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AGB variables and the Mira period-luminosity relation
Published data for large-amplitude asymptotic giant branch variables inthe Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) are re-analysed to establish theconstants for an infrared (K) period-luminosity relation of the formMK = ρ[logP - 2.38] + δ. A slope of ρ = -3.51+/- 0.20 and a zero-point of δ = -7.15 +/- 0.06 are found foroxygen-rich Miras (if a distance modulus of 18.39 +/- 0.05 is used forthe LMC). Assuming this slope is applicable to Galactic Miras we discussthe zero-point for these stars using the revised Hipparcos parallaxestogether with published very long baseline interferometry (VLBI)parallaxes for OH masers and Miras in globular clusters. These result ina mean zero-point of δ = -7.25 +/- 0.07 for O-rich Galactic Miras.The zero-point for Miras in the Galactic bulge is not significantlydifferent from this value.Carbon-rich stars are also discussed and provide results that areconsistent with the above numbers, but with higher uncertainties. Withinthe uncertainties there is no evidence for a significant differencebetween the period-luminosity relation zero-points for systems withdifferent metallicity.
| Secular Evolution in Mira Variable Pulsations
Stellar evolution theory predicts that asymptotic giant branch (AGB)stars undergo a series of short thermal pulses that significantly changetheir luminosity and mass on timescales of hundreds to thousands ofyears. These pulses are confirmed observationally by the existence ofthe short-lived radioisotope technetium in the spectra of some of thesestars, but other observational consequences of thermal pulses are subtleand may only be detected over many years of observations. Secularchanges in these stars resulting from thermal pulses can be detected asmeasurable changes in period if the star is undergoing Mira pulsations.It is known that a small fraction of Mira variables exhibit largesecular period changes, and the detection of these changes among alarger sample of stars could therefore be useful in evolutionary studiesof these stars. The American Association of Variable Star Observers(AAVSO) International Database currently contains visual data for over1500 Mira variables. Light curves for these stars span nearly a centuryin some cases, making it possible to study the secular evolution of thepulsation behavior on these timescales. In this paper we present theresults of our study of period change in 547 Mira variables using datafrom the AAVSO. We use wavelet analysis to measure the period changes inindividual Mira stars over the span of available data. By making linearfits to the period versus time measurements, we determine the averagerates of period change, dlnP/dt, for each of these stars. We findnonzero dlnP/dt at the 2 σ significance level in 57 of the 547stars, at the 3 σ level in 21 stars, and at the level of 6 σor greater in eight stars. The latter eight stars have been previouslynoted in the literature, and our derived rates of period change largelyagree with published values. The largest and most statisticallysignificant dlnP/dt are consistent with the rates of period changeexpected during thermal pulses on the AGB. A number of other starsexhibit nonmonotonic period change on decades-long timescales, the causeof which is not yet known. In the majority of stars, the periodvariations are smaller than our detection threshold, meaning theavailable data are not sufficient to unambiguously measure slowevolutionary changes in the pulsation period. It is unlikely that morestars with large period changes will be found among heretoforewell-observed Mira stars in the short term, but continued monitoring ofthese and other Mira stars may reveal new and serendipitous candidatesin the future.
| Reprocessing the Hipparcos data of evolved stars. III. Revised Hipparcos period-luminosity relationship for galactic long-period variable stars
We analyze the K band luminosities of a sample of galactic long-periodvariables using parallaxes measured by the Hipparcos mission. Theparallaxes are in most cases re-computed from the Hipparcos IntermediateAstrometric Data using improved astrometric fits and chromaticitycorrections. The K band magnitudes are taken from the literature andfrom measurements by COBE, and are corrected for interstellar andcircumstellar extinction. The sample contains stars of several spectraltypes: M, S and C, and of several variability classes: Mira, semiregularSRa, and SRb. We find that the distribution of stars in theperiod-luminosity plane is independent of circumstellar chemistry, butthat the different variability types have different P-L distributions.Both the Mira variables and the SRb variables have reasonablywell-defined period-luminosity relationships, but with very differentslopes. The SRa variables are distributed between the two classes,suggesting that they are a mixture of Miras and SRb, rather than aseparate class of stars. New period-luminosity relationships are derivedbased on our revised Hipparcos parallaxes. The Miras show a similarperiod-luminosity relationship to that found for Large Magellanic CloudMiras by Feast et al. (\cite{Feast-1989:a}). The maximum absolute Kmagnitude of the sample is about -8.2 for both Miras and semi-regularstars, only slightly fainter than the expected AGB limit. We show thatthe stars with the longest periods (P>400 d) have high mass lossrates and are almost all Mira variables.Based on observations from the Hipparcos astrometric satellite operatedby the European Space Agency (ESA \cite{Hipparcos}).Table \ref{Tab:data1} is only available in electronic form at the CDSvia anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/403/993
| Hipparcos red stars in the HpV_T2 and V I_C systems
For Hipparcos M, S, and C spectral type stars, we provide calibratedinstantaneous (epoch) Cousins V - I color indices using newly derivedHpV_T2 photometry. Three new sets of ground-based Cousins V I data havebeen obtained for more than 170 carbon and red M giants. These datasetsin combination with the published sources of V I photometry served toobtain the calibration curves linking Hipparcos/Tycho Hp-V_T2 with theCousins V - I index. In total, 321 carbon stars and 4464 M- and S-typestars have new V - I indices. The standard error of the mean V - I isabout 0.1 mag or better down to Hp~9 although it deteriorates rapidly atfainter magnitudes. These V - I indices can be used to verify thepublished Hipparcos V - I color indices. Thus, we have identified ahandful of new cases where, instead of the real target, a random fieldstar has been observed. A considerable fraction of the DMSA/C and DMSA/Vsolutions for red stars appear not to be warranted. Most likely suchspurious solutions may originate from usage of a heavily biased color inthe astrometric processing.Based on observations from the Hipparcos astrometric satellite operatedby the European Space Agency (ESA 1997).}\fnmsep\thanks{Table 7 is onlyavailable in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp tocdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/397/997
| Long period variable stars: galactic populations and infrared luminosity calibrations
In this paper HIPPARCOS astrometric and kinematic data are used tocalibrate both infrared luminosities and kinematical parameters of LongPeriod Variable stars (LPVs). Individual absolute K and IRAS 12 and 25luminosities of 800 LPVs are determined and made available in electronicform. The estimated mean kinematics is analyzed in terms of galacticpopulations. LPVs are found to belong to galactic populations rangingfrom the thin disk to the extended disk. An age range and a lower limitof the initial mass is given for stars of each population. A differenceof 1.3 mag in K for the upper limit of the Asymptotic Giant Branch isfound between the disk and old disk galactic populations, confirming itsdependence on the mass in the main sequence. LPVs with a thin envelopeare distinguished using the estimated mean IRAS luminosities. The levelof attraction (in the classification sense) of each group for the usualclassifying parameters of LPVs (variability and spectral types) isexamined. Table only available in electronic form at the CDS viaanonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/374/968 or via ASTRIDdatabase (http://astrid.graal.univ-montp2.fr).
| Stars with the Largest Hipparcos Photometric Amplitudