TP-AGB Stars Research Articles

The Demarcation Point from E-AGB Stars to TP-AGB Stars in HR Diagram for Medium-mass Stars

Via a study of the evolutionary tracks of 3∼10 M stars on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, the variations of the energy, density, temperature at the peak of helium-shell burning, ratio of surface luminosity of helium shell to stellar surface luminosity as well as the stellar radius are analyzed. Then the demarcation point of medium-mass stars in the evolution from early AGB stars to thermally pulsing AGB stars on the HR diagram is determined, and for 119 carbon stars our analysis agrees rather well with observation. At the same time the following is suggested. After arriving at this demarcation point in stellar evolution, in the formula of the loss of stellar wind material it is probably needed to introduce a quantity which is not concerned with the surface luminosity, but it dominates the formation of super stellar wind. On this basis and via the analysis of the structure and evolution of 5 M stars as well as the rate of mass loss of stellar wind, it is found that the effect of turbulent pressure on the mass loss of stellar wind in the stage of thermally pulsing AGB stars is rather great, hence the turbulent pressure of thermally pulsing AGB stars cannot be overlooked. Furthermore, the physical factors which possibly affect the matter loss of the stellar winds of thermally pulsing AGB stars are suggested.

A BOUND ON THE LIGHT EMITTED DURING THE THERMALLY PULSING ASYMPTOTIC GIANT BRANCH PHASE

The integrated luminosity of the TP-AGB phase is a major uncertainty in stellar population synthesis models. We use the white dwarf initial final mass relation and stellar interiors models to demonstrate that a significant fraction of the core mass growth for intermediate (1.5 < Msun < 6) mass stars takes place during the TP-AGB phase. We find evidence that the peak fractional core mass contribution for TP-AGB stars is ~20% and occurs for stars between 2 Msun and 3.5 Msun. Using a simple fuel consumption argument we couple this core mass increase to a lower limit on the TP-AGB phase energy output. Roughly half of the energy released in models of TP-AGB stars can be directly accounted for by this core growth; while the remainder is predominantly the stellar yield of He. A robust measurement of the emitted light in this phase will therefore set strong constraints on helium enrichment from TP-AGB stars, and we estimate the yields predicted by current models as a function of initial mass. Implications for stellar population studies and prospects for improvements are discussed.

THE MID-INFRARED LUMINOSITIES OF NORMAL GALAXIES OVER COSMIC TIME

Modern population synthesis models estimate that 50% of the restframe K-band light is produced by TP-AGB stars during the first Gyr of a stellar population, with a substantial fraction continuing to be produced by the TP-AGB over a Hubble time. Between 0.2 and 1.5 Gyr, intermediate mass stars evolve into TP-AGB C stars which, due to significant amounts of circumstellar dust, emit half their energy in the mid-IR. We combine these results using published mid-IR colors of Galactic TP-AGB M and C stars to construct simple models for exploring the contribution of the TP-AGB to 24micron data as a function of stellar population age. We compare these empirical models with an ensemble of galaxies in the CDFS from z=0 to z=2, and with high quality imaging in M81. Within the uncertainties, the TP-AGB appears responsible for a substantial fraction of the mid-IR luminosities of galaxies from z=0 to z=2, the maximum redshift to which we can test our hypothesis, while, at the same time, our models reproduce much of the detailed structure observed in mid-IR imaging of M81. The mid-IR is a good diagnostic of star formation over timescales of ~1.5 Gyr, but this implies that on-going star formation rates at z=1 may be overestimated by factors of ~1.5-6, depending on the nature of star formation events. Our results, if confirmed through subsequent work, have strong implications for the star formation rate density of the universe and the growth of stellar mass over time.

The active and passive populations of extremely red objects

[abridged] The properties of galaxies with the reddest observed R-K colors (Extremely Red Objects, EROs), including their apparent division into passive and obscured active objects with roughly similar number densities, are a known challenge for models of galaxy formation. We produce mock catalogues generated by interfacing the predictions of the semi-analytical MORGANA model for the evolution of galaxies in a Lambda-CDM cosmology with the spectro-photometric + radiative transfer code GRASIL and Infrared (IR) template library to show that the model correctly reproduces number counts, redshift distributions and active fractions of R-K>5 sources. We test the robustness of our results against different dust attenuations and, most importantly, against the inclusion of TP-AGB stars in Simple Stellar Populations used to generate galaxy spectra, and find that the inclusion of TP-AGBs has a relevant effect, in that it allows to increase by a large factor the number of very red active objects at all color cuts. We find that though the most passive and the most obscured active galaxies have a higher probability of being selected as EROs, many EROs have intermediate properties and the population does not show bimodality in specific star formation rate (SSFR). We predict that deep observations in the Far-IR, from 100 to 500 micron, are the most efficient way to constrain the SSFR of these objects; we give predictions for future Herschel observations. Finally, we test whether a simple evolutionary sequence for the formation of z=0 massive galaxies, going through a sub-mm-bright phase and then a ERO phase, are typical in this galaxy formation model. We find that this sequence holds for ~25 per cent of z=0 massive galaxies, while the model typically shows a more complex connection between sub-mm, ERO and massive galaxies. [abridged]

