The nascent wind of AGB star R doradus: evidence for a recent episode of enhanced mass loss

Abstract

ABSTRACT We analyse ALMA observations of the SO(JK = 65 − 54) emission of the circumstellar envelope of oxygen-rich AGB star R Dor, probing distances between 20 and 100 au from the star where the nascent wind is building up. We give evidence for a radial outflow covering very large solid angles and displaying strong inhomogeneity both in direction and radially: it contains multiple cores and has a radial dependence suggesting an episode of enhanced mass loss that occurred a century or so ago. Our analysis also confirms the presence of a previously observed rotating disc.