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Paper: Headwind: Modelling Mass Loss of AGB Stars, Against All Odds
Volume: 378, Why Galaxies Care About AGB Stars: Their Importance as Actors and Probes
Page: 145
Authors: Hoefner, S.
Abstract: The intricate interplay of atmospheric shock waves and a complex, variable radiation field with non-equilibrium dust formation presents a considerable challenge to self-consistent modelling of atmospheres and winds of AGB stars. Nevertheless it is clear that realistic models predicting mass-loss rates and synthetic spectra are crucial for our understanding of this important phase of stellar evolution. While a number of questions are still open, significant progress has been achieved in recent years. In particular, self-consistent models for atmospheres and winds of C stars have reached a level of sophistication which allows direct quantitative comparison with observations. In the case of stars with C/O < 1, however, recent work points to serious problems with the dust-driven wind scenario. This contribution analyzes the basic ingredients of this scenario with analytical estimates, focusing on dust formation, non-grey effects, and differences between C-rich and O-rich environments, as well as discussing the status of detailed dynamical wind models and current trends in this field.
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