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OH-IR stars. I. Physical properties of circumstellar envelopes

Goldreich, Peter and Scoville, Nick (1976) OH-IR stars. I. Physical properties of circumstellar envelopes. Astrophysical Journal, 205 . pp. 144-154. ISSN 0004-637X. doi:10.1086/154257. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20130306-085559284

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Abstract

A theoretical model of the circumstellar envelope which surrounds a OH-IR star is developed. The circumstellar gas is ejected by radiation pressure which acts on dust grains that condense in the atmosphere of the central star. The dust grains transfer momentum to the gas by collisions with the gas molecules. These collisions are the dominant source of heat input to the circumstellar gas. The major sources of cooling are the emission of radiation by H_2O molecules and adiabatic expansion. The gas temperature decreases from T ≈ 2 x 10^3 K near the stellar surface at r ≈ 6 x 10^(13) cm, to T ≈ 8 x 10^2 K at r = 10^(15) cm and to T ≈ 10^2 K at r = 10^(16) cm. The OH molecule abundance in the circumstellar envelope is controlled by chemical exchange reactions and by the dissociation of H^2O molecules. The reaction OH + H_2 ↔ H_2O + H + 0.69 eV, which has an activation energy of 0.3 eV, rapidly converts OH molecules into H_2O molecules in the warm (T ≳ 5 x 10^2 K) inner (r ≾ 2 x 10^(15) cm) region of the circumstellar envelope. Beyond r ≈ 2 x 10^(15) cm, T is so low that the exchange reaction is very slow and the mean lifetime of an OH molecule is greater than the expansion time scale for the circumstellar envelope. In the outer region of the circumstellar envelope, OH molecules are produced from the photodissociation of H_2O molecules by the interstellar ultraviolet radiation and from the dissociation of H_2O molecules by collisions with dust grains. These processes are capable of producing OH number densities greater than 1 cm^(-3) at r ≈ 10^(16) cm. The predicted values of the gas temperature, T, and the OH abundance, n_(OH), depend upon the rate of mass loss from the central star, Ф. The results quoted above are based on a calculation with Ф = 3 x 10^(-5) M_☉ yr^(-1). In general, T varies inversely and n_(OH) varies directly with Ф.


Item Type:Article
Related URLs:
URLURL TypeDescription
http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/154257DOIUNSPECIFIED
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/doi/10.1086/154257ADSUNSPECIFIED
ORCID:
AuthorORCID
Scoville, Nick0000-0002-0438-3323
Additional Information:© 1976 American Astronomical Society. Received 1975 June 16. The authors wish to thank an anonymous referee of an earlier version of Paper II whose helpful comments and criticisms stimulated much of the work reported in this paper. We are indebted to George Schatz for supplying us with the cross sections for the vibrational excitation of H_2 molecules in collisions with H atoms. We also thank Dr. A. Kuppermann for much helpful advice concerning the intricacies of molecular collisions. This research has been supported by NSF grant 4 MPS 7205045 A2 and MPS 73-04677.
Group:UNSPECIFIED, Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences
Funders:
Funding AgencyGrant Number
NSF4 MPS 7205045 A2
NSFMPS 73-04677
Subject Keywords:infrared: sources, stars: circumstellar shells ATMOSPHERIC MODELS, HYDROXYL EMISSION, INFRARED ASTRONOMY, INTERSTELLAR MASERS, STELLAR ENVELOPES, ABUNDANCE, DUST, GAS TEMPERATURE, M STARS, PHOTODISSOCIATION, STELLAR MASS EJECTION, WATER
Other Numbering System:
Other Numbering System NameOther Numbering System ID
Caltech Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences 2623
DOI:10.1086/154257
Record Number:CaltechAUTHORS:20130306-085559284
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20130306-085559284
Official Citation:OH-IR stars. I. Physical properties of circumstellar envelopes Goldreich, P.; Scoville, N. Astrophysical Journal, vol. 205, Apr. 1, 1976, pt. 1, p. 144-154. (ApJ Homepage) Publication Date: 04/1976
Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:37334
Collection:CaltechAUTHORS
Deposited By: Ruth Sustaita
Deposited On:06 Mar 2013 17:30
Last Modified:09 Nov 2021 23:28

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