The First Empirical Mass Loss Law for Population II Giants

Details The First Empirical Mass Loss Law for Population II Giants The First Empirical Mass Loss Law for Population II Giants

2007-09-20

arxiv.org/abs/0709.3271v1

Astrophys.J.667:L85-L88,2007

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Scientific paper

10.1086/521980

Using the Spitzer IRAC camera we have obtained mid-IR photometry of the red giant branch stars in the Galactic globular cluster 47 Tuc. About 100 stars show an excess of mid-infrared light above that expected from their photospheric emission. This is plausibly due to dust formation in mass flowing from these stars. This mass loss extends down to the level of the horizontal branch and increases with luminosity. The mass loss is episodic, occurring in only a fraction of stars at a given luminosity. Using a simple model and our observations we derive mass loss rates for these stars. Finally, we obtain the first empirical mass loss formula calibrated with observations of Population II stars. The dependence on luminosity of our mass loss rate is considerably shallower than the widely used Reimers Law. The results presented here are the first from our Spitzer survey of a carefully chosen sample of 17 Galactic Globular Clusters, spanning the entire metallicity range from about one hundredth up to almost solar.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

The First Empirical Mass Loss Law for Population II Giants does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with The First Empirical Mass Loss Law for Population II Giants, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The First Empirical Mass Loss Law for Population II Giants will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-518267