Evidence for pulsation-driven mass loss from ı cephei

M. Marengo, N. R. Evans, L. D. Matthews, G. Bono, P. Barmby, D. L. Welch, M. Romaniello, K. Y.L. Su, G. G. Fazio, D. Huelsman

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

We found the first direct evidence that the Cepheid class namesake, ı Cephei, is currently losing mass. These observations are based on data obtained with the Spitzer Space Telescope in the infrared, and with the Very Large Array in the radio. We found that ı Cephei is associated with a vast circumstellar structure, reminiscent of a bow shock. This structure is created as the wind from the star interacts with the local interstellar medium. We measure an outflow velocity of ≈ 35:5 km s-1 and a mass loss rate of ≈ 10-7 –10-6 Mͽ year-1. The very low dust content of the outflow suggests that the wind is possibly pulsation-driven, rather than dust-driven as common for other classes of evolved stars.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationStellar Pulsations - Impact of New Instrumentation and New Insights
EditorsL.A. Balona, J.C. Suarez, R. Garrido, J. Christensen-Dalsgaard
PublisherSpringer Netherlands
Pages99-102
Number of pages4
ISBN (Print)9783642296291
DOIs
StatePublished - 2013
Event20th Conference on Stellar Pulsations, 2011 - Granada, Spain
Duration: Sep 5 2011Sep 9 2011

Publication series

NameAstrophysics and Space Science Proceedings
Volume31
ISSN (Print)1570-6591
ISSN (Electronic)1570-6605

Conference

Conference20th Conference on Stellar Pulsations, 2011
Country/TerritorySpain
CityGranada
Period9/5/119/9/11

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Physics and Astronomy
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Spectroscopy
  • Space and Planetary Science
  • Nuclear and High Energy Physics

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