High resolution H band imaging polarimetry of IRC +10216. The obscured location of the central star

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

15

Infrared: Stars, Stars: Individual: Irc +10216, Techniques: Polarimetric, Circumstellar Matter

Scientific paper

We have carried out an H band imaging polarimetry of an evolved AGB star IRC +10216 using CIAO and AO on the Subaru telescope. Our polarimetric images show NE-S bipolar lobes, a NW lobe, a discrete NW arc with ~4.2 arcsec radius and two new features of a fan-like shape at the SE and of an elliptic shape at the NW with small polarizations (P<4%) near the intensity peak. The polarization vectors in the NE-S lobes and the NW lobe have a centrosymmetric pattern centered at the position of the illumination source (the central star). The illumination source is located at (+0.25 arcsec, -0.065 arcsec) from the intensity peak between the SE fan and the NW ellipse. The polarization vectors between these two features are aligned along a line across them. We interpret that the appearance of the SE fan and the NW ellipse reflects a sudden increase of the mass loss rate that likely initiated the formation of an edge-on dust torus. This sudden mass loss increase probably began about a half century ago.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

High resolution H band imaging polarimetry of IRC +10216. The obscured location of the central star 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 resolution H band imaging polarimetry of IRC +10216. The obscured location of the central star, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and High resolution H band imaging polarimetry of IRC +10216. The obscured location of the central star will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-867284

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.