Sign on

SAO/NASA ADS Astronomy Abstract Service

· Find Similar Abstracts (with default settings below)
· Electronic Refereed Journal Article (HTML)
· Full Refereed Journal Article (PDF/Postscript)
· arXiv e-print (arXiv:1005.3489)
· References in the article
· Citations to the Article (41) (Citation History)
· Refereed Citations to the Article
· SIMBAD Objects (9)
· Also-Read Articles (Reads History)
·
· Translate This Page
Title:
Rusty Old Stars: A Source of the Missing Interstellar Iron?
Authors:
McDonald, I.; Sloan, G. C.; Zijlstra, A. A.; Matsunaga, N.; Matsuura, M.; Kraemer, K. E.; Bernard-Salas, J.; Markwick, A. J.
Affiliation:
AA(Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, Alan Turing Building, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK ), AB(Cornell University, Astronomy Department, Ithaca, NY 14853-6801, USA ), AC(Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, Alan Turing Building, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK ), AD(Institute of Astronomy, University of Tokyo, 2-21-1 Osawa, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-0015, Japan ), AE(UCL-Institute of Origins, Astrophysics Group, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK; UCL-Institute of Origins, Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking, Surrey RH5 6NT, UK ), AF(Air Force Research Laboratory, Space Vehicles Directorate, Hanscom AFB, MA 01731, USA ), AG(Cornell University, Astronomy Department, Ithaca, NY 14853-6801, USA), AH(Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, Alan Turing Building, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK)
Publication:
The Astrophysical Journal Letters, Volume 717, Issue 2, pp. L92-L97 (2010). (ApJL Homepage)
Publication Date:
07/2010
Origin:
IOP
Astronomy Keywords:
circumstellar matter, globular clusters: individual: NGC 362 NGC 5139 NGC 5927, infrared: stars, stars: AGB and post-AGB, stars: mass-loss, stars: winds, outflows
DOI:
10.1088/2041-8205/717/2/L92
Bibliographic Code:
2010ApJ...717L..92M

Abstract

Iron, the universe's most abundant refractory element, is highly depleted in both circumstellar and interstellar environments, meaning it exists in solid form. The nature of this solid is unknown. In this Letter, we provide evidence that metallic iron grains are present around oxygen-rich asymptotic giant branch stars, where it is observationally manifest as a featureless mid-infrared excess. This identification is made using Spitzer Space Telescope observations of evolved globular cluster stars, where iron dust production appears ubiquitous and in some cases can be modeled as the only observed dust product. In this context, FeO is examined as the likely carrier for the 20 μm feature observed in some of these stars. Metallic iron appears to be an important part of the dust condensation sequence at low metallicity, and subsequently plays an influential role in the interstellar medium. We explore the stellar metallicities and luminosities at which iron formation is observed, and how the presence of iron affects the outflow and its chemistry. The conditions under which iron can provide sufficient opacity to drive a wind remain unclear.
Bibtex entry for this abstract   Preferred format for this abstract (see Preferences)

Find Similar Abstracts:

Use: Authors
Title
Keywords (in text query field)
Abstract Text
Return: Query Results Return    items starting with number
Query Form
Database: Astronomy
Physics
arXiv e-prints