Multiple circumstellar shells and radiation pressure on grains in the outflows from late-type giants

Abstract

It is pointed out that mass loss from red giants and supergiants is sometimes as high as 0.0001 solar mass per year. This mass loss represents a major source of new interstellar matter. The present investigation is concerned with the phenomena involved in stellar mass loss, taking into account a comparison of currently available observations with plausible models. The case of the extended circumstellar envelope around IRC +10216 is considered. In observations about mass loss from circumstellar shells, it is sometimes found that the P Cygni profiles are split into two or more sharp, distinct components. The question is considered whether such narrow separate components can be understood in terms of the radiation pressure model. A grain growth model is discussed along with outflow velocity, radiation pressure, and mass loss rates. The models are compared with observations from Alpha Orionis, Mira, and IRC +10216. It is concluded that a hybrid model for the mass loss from some late-type stars seems appropriate. Under certain conditions, outflow speeds of 10 to 20 km/s can be understood.