Using the NASA/IRTF SpeX & BASS spectrometers we have obtained novel 0.7 - 13 um observations of the newly imaged HD36546 debris disk system. The SpeX spectrum is most consistent with the photospheric emission expected from an Lstar ~ 20 Lsun, solar abundance A1.5V star with little/no extinction and excess emission from circumstellar dust detectable beyond 4.5 um. Non-detections of CO emission lines and accretion signatures point to the gas poor circumstellar environment of a very old transition disk. Combining the SpeX and BASS spectra with archival WISE/AKARI/IRAS/Herschel photometery, we find an outer cold dust belt at ~135K and 20 - 40 AU from the primary, likely coincident with the disk imaged by Subaru (Currie et al. 2017), and a new second inner belt with temperature ~570K and an unusual, broad SED maximum in the 6 - 9 um region, tracing dust at 1.1 - 2.2 AU. An SED maximum at 6 - 9 um has been reported in just two other A-star systems, HD131488 and HD121191, both of ~10 Myr age (Melis et al. 2013). From Spitzer, we have also identified the ~12 Myr old A7V HD148567 system as having similar 5 - 35 um excess spectral features (Mittal et al. 2015). The Spitzer data allows us to rule out water emission and rule in carbonaceous materials - organics, carbonates, SiC - as the source of the 6 - 9 um excess. Assuming a common origin for the 4 young Astar systems' disks, we suggest they are experiencing an early era of carbon-rich planetesimal processing.
Observations were made for a number of carbon-rich circumstellar envelopes using the Phoenix spectrograph on the Gemini South telescope to determine the abundance of small carbon chain molecules. Vibration-rotation lines of the $ν_{3}$ antisymmetric stretch of C$_{3}$ near 2040 cm$^{-1}$ (4.902 $μ$m) have been used to determine the column density for four carbon-rich circumstellar envelopes: CRL 865, CRL 1922, CRL 2023 and IRC +10216. We additionally calculate the column density of C$_{5}$ for IRC +10216, and provide an upper limit for 5 more objects. An upper limit estimate for the C$_{7}$ co…
Carbon-rich evolved stars from the asymptotic giant branch to the planetary nebula phase are characterized by a rich and complex carbon chemistry in their circumstellar envelopes. A peculiar object is the preplanetary nebula SMP LMC 11, whose Spitzer-IRS spectrum shows remarkable and diverse molecular absorption bands. To study how the molecular composition in this object compares to our current understanding of circumstellar carbon chemistry, we modeled this molecular absorption. We find high abundances for a number of molecules, perhaps most notably benzene. We also confirm the presence of p…
We present Hubble Space Telescope STIS far-UV spectra of the edge-on disk around 49 Ceti, one of the very few debris disks showing sub-mm CO emission. Many atomic absorption lines are present in the spectra, most of which arise from circumstellar gas lying along the line-of-sight to the central star. We determined the line-of-sight CI column density, estimated the total carbon column density, and set limits on the OI column density. Surprisingly, no line-of-sight CO absorption was seen. We discuss possible explanations for this non-detection, and present preliminary estimates of the carbon abu…
The so-called transition discs provide an important tool to probe various mechanisms that might influence the evolution of protoplanetary discs and therefore the formation of planetary systems. One of these mechanisms is photoevaporation due to energetic radiation from the central star, which can in principal explain the occurrence of discs with inner cavities like transition discs. Current models, however, fail to reproduce a subset of the observed transition discs, namely objects with large measured cavities and vigorous accretion. For these objects the presence of (multiple) giant planets i…
By using self-consistent dynamic model atmospheres which simulate pulsation-enhanced dust-driven winds of AGB stars we studied in detail the influence of (i) pulsations of the stellar interiors, and (ii) the development of dusty stellar winds on the spectral appearance of long period variables with carbon-rich atmospheric chemistry. While the pulsations lead to large-amplitude photometric variability, the dusty envelopes cause pronounced circumstellar reddening. Based on one selected dynamical model which is representative of C-type Mira variables with intermediate mass loss rates, we calculat…