Tracers of stellar mass loss - I. Optical and near-IR colours and surface brightness fluctuations

We present optical and IR integrated colours and SBF magnitudes, computed from stellar population synthesis models that include emission from the dusty envelopes surrounding TP-AGB stars undergoing mass-loss. We explore the effects of varying the mass-loss rate by one order of magnitude around the fiducial value, modifying accordingly both the stellar parameters and the output spectra of the TP-AGB stars plus their dusty envelopes. The models are single burst, and range in age from a few Myr to 14 Gyr, and in metallicity between $Z$ = 0.0001 and $Z$ = 0.07; they combine new calculations for the evolution of stars in the TP-AGB phase, with star plus envelope SEDs produced with the radiative transfer code DUSTY. We compare these models to optical and near-IR data of single AGB stars and Magellanic star clusters. This comparison validates the current understanding of the role of mass-loss in determining stellar parameters and spectra in the TP-AGB. However, neither broad-band colours nor SBF measurements in the optical or the near-IR can discern global changes in the mass-loss rate of a stellar population. We predict that mid-IR SBF measurements can pick out such changes, and actually resolve whether a relation between metallicity and mass-loss exists.

IntegratedK-band spectra of old and intermediate-age globular clusters in the Large Magellanic Cloud

Current stellar population models have arguably the largest uncertainties in the near-IR wavelength range, partly due to a lack of large and well calibrated empirical spectral libraries. In this paper we present a project, which aim it is to provide the first library of luminosity weighted integrated near-IR spectra of globular clusters to be used to test the current stellar population models and serve as calibrators for the future ones. Our pilot study presents spatially integrated K-band spectra of three old (>10 Gyr) and metal poor ([Fe/H]~-1.4), and three intermediate age (1-2 Gyr) and more metal rich ([Fe/H]~-0.4) globular clusters in the LMC. We measured the line strengths of the Na I, Ca I and 12CO(2-0) absorption features. The Na I index decreases with the increasing age and decreasing metallicity of the clusters. The Dco index, used to measure the 12CO(2-0) line strength, is significantly reduced by the presence of carbon-rich TP-AGB stars in the globular clusters with age ~1 Gyr. This is in contradiction with the predictions of the stellar population models of Maraston (2005). We find that this disagreement is due to the different CO absorption strength of carbon-rich Milky Way TP-AGB stars used in the models and the LMC carbon stars in our sample. For globular clusters with age >2 Gyr we find Dco index measurements consistent with the model predictions.

HOW MASSIVE ARE MASSIVE COMPACT GALAXIES?

Using a sample of nine massive compact galaxies at z ~ 2.3 with rest-frame optical spectroscopy and comprehensive U through 8um photometry we investigate how assumptions in SED modeling change the stellar mass estimates of these galaxies, and how this affects our interpretation of their size evolution. The SEDs are fit to Tau-models with a range of metallicities, dust laws, as well as different stellar population synthesis codes. These models indicate masses equal to, or slightly smaller than our default masses. The maximum difference is 0.16 dex for each parameter considered, and only 0.18 dex for the most extreme combination of parameters. Two-component populations with a maximally old stellar population superposed with a young component provide reasonable fits to these SEDs using the models of Bruzual & Charlot (2003); however, using models with updated treatment of TP-AGB stars the fits are poorer. The two-component models predict masses that are 0.08 to 0.22 dex larger than the Tau-models. We also test the effect of a bottom-light IMF and find that it would reduce the masses of these galaxies by 0.3 dex. Considering the range of allowable masses from the Tau-models, two-component fits, and IMF, we conclude that on average these galaxies lie below the mass-size relation of galaxies in the local universe by a factor of 3-9, depending on the SED models used.

