Abstract

The cool molecular region of late-type stellar atmospheres, the ‘MOLsphere’ located between the photosphere and expanding circumstellar shell, is explored by using time series of near-IR spectra of one large amplitude AGB (Mira) variable. The ∼⃒1400 K MOLsphere of the Mira R Cas is shown to undergo large amplitude velocity changes that are aperiodic with time scales many times longer than the photospheric pulsation. The mass of the MOLsphere is ∼⃒3×10−5 M⊙. Initial analysis suggests that MOLsphere is thin compared to the stellar radius.

Highlights

  • For low mass stars the majority of the mass loss occurs during the AGB evolutionary phase

  • The atmospheric carbon and oxygen isotopic ratios are altered by the CNO cycle, He burning, and mixing processes that take place in the stellar interior over the lifetime of the star [12]

  • By measuring carbon and oxygen isotopic ratios we demonstrate that most unobscured Miras in the solar neighborhood had progenitor masses ≤ 2 M [11]

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Summary

Atmospheric structure and mass loss in Miras

This content has been downloaded from IOPscience. Please scroll down to see the full text. Ser. 728 022003 (http://iopscience.iop.org/1742-6596/728/2/022003) View the table of contents for this issue, or go to the journal homepage for more. Download details: IP Address: 131.130.87.199 This content was downloaded on 01/06/2017 at 10:45 Please note that terms and conditions apply

Introduction
Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd

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