Context. The circumstellar environment of evolved stars is generally rich in molecular gas and dust. Typically, the entire environment is either oxygen-rich or carbon-rich, depending on the evolution of the central star. Aims. In this paper we discuss three evolved disc sources with evidence of atypical emission lines in their infrared spectra. The stars were taken from a larger sample of post-AGB binaries for which we have Spitzer infrared spectra, characterised by the presence of a stable oxygen-rich circumbinary disc. Our previous studies have shown that the infrared spectra of post-AGB dis…
Class III stars are those in star forming regions without large non-photospheric infrared emission, suggesting recent dispersal of their protoplanetary disks. We observed 30 class III stars in the 1-3 Myr Lupus region with ALMA at ${\sim}856μ$m, resulting in 4 detections that we attribute to circumstellar dust. Inferred dust masses are $0.036{-}0.093M_\oplus$, ${\sim}1$ order of magnitude lower than any previous measurements; one disk is resolved with radius ${\sim}80$ au. Two class II sources in the field of view were also detected, and 11 other sources, consistent with sub-mm galaxy number c…
Many studies of especially dust nucleation in winds of carbon-rich AGB stars consider primarily carbon as dust forming material. But dust grains formed in such circumstellar envelopes are rather a mixture of several chemical elements such as titanium or silicon in addition to the main component carbon as verified by many investigations of pre-solar grains enclosed in meteorites, for example. In this contribution we focus on the study of the nucleation of titanium carbide particles from the gas phase. Therefore, the necessary properties of molecular titanium carbide clusters have been estimated…
We present a new approach aimed at constraining the typical size and optical properties of carbon dust grains in Circumstellar envelopes (CSEs) of carbon-rich stars (C-stars) in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). To achieve this goal, we apply our recent dust growth description, coupled with a radiative transfer code to the CSEs of C-stars evolving along the TP-AGB, for which we compute spectra and colors. Then we compare our modeled colors in the near- and mid-infrared (NIR and MIR) bands with the observed ones, testing different assumptions in our dust scheme and employing several data sets o…
Charting circumstellar chemistry of carbon-rich asymptotic giant branch stars. II. Abundances and spatial distributions of CS
Chalmers University of Technology（查尔姆斯理工大学）；Uppsala University（乌普萨拉大学）；Joint ALMA Observatory（ALMA联合天文台）；European Southern Observatory（欧洲南方天文台）；Leiden University（莱顿大学）；Monash University（蒙纳士大学）；KU Leuven（荷语鲁汶大学）；Queen’s University Belfast（贝尔法斯特女王大学）；NASA Goddard Space Flight Center（NASA戈达德太空飞行中心）；Gemini Observatory（双子座天文台）
Interstellar carbonaceous dust is mainly formed in the innermost regions of circumstellar envelopes around carbon-rich asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. In these highly chemically stratified regions, atomic and diatomic carbon, along with acetylene are the most abundant species after H$_2$ and CO. In a previous study, we addressed the chemistry of carbon (C and C$_2$) with H$_2$ showing that acetylene and aliphatic species form efficiently in the dust formation region of carbon-rich AGBs whereas aromatics do not. Still, acetylene is known to be a key ingredient in the formation of linear po…
The main aim is to derive reliable mass-loss rates and circumstellar SiO abundances for a sample of 40 S-type AGB stars based on new multi-transitional CO and SiO radio line observations. In addition, the results are compared to previous results for M-type AGB stars and carbon stars to look for trends with chemical type. The circumstellar envelopes are assumed to be spherically symmetric and formed by a constant mass-loss rate. The mass-loss rates are estimated from fitting the CO observations using a non-local, non-LTE radiative transfer code. Once the physical properties of the circumstellar…
Light echoes of flares on active stars offer the opportunity for direct detection of circumstellar dust. We revisit the problem of identifying faint echoes in post-flare light curves, focusing on debris disks from on-going planet formation. Starting with simulations, we develop an algorithm for estimating the radial extent and total mass from disk echo profiles. We apply this algorithm to light curves from over 2,100 stars observed by NASA's Kepler mission, selected for multiple, short-lived flares in either the long-cadence or short-cadence data sets. While flux uncertainties in light curves …
