (MIRIAD): tracing mass-loss histories in the extremely large shells around evolved stars

Details MIPS Infrared Imaging of AGB Dustshells (MIRIAD): tracing mass-loss histories in the extremely large shells around evolved stars MIPS Infrared Imaging of AGB Dustshells (MIRIAD): tracing mass-loss histories in the extremely large shells around evolved stars

Jun 2005

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2005sptz.prop20258s&link_type=abstract

Spitzer Proposal ID #20258

Computer Science

Scientific paper

Evolved intermediate mass stars are major contributors to the interstellar medium. However, the mechanisms by which they do this are not well understood. The circumstellar shells of evolved stars (AGB and post-AGB stars) contain the fossil record of their mass loss, and therefore have the potential to verify many aspects of stellar evolution. IRAS and ISO data indicate that huge dust shells exist around many such objects, extending several parsecs from the central star. Furthermore, these large dust shells show evidence for mass-loss variations that correlate with evolutionary changes in the star itself. Previous observations lacked the sensitivity and spatial resolution to investigate the full extent and detailed structure of these large dust shells. Using Spitzer/MIPS's unique sensitivity and mapping capabilities, we propose to produce far-IR images of the parsec-sized dust shells around four carefully selected evolved stars in order to determine the distribution of material in these circumstellar envelopes. These maps will be the deepest yet (sensitivity 1MJy/sr) and have the most complete spatial coverage to date. Crucially, mapping in this level of detail will allow us to: (a) constrain the masses of the progenitor stars; (b) test theories of stellar evolution and mass-loss mechanisms; (c) determine the effect of dust chemistry on mass loss (and therefore on stellar evolution); (d) determine when the aspherical structures so prevalent in planetary nebulae actually develop and thus constrain the cause.

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