ASPCS
 
Back to Volume
Paper: Interferometric Constraints on Molecule and Dust Formation in Oxygen-rich Mira stars
Volume: 497, Why Galaxies Care about AGB Stars III: A Closer Look in Space and Time
Page: 327
Authors: Wittkowski, M.; Karovicova, I.; Scholz, M.; Ohnaka, K.; Boboltz, D. A.
Abstract: We present new results from our project on spatially and spectrally resolved multi-epoch near- and mid-infrared interferometric observations of oxygen-rich Mira stars using the ESO VLT Interferometer (VLTI). We confirm that the near-IR data are well described by recent CODEX dynamic model atmospheres, including features of extended water vapor and CO layers. Our mid-infrared data are consistent with Al2O3 grains condensing close to the photosphere at about 2 stellar radii and warm silicates condensing at about 4-5 stellar radii. We confirm that the number density of aluminum can match that of the best-fit dust shells near the inner dust shell radius up to the condensation radii of warm silicates, confirming that Al2O3 grains can be seed particles for the further dust condensation.
Back to Volume