The envelopes of AGB stars are irradiated externally by ultraviolet photons; hence, the chemistry is sensitive to the photodissociation of N$_2$ and CO, which are major reservoirs of nitrogen and carbon, respectively. The photodissociation of N$_2$ has recently been quantified by laboratory and theoretical studies. Improvements have also been made for CO photodissociation. For the first time, we use accurate N$_2$ and CO photodissociation rates and shielding functions in a model of the circumstellar envelope of the carbon-rich AGB star, IRC +10216. We use a state-of-the-art chemical model of a…
Previous studies have found that Vega is surrounded by an extended debris disc that is very smooth in the far infrared, but displays possible clumpiness at 850micron and dust emission peaks at 1.3mm. We reobserved Vega at 1.3mm with PdBI to constrain its circumstellar dust distribution. Our observations of a three-field mosaic have a factor of two higher sensitivity than previous observations. We detect Vega photosphere with the expected flux, but none of the previously reported emission peaks that should have been detected at the >6sigma level, with a sensitivity <1mK. This implies that the d…
We report the preliminary results of a survey for water vapor in a sample of eight C stars with large mid-IR continuum fluxes: V384 Per, CIT 6, V Hya, Y CVn, IRAS 15194-5115, V Cyg, S Cep, and IRC+40540. This survey, performed using the HIFI instrument on board the Herschel Space Observatory, entailed observations of the lowest transitions of both ortho- and para-water: the 556.936 GHz 1(10)-1(01) and 1113.343 GHz 1(11)-0(00) transitions, respectively. Water vapor was unequivocally detected in all eight of the target stars. Prior to this survey, IRC+10216 was the only carbon-rich AGB star from…
The formation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the circumstellar outflows of evolved stars is reviewed, with an emphasis on carbon stars on the Asymptotic Giant Branch. Evidence for PAHs present in their winds is provided by meteoritic studies and recent observations of the Unidentified Infrared bands. We detail the chemical processes leading to the closure of the first aromatic ring as well as the growth mechanisms leading to amorphous carbon grains. Existing studies on PAH formation in evolved stellar envelopes are reviewed and new results for the modelling of the inner wind of the arc…
Context. The majority of stars that leave the main sequence are undergoing extensive mass loss, in particular during the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) phase of evolution. Observations show that the rate at which this phenomenon develops differs highly from source to source, so that the time-integrated mass loss as a function of the initial conditions (mass, metallicity, etc.) and of the stage of evolution is presently not well understood. Aims. We are investigating the mass loss history of AGB stars by observing the molecular and atomic emissions of their circumstellar envelopes. Methods. In t…
Polarization is an important indicator of stellar evolution, especially for stars evolving from red-giant stage to planetary nebulae. However, not much is known about the polarimetric properties of the carbon-enhanced metal-poor (CEMP) stars, although they have been well studied in terms of photometric as well as low- and high-resolution spectroscopy. We report here first-ever estimates of V-band polarimetry of a group of CEMP stars. V-band polarimetry was planned as the V-band is known to show maximum polarization among BVRI polarimetry for any scattering of light caused due to dust. Based on…
We report the results of a search for gas phase atomic metals in the circumstellar envelope of the AGB carbon star IRC+10216. The search was made using high resolution (R=50000) optical absorption spectroscopy of a backgound star that probes the envelope on a line of sight 35" from the center. The metal species that we detect in the envelope include NaI, KI, CaI, CaII, CrI, and FeI, with upper limits for AlI, MnI, TiI, TiII, and SrII. The observations are used to determine the metal abundances in the gas phase and the condensation onto grains. The metal depletions range from a factor of 5 for …
