High Spatial Resolution Mid-IR Imaging of V838 Monocerotis: Evidence of New Circumstellar Dust Creation

Details High Spatial Resolution Mid-IR Imaging of V838 Monocerotis: Evidence of New Circumstellar Dust Creation High Spatial Resolution Mid-IR Imaging of V838 Monocerotis: Evidence of New Circumstellar Dust Creation

2008-07-11

arxiv.org/abs/0807.1763v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

8 pages, accepted in ApJL, emulateapj5 format

Scientific paper

10.1086/591735

We report high spatial resolution 11.2 and 18.1 micron imaging of V838 Monocerotis obtained with Gemini Observatory's Michelle instrument in 2007 March. Strong emission is observed from the unresolved stellar core of V838 Mon in our Gemini imagery, and is confirmed by Spitzer MIPS 24 micron imaging obtained in 2007 April. The 2007 flux density of the unresolved mid-infrared emission component is 2 times brighter than that observed in 2004. No clear change in the net amount of 24 micron extended emission is observed between the 2004 and 2007 epoch Spitzer imagery. We interpret these data as evidence that V838 Mon has experienced a new circumstellar dust creation event. We suggest that this newly created dust has condensed from the expanding ejecta produced from V838 Mon's 2002 outburst events, and is most likely clumpy. We speculate that one (or more) of these clumps might have passed through the line-of-sight in late 2006, producing the brief multi-wavelength photometric event reported by Bond (2006) and Munari et al (2007). We detect no evidence of extended emission above a level of 1 mJy at 11.2 microns and 7 mJy at 18.1 microns over radial distances of 1860 - 93000 AU (0.3-15.0 arcsec) from the central source. Using the simple assumption that ejecta material expands at a constant velocity of 300-500 km/s, this gap of thermal emission suggests that no significant prior circumstellar dust production events have occurred within the past 900-1500 years.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

High Spatial Resolution Mid-IR Imaging of V838 Monocerotis: Evidence of New Circumstellar Dust Creation 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 High Spatial Resolution Mid-IR Imaging of V838 Monocerotis: Evidence of New Circumstellar Dust Creation, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and High Spatial Resolution Mid-IR Imaging of V838 Monocerotis: Evidence of New Circumstellar Dust Creation will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-575113