The correlation of mass outflow velocity and luminosity for Mira variables

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (14) References (21) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS The correlation of mass outflow velocity and luminosity for Mira variables. Cahn, J. H. ; Wyatt, S. P. Abstract Available data on the terminal expansion velocities of circumstellar shells around Mira variables are examined which are derivable from SiO, OH, and CO radio line profiles. It is found that the terminal expansion velocities are positively correlated with the mean bolometric luminosities of the central stars. In an attempt to account for the interdependence of these parameters, simple hydrodynamical calculations are carried out concerning the gas outflow close to a Mira and the coupled outflow of gas and dust grains beyond the radius where the grains originate. The results suggest that the interaction of grains, gas, and stellar radiation pressure is responsible for the correlation and that the gas is accelerated to final velocities somewhat less than 5 km/s for less luminous Miras and in excess of 20 km/s for more luminous Miras. The observed dependence and the calculations are shown to require that the more luminous Miras produce somewhat larger grains than the less luminous ones. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: September 1978 DOI: 10.1086/182764 Bibcode: 1978ApJ...224L..79C Keywords: Binary Stars; M Stars; Mira Variables; Stellar Envelopes; Stellar Mass Ejection; Variable Stars; B Stars; Bolometers; Gas Flow; Stellar Luminosity; Stellar Winds; Astrophysics; Circumstellar Shells:Mira Variables; Luminosities:Mira Variables; Mass Loss:Mira Variables full text sources ADS |