We calculated theoretical evolutionary sequences of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars, including formation and evolution of dust grains in their circumstellar envelope. By considering stellar populations of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), we calculate synthetic colour-colour and colour-magnitude diagrams, which are compared with those obtained by the Spitzer Space Telescope. The comparison between observations and theoretical predictions outlines that extremely obscured carbon-stars and oxygen-rich sources experiencing hot bottom burning (HBB) occupy well defined, distinct regions in the c…
We present observations of the carbon-rich protoplanetary nebula (PPN) CRL 2688 made with the Institut de Radioastronomie Millimetrique (IRAM) 30 m telescope in the 3mm and 2mm bands. In total, 196 transition lines belonging to 38 molecular species and isotopologues are detected, among which, to our best knowledge, 153 transition lines and 13 species are the first report for this object. Additionally, in order to contribute to future research, we have collected observational data on the molecular lines of CRL 2688 from the literature and compiled them into a single unified catalog. We find tha…
Charting circumstellar chemistry of carbon-rich asymptotic giant branch stars. III. SiO and SiS abundances
Chalmers University of Technology（查尔姆斯理工大学）；Joint ALMA Observatory（ALMA联合 observatory）；European Southern Observatory（欧洲南方天文台）；Leiden University（莱顿大学）；Queen’s University Belfast（贝尔法斯特女王大学）
The hydrogen-poor, helium-rich and carbon-rich character of the gas around R Coronae Borealis (RCB) stars has been suggested to be a site for formation of C60 molecules. This suggestion is not supported by observations reported here showing that infrared transitions of C60 are not seen in a large sample of RCB stars observed with the Infrared Spectrograph on the Spitzer Space Telescope. The infrared C60 transitions are seen, however, in emission and blended with PAH-features in spectra of DY Cen and possibly also of V854 Cen, the two least hydrogen-deficient (hydrogen deficiency of only ~10-10…
We describe the evolution of the carbon dust shells around Very Late Thermal Pulse (VLTP) objects as seen at infrared wavelengths. This includes a 20-year overview of the evolution of the dust around Sakurai's object (to which Olivier made a seminal contribution) and FG Sge. VLTPs may occur during the endpoint of as many as 25% of solar mass stars, and may therefore provide a glimpse of the possible fate of the Sun.
Many members of nearby young moving groups exhibit infrared excess attributed to circumstellar debris dust, formed via erosion of planetesimals. With their proximity and well-dated ages, these groups are excellent laboratories for studying the early evolution of debris dust and of planetesimal belts. ALMA can spatially resolve the disk emission, revealing the location and extent of these belts, putting constraints on planetesimal evolution models, and allowing us to study planet-disk interactions. While the main trends of dust evolution in debris disks are well-known, there is almost no inform…
The gaseous molecular disk that orbits the main sequence A-type star 49 Ceti has been known since 1995, but the stellar age and the origin of the observed carbon monoxide molecules have been unknown. We now identify 49 Ceti as a member of the 40 Myr old Argus Association and present a colliding comet model to explain the high CO concentrations seen at 49 Ceti and the 30 Myr old A-type star HD 21997. The model suggests that massive -- 400 Earth mass -- analogs of the Sun's Kuiper Belt are in orbit about some A-type stars, that these large masses are composed primarily of comet-like objects, and…
In 2001, the discovery of circumstellar water vapour around the ageing carbon star IRC+10216 was announced. This detection challenged the current understanding of chemistry in old stars, since water vapour was predicted to be absent in carbon-rich stars. Several explanations for the occurrence of water vapour were postulated, including the vaporization of icy bodies (comets or dwarf planets) in orbit around the star, grain surface reactions, and photochemistry in the outer circumstellar envelope. However, the only water line detected so far from one carbon-rich evolved star can not discriminat…