Tracers of Star Formation in the Near Infrared

AbstractStarburst features in the optical are nowadays well known, but the use of this knowledge is not always possible (e.g. objects heavily obscured). In this case the near-IR is of unprecedented value. Recent models show that TP-AGB stars should dominate the NIR spectra of populations 0.3 to 2 Gyr old. While the optical spectra is insensitive to the presence of these stars, the near-IR changes dramatically. Not only does the absolute flux in the near-IR is affected, but also peculiar absorption features appear. These features can be used as indicators of 1 Gyr stellar population. In this work we used the IRTF Spex to create the first empirical database of NIR spectra of carefully selected starbursts, to test for the first time and in a consistent way the new stellar population models that account for the TP-AGB. The methodology used is to do stellar population synthesis in the optical and in the NIR, and compare the predictions of both spectral regions. We also compare the strength of important features of the TP-AGB stars, like the CN (1.1 microns) and CO (2.3 microns) bands with optical diagnostics.

Surface brightness fluctuations, tracers of stellar mass-loss?

AbstractWe present optical and IR integrated colors and SBF magnitudes, computed from stellar population synthesis models that include emission from the dusty envelopes surrounding mass-loosing TP-AGB stars. We explore the effects of varying the mass-loss rate by one order of magnitude around the fiducial value, modifying accordingly both the stellar parameters and the output spectra of the TP-AGB stars plus their dusty envelopes. We compare these models to optical and near-IR data of single AGB stars and Magellanic star clusters. Neither broad-band colors nor SBF measurements in the optical or the near-IR can discern global changes in the mass-loss rate of a stellar population. However, we predict that mid-IR SBF measurements can pick out such changes, and actually resolve whether a relation between metallicity and mass-loss exists.

JOINT ANALYSIS OF NEAR-INFRARED PROPERTIES AND SURFACE BRIGHTNESS FLUCTUATIONS OF LARGE MAGELLANIC CLOUD STAR CLUSTERS

Surface brightness fluctuations (SBFs) have been proved to be a very powerful technique to determine the distance and characterize the stellar content in extragalactic systems. Nevertheless, before facing the problem of stellar content in distant galaxies, we need to calibrate the method onto nearby well known systems. In this paper we analyze the properties at the J and Ks bands of a sample of 19 star clusters in the Large Magellanic Cloud, for which accurate near-infrared (NIR) resolved star photometry and integrated photometry are available. For the same sample, we derive the SBF measurements in the J and Ks bands. We use the multipurpose stellar population code SPoT (Stellar POpulations Tools) to simulate the color–magnitude diagram, stellar counts, integrated magnitudes, colors, and SBFs of each cluster. The present procedure allows us to estimate the age and metallicity of the clusters in a consistent way, and provides a new calibration of the empirical s-parameter. We take advantage of the high sensitivity of NIR SBFs to thermally pulsing asymptotic (TP-AGB) stars to test different mass-loss rates affecting the evolution of such stars. We argue that NIR-SBFs can contribute to the disentangling of the observable properties of TP-AGB stars, especially in galaxies, where a large number of these stars are present.

On TP-AGB stars and the mass of galaxies

Recent calculations of evolutionary tracks of TP-AGB stars of different mass and metallicity by Marigo et al. (2007) have been incorporated in the Bruzual & Charlot evolutionary population synthesis models. The mass of the stellar population in HUDF galaxies at z from 1 to 3 determined from fits to the spectro-photometric data of these galaxies is 50 to 80% lower than the mass determined from the BC03 models. The ages inferred for these populations are, with exceptions, 40 to 60% of the BC03 estimates.

High resolution optical spectroscopy of IRAS 09425-6040 (=GLMP 260)

We present high resolution optical spectroscopic observations of IRAS 09425-6040, a peculiar, extremely red, C-rich AGB star showing prominent O-rich dust features in its ISO infrared spectrum attributed to crystalline silicates. Our analysis shows that IRAS 09425-6040 is indeed a C-rich star slightly enriched in lithium (log (Li/H) + 12 ~ 0.7) with a low 12C/13C = 15+-6 ratio. We also found some evidence that it may be enriched in s-elements. Combining our results with other observational data taken from the literature we conclude that the star is possibly an intermediate-mass TP-AGB star (M > 3 M_sun) close to the end of its AGB evolution which may have only very recently experienced a radical change in its chemistry, turning into a carbon-rich AGB star.

S-process nucleosynthesis in low mass AGB Stars: do we really need an improved determination of the 13C( α, n) 16O reaction rate?

