Revealing new features of the millimetre emission of the circumbinary envelope of Mira Ceti

Abstract

ABSTRACT We study the morpho-kinematics of the circumbinary envelope of Mira Ceti between ∼100 and ∼350 au from the stars using ALMA observations of the SiO (ν = 0, J= 5−4) and CO (ν = 0, J = 3−2) emissions with the aim of presenting an accurate and reliable picture of what cannot be ignored when modelling the dynamics at stake. A critical study of the uncertainties attached to imaging is presented. The line emissions are shown to be composed of a few separated fragments. They are described in detail and plausible interpretations of their genesis are discussed. Evidence for a focusing effect of the Mira A wind by Mira B over the past century is presented; it accounts for only a small fraction of the overall observed emission but its accumulation over several orbital periods may have produced an enhancement of CO emission in the orbital plane of Mira B. We identify a south-western outflow and give arguments for the anti-correlation observed between CO and SiO emissions being the result of a recent mass ejection accompanied by a shock wave. We discuss the failure of simple scenarios that have been proposed earlier to explain some of the observed features and comment on the apparent lack of continuity between the present observations and those obtained in the close environment of the stars. Evidence is obtained for the presence of large Doppler velocity components near the line of sight aiming to the star, possibly revealing the presence of important turbulence at ∼5–10 au away from Mira A.