Context. The recent detection of warm H$_2$O vapor emission from the outflows of carbon-rich asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars challenges the current understanding of circumstellar chemistry. Two mechanisms have been invoked to explain warm H$_2$O vapor formation. In the first, periodic shocks passing through the medium immediately above the stellar surface lead to H$_2$O formation. In the second, penetration of ultraviolet interstellar radiation through a clumpy circumstellar medium leads to the formation of H$_2$O molecules in the intermediate wind. Aims. We aim to determine the properties…
Context. HCN is the most abundant molecule after H$_{2}$ and CO in the circumstellar envelopes (CSEs) of carbon-rich asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. Its rotational lines within vibrationally excited states are exceptional tracers of the innermost region of C-rich CSEs. Aims. We aim to constrain the physical conditions of CSEs of C-rich stars using thermal lines of the HCN molecule. Additionally, we also search for new HCN masers and probe the temporal variations for HCN masers, which should shed light on their pumping mechanisms. Methods. We observed 16 C-rich AGB stars in various HCN rot…
High angular resolution images of IRC+10216 are presented in several near infrared wavelengths spanning more than 8 years. These maps have been reconstructed from interferometric observations obtained at both Keck and the VLT, and also from stellar occultations by the rings of Saturn observed with the Cassini spacecraft. The dynamic inner regions of the circumstellar environment are monitored over eight epochs ranging between January 2000 and July 2008. The system is shown to experience substantial evolution within this period including the fading of many previously reported persistent feature…
A new classification system for carbon-rich stars is presented based on an analysis of 51 AGB carbon stars through the most relevant classifying indices available. The extension incorporated, that also represents the major advantage of this new system, is the combination of the usual optical indices that describe the photospheres of the objects, with new infrared ones, which allow an interpretation of the circumstellar environment of the carbon-rich stars. This new system is presented with the usual spectral subclasses and $C_2$-, j-, MS- and temperature indices, and also with the new SiC- (Si…
Dusty debris disks around pre- and main-sequence stars are potential signposts for the existence of planetesimals and exoplanets. Giant planet formation is therefore expected to play a key role in the evolution of the disk. This is indirectly confirmed by extant sub-millimeter near-infrared images of young protoplanetary and cool dusty debris disks around main sequence stars usually showing substantial spatial structures. A majority of recent discoveries of imaged giant planets have been obtained around young, early-type stars hosting a circumstellar disk. In this context, we have carried out …
The fine dust detected by IR emission around the nearby Beta Pic analogue star HD172555 is very peculiar. The dust mineralogy is composed primarily of highly refractory, non-equilibrium materials, with approximately three-quarters of the Si atoms in silica (SiO2) species. Tektite and obsidian lab thermal emission spectra (non-equilibrium glassy silicas found in impact and magmatic systems) are required to fit the data. The best-fit model size distribution for the observed fine dust is dn/da = a-3.95 +/- 0.10. This steep a size distribution, with abundant micron-sized particles, argues for a fr…
The aim of this paper is to investigate the evolution of the 12C/13C ratio along the AGB through the circumstellar 12CO/13CO ratio. This is the first time a sample including a significant number of M- and S-type stars is analysed together with a carbon-star sample of equal size, making it possible to investigate trends among the different types and establish evolutionary effects. The circumstellar 12CO/13CO abundance ratios are estimated through a detailed radiative transfer analysis of single-dish radio line emission observations. First, the 12CO radiative transfer is solved, assuming an abun…
Initial C/O ratios of circumstellar disks have been obtained in solar-type stars by differential photospheric abundance analysis with respect to the Sun. We present C/O ratios of M dwarfs obtained by absolute abundance analysis derived from CO and H2O spectra in the K-band. We compare the distributions of C/O ratios in M dwarfs and solar-type stars using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The C/O distribution of M dwarfs is consistent with low frequency of high C/O ratios in solar-type stars.