Thermally pulsing Asymptotic Giant Branch stars are responsible for the nucleosynthesis of the main component of the cosmic s-elements. The most important neutron source is the 13 C( α , n ) 16 O reaction. Owing to the presence of a subthreshold resonance, the low energy extrapolation is a rather complex task. The rate quoted in the literature differ up to a factor of 4 at typical stellar energies. The latest improvements in computer power allows us to calculate the evolution of TP-AGB stars coupled with a full nuclear network, extending from hydrogen to lead. Here we discuss the effects of the variation of the 13 C( α , n ) 16 O rate on the predicted neutron capture nucleosynthesis.

Short-lived nuclides in the early solar system: the stellar connection

Fossil evidence for the presence of short-lived nuclides with half-life ranging from 100,000 years to ∼100 million years (Ma) in the early solar system has been found in primitive meteorites. The nuclides with half-life less than a couple of million years ( 41Ca, 26Al, 10Be, 60Fe) must have been produced either shortly before or during the very early evolution of the solar system. Two plausible sources of these nuclides are proposed; a single stellar source (e.g., a TP-AGB star, supernova or a W-R star) or energetic particle production in solar, presolar or stellar environments. The presence of 10Be, which is not a product of stellar nucleosynthesis, argues for an energetic particle production mechanism. However, correlated presence of 41Ca and 26Al with well-defined initial abundances in early solar system objects cannot be explained in the energetic particle production model and it also fails to account for the presence of 60Fe. Recent experimental data demonstrate that the source of 10Be is decoupled from that of 26Al and 41Ca and suggest that both a stellar source as well as energetic particle production contributed to the inventory of the short-lived nuclides in the early solar system. New data for initial abundance of 60Fe in the solar system tend to favor a SN source. The presence of freshly synthesized short-lived nuclides from an evolved star in the early solar system led to the hypothesis of a triggered origin of the solar system. Numerical simulation studies indicate dynamical feasibility of such a process and there are indirect observational evidences for triggered formation of sun-like stars.

Nucleosynthesis in TP-AGB stars and the production of 19F

Low-energy resonances in the reaction 18O(α,γ) have been measured using a highly efficient γ ray coincidence detector system. These resonances dominate the reaction rate for temperatures typical for TP-AGB stars (0.1–0.3 GK). Preliminary results reduce the reaction rate by up to a factor of three at these temperatures. While this leads to an enhancement of the fluorine production in TP-AGB stars, it is not sufficient to explain the observed fluorine abundances in the surface of red giants.

The pulsation modes and masses of carbon-rich long period variables

Following our study of the carbon-rich giants in the HR diagram and of their luminosity function (Paper III), we investigate the pulsation data of the long period variables (LPVs) included in our sample. Pulsation modes (fundamental, over- tone(s)) for carbon LPVs are identified in the period-radius diagram, making use of observed bi-periodicity in a small subsample of those stars, and of comparison to models. Mean pulsation masses are then deduced from theoretical PMR-relations, with due attention paid to a possible bias while averaging. Mean (present) pulsation masses (0:6 4:0 M) are found to increase along the group sequence HC5 to CV6, with still larger masses possibly associated with cool extreme CV7-objects with strong mass loss and thick circumstellar shells. This is con- sistent with the 0.8-4 M range of initial masses found in Paper III for the majority of carbon-rich giants aected by mass loss during their evolution. The pulsation masses found for a few HC-stars (M 0:8 M) are consistent with their low initial masses (Mi < 1:1 M); as inferred from their thick disk membership (age' 11 Gyr?) and locus in the HR diagram. A mean pulsation mass of'0:6 M is found for the three population II Cepheids in the sample. A mass-luminosity diagram is proposed for the Galactic carbon giants. The data from observations is found consistent with theoretical predictions from AGB modeling, specially the third dredge-up (TDU) through thermal pulses (TP) with a carbon star formation line (CSFL) for TP-AGB stars. It appears that the CV-giants are close to the tip and end of their evolutionary tracks in the TP-AGB of the HR diagram. It is confirmed that this end shifts toward lower eective temperatures and higher luminosities, with increasing masses. It is shown that the C/O abundance ratios do correlate with eective temperatures, according to three distinct distributions (halo CH stars, thick disk HC-stars, and thin disk CV-stars). The mean stellar density decreases along the HC5-CV7 sequence, while the surface gravity remains nearly constant at about 0.5 CGS unit logg' 0:3; 5 10 3 SI : The nature of (thin disk) CV-stars as TP-AGB objects being confirmed, the discussion is focused on (thick disk) HC-stars since the origin of these old low-mass giants remains unclear. Unpredicted extra mixing on RGB and/or E-AGB is favored. Evolution from (old, low O/H) dwarf carbon stars is also considered since observations of metal-poor stars and recent calculations point to large supersolar (C=Fe) ratios in Population III objects and contamination through rapid cycling in the interstellar medium.

