Near and mid-IR sub-arcsecond structure of the dusty symbiotic star R Aqr

Details Near and mid-IR sub-arcsecond structure of the dusty symbiotic star R Aqr Near and mid-IR sub-arcsecond structure of the dusty symbiotic star R Aqr

2000-03-10

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0003145v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Accepted to Astrophysical Journal. To appear in volume 534. 14 pages; 3 postscript figures

Scientific paper

10.1086/308782

The results of a high-resolution interferometric campaign targeting the symbiotic long-period variable (LPV) R~Aqr are reported. With both near-infrared measurements on baselines out to 10m and mid-infrared data extending to 32m, we have been able to measure the characteristic sizes of regions from the photosphere of the LPV and its extended molecular atmosphere, out to the cooler circumstellar dust shell. The near-infrared data were taken using aperture masking interferometry on the Keck-I telescope and show R~Aqr to be partially resolved for wavelengths out to 2.2 microns but with a marked enlargement, possibly due to molecular opacity, at 3.1 microns. Mid-infrared interferometric measurements were obtained with the U.C. Berkeley Infrared Spatial Interferometer (ISI) operating at 11.15 microns from 1992 to 1999. Although this dataset is somewhat heterogeneous with incomplete coverage of the Fourier plane and sampling of the pulsation cycle, clear changes in the mid-infrared brightness distribution were observed, both as a function of position angle on the sky and as a function of pulsation phase. Spherically symmetric radiative transfer calculations of uniform-outflow dust shell models produce brightness distributions and spectra which partially explain the data, however limitations to this approximation are noted. Evidence for significant deviation from circular symmetry was found in the mid-infrared and more tentatively at 3.08 microns in the near-infrared, however no clear detection of binarity or of non-LPV elements in the symbiotic system is reported.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Near and mid-IR sub-arcsecond structure of the dusty symbiotic star R Aqr 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 Near and mid-IR sub-arcsecond structure of the dusty symbiotic star R Aqr, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Near and mid-IR sub-arcsecond structure of the dusty symbiotic star R Aqr will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-583861