We study the spectroscopic and photometric properties of carbon stars. In the first paper of this series we focus on objects that can be described by hydrostatic models neglecting dynamical phenomena like pulsation and mass loss. As a consequence, the reddening due to circumstellar dust is not included. Our results are collected in a database, which can be used in conjunction with stellar evolution and population synthesis calculations involving the AGB. We have computed a grid of 746 spherically symmetric COMARCS atmospheres covering effective temperatures between 2400 and 4000K, surface grav…
A multi-transition survey of HCN (sub-) millimeter line emission from a large sample of AGB stars of different chemical type is presented. The data are analysed and circumstellar HCN abundances are estimated. The sample stars span a large range of properties such as mass-loss rate and photospheric C/O-ratio. The analysis of the new data allows for more accurate estimates of the circumstellar HCN abundances and puts new constraints on chemical models. In order to constrain the circumstellar HCN abundance distribution a detailed non-LTE excitation analysis, based on the Monte Carlo method, is pe…
The evolved carbon-rich AGB star IRC +10216 (CW Leo) is the brightest mid-infrared source outside the solar system, as well as one of the closest examples of an evolved star losing mass. It has a complex and variable circumstellar structure on small scales in the near-IR, and mid-IR interferometry has revealed a dynamic dust formation zone. We have obtained diffraction limited imaging and grism spectroscopy of IRC +10216 at the 6.5m MMT in the N-band (~8-13 microns). These new observations show that a change has occurred in the dust shell surrounding IRC +10216 over the last two decades, which…
We present the most sensitive ultraviolet observations of Supernova 1987A to date. Imaging spectroscopy from the Hubble Space Telescope-Cosmic Origins Spectrograph shows many narrow (dv \sim 300 km/s) emission lines from the circumstellar ring, broad (dv \sim 10 -- 20 x 10^3 km/s) emission lines from the reverse shock, and ultraviolet continuum emission. The high signal-to-noise (> 40 per resolution element) broad LyA emission is excited by soft X-ray and EUV heating of mostly neutral gas in the circumstellar ring and outer supernova debris. The ultraviolet continuum at λ> 1350A can be explain…
Silicate minerals belong to the most abundant solids in space. Their formation becomes difficult at the transition from the oxygen rich chemistry of M-stars to the carbon rich chemistry of C-stars. In the intermediate type S-stars oxygen and carbon are consumed by CO and SiO molecule formation, and left-over oxygen to build the SiO4-tetrahedra of silicates becomes scarce. Then SiO molecules may directly condense into solid SiO. The IR absorption spectrum of solid SiO differs from that of silicates by the absence of Si-O-Si bending modes at 18 mum while the absorption by Si-O bond stretching mo…
The formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their methyl derivatives occurs mainly in the dust shells of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. The bands at 3.3 and 3.4 $μ$m, observed in infrared emission spectra of several objects, are attributed C-H vibrational modes in aromatic and aliphatic structures, respectively. In general, the feature at 3.3 $μ$m is more intense than the 3.4 $μ$m. Photoionization and photodissociation processes of toluene, the precursor of methylated PAHs, were studied using synchrotron radiation at soft X-ray energies around the carbon K edge with time…
HD 181327 is a young F5/F6V star belonging to the Beta Pictoris moving group (12 Myr). It harbors an optically thin belt of circumstellar material at 90 AU. We aim to study the dust properties in the belt in details, and to constrain the gas-to-dust ratio. We obtained far-IR observations with the Herschel/PACS instrument, and 3.2 mm observations with the ATCA array. The geometry of the belt is constrained with newly reduced HST/NICMOS images that break the degeneracy between the disk geometry and the dust properties. We use the radiative transfer code GRaTer to compute a large grid of models, …
Very little is known about the polarimetric properties of CH stars and carbon-enhanced metal-poor (CEMP) stars, although many of these objects have been studied in detail both photometrically and spectroscopically. We aim to derive polarimetric properties for a large sample of CEMP stars and CH stars to fill this gap. Multiband polarimetric observations were conducted in the first run for a sample of twenty-nine objects that include twenty-two CEMP and CH stars and seven polarization standards. Estimates of polarization were obtained using standard procedures of polarization calculation. Five …