Asymptotic Giant Branch evolution at varying surface C/O ratio: effects of changes in molecular opacities

We investigate the effects of molecular opacities on the evolution of TP-AGB stars that experience the third dredge-up, i.e. with surface abundances of carbon and oxygen varying with time. To this aim, a routine is constructed to derive the molecular concentrations through dissociation equilibrium calculations, and estimate the opacities due to H2, H2O, OH, C2, CN, and CO for any given density, temperature, and chemical composition of the gas. Then, synthetic TP-AGB models with dredge-up are calculated by either 1) adopting the newly developed routine, or 2) interpolating between fixed opacity tables for solar chemical composition, which is the usual prescription in AGB evolution calculations. The comparison between the two cases shows that the change in the dominant opacity sources, as the C/O ratio grows from below to above unity, crucially affects the evolution of the effective temperature, i.e. causing a notable cooling of the carbon-rich models (with C/O>1). From the comparison with observational data, it turns out that TP-AGB models with variable molecular opacities are able to reproduce the observed range of effective temperatures, mass-loss rates, and wind expansion velocities of C-type giants in the solar neighbourhood, otherwise failed if assuming fixed molecular opacities for solar-scaled mixtures. Finally, we mention other important evolutionary and observational effects that result from the adoption of the variable opacities, such as: i) significant shortening of the C-star phase due to the earlier onset of the super-wind; ii) consequent reduction of the carbon yields; iii) reproduction of the observed range of near-infrared colours of C-stars.

NIR Census of the Stellar Content of Nearby Blue Compact Dwarf Galaxies with HST

We resolved the brightest stars in 5 nearby blue compact dwarf galaxies with NICMOS aboard HST in J and H. In all galaxies, RGB stars were detected. This finding allows an improved estimate of the distances of these galaxies and sets a lower limit to the age of the old stellar component of 1 Gyr. Further, we detected a pronounced AGB population, including – in all but one – also TP-AGB stars. Our data do not support the hypothesis that very low metallicity BCD galaxies may have formed their first stars only recently.

ISOCAM and DENIS Survey of 0.5 square degrees in the Bar of the LMC. Detection of the whole TP-AGB Star Population

We surveyed 0.5 square degrees in the Bar of the LMC with ISOCAM at 4.5 and 12 μm, and with DENIS in the I, J, and Ks bands. Our goal was to build a complete sample of Thermally-Pulsing AGB stars. Here we present the first analysis of 0.14 square degrees. In total we find about 300 TP-AGB stars. Among these TP-AGB stars, 9% are obscured AGB stars (high mass-loss rates); 9 of them were detected by IRAS, and only 1 was previously identified. Their luminosities range from 2 500 to 14 000 L⊙, with a distribution very similar to the one of optical TP-AGB stars (i.e. those with low mass-loss rates). Such a luminosity distribution, as well as the percentage of obscured stars among TP-AGB stars, is in very good agreement with the evolutionary models of Vassiliadis &amp; Wood (1993) if most of the TP-AGB stars that we find have initial masses smaller than 1.5 to 2 M⊙.

Improved synthetic TP-AGB models

We present recent improvements and results of an extensive analysis of the TP-AGB phase performed by means of a synthetic model (Marigo 1998a, b; Marigo et al. 1998a, b). The improvements concern: i) the use of a homogeneous and accurate set of analytical relations (Wagenhuber &amp; Groenewegen 1998); ii) a new treatment of envelope burning in the most massive TP-AGB stars (M &gt; 3.5M⊙) to account for the possible break-down of the core mass-luminosity relation; iii) a better treatment of the third dredge-up to infer if and when the process takes place.Extensive calculations of synthetic TP-AGB models have been carried out over the mass range (0.8M⊙ ÷ 5M⊙) and for three sets of initial metallicity (Z = 0.019, Z = 0.008, Z = 0.004). The formation of carbon stars is investigated addressing the following issues: a) the reproduction of the observed luminosity functions of carbons stars in both Magellanic Clouds, and b) the formation of very bright and optically obscured carbon stars.