W Aql is an asymptotic giant branch (AGB) star with an atmospheric elemental abundance ratio C/O$\approx$0.98 and reported circumstellar molecular abundances intermediate between those of M-type (C/O$<$1) and C-type (C/O$>$1) AGB stars. This intermediate status is considered typical for S-type stars, although our understanding of the chemical content of their circumstellar envelopes (CSEs) is currently rather limited. We performed observations in the frequency range 159-268 GHz with the APEX telescope and make abundance estimates through comparison to available spectra towards some well-studie…
We investigate the consequences of fairly normal Type Ia supernovae being embedded in compact and dense envelopes of carbon and oxygen rich circumstellar material by means of detailed radiation hydrodynamic simulations. Our main focus rests on exploring the effects of the interaction between ejecta and circumstellar material on the ejecta evolution and the broad-band light curve. In our calculations, we find that a strong reverse shock efficiently decelerates and compresses the ejecta material. This leads to a significant broadening of the optical light curve, a longer rise to maximum and a sl…
The main goal of this thesis is to unveil some questions related to the formation of complex fullerene-based molecules in space, with the aim of resolving some key problems in astrophysics. The unexpected detections of fullerenes and graphene (possible C24) in the H-rich circumstellar environments of evolved stars indicate that these complex molecules are not so rare and bring the idea that other forms of carbon such as hydrogenated fullerenes (fulleranes), buckyonions, and carbon nanotubes may be widespread in the Universe, being closely involved in many aspects of circumstellar/interstellar …
IR excesses of white dwarfs (WDs) can be used to diagnose the presence of low-mass companions, planets, and circumstellar dust. Using different combinations of wavelengths and WD temperatures, circumstellar dust at different radial distances can be surveyed. The Spitzer Space Telescope has been used to search for IR excesses of white dwarfs. Two types of circumstellar dust disks have been found: (1) small disks around cool WDs with T_eff < 20,000 K, and (1) large disks around hot WDs with T_eff > 100,000 K. The small dust disks are within the Roche limit, and are commonly accepted to have orig…
Context: Geometrically thin, detached shells of gas have been found around a handful of carbon stars. --Aims: Previous observations of scattered stellar light in the circumstellar medium around the carbon star U Ant were taken through filters centred on the resonance lines of K and Na. These observations could not separate the scattering by dust and atoms. The aim of this paper is to remedy this situation. --Methods: We have obtained polarization data on stellar light scattered in the circumstellar medium around U Ant through filters which contain no strong lines, making it possible to differe…
We have used the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope to perform the most sensitive search to date for neutral atomic hydrogen (HI) in the circumstellar envelope (CSE) of the carbon star IRC+10216. Our observations have uncovered a low surface brightness HI shell of diameter ~1300" (~0.8 pc), centered on IRC+10216. The HI shell has an angular extent comparable to the far ultraviolet-emitting astrosphere of IRC+10216 previously detected with the GALEX satellite, and its kinematics are consistent with circumstellar matter that has been decelerated by the local interstellar medium. The shell appea…
We consider whether the subset of carbon-rich asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars that exhibit detached, expanding circumstellar shells may reveal the past histories of these stars as having undergone helium shell flashes (thermal pulses) on the AGB. We exploit newly available Gaia parallaxes and photometry, along with archival infrared photometry, to obtain refined estimates of the luminosities of all (12) known detached shell carbon stars. We examine the relationship between these luminosities and the estimated dynamical ages (ejection times) of the detached shells associated with the 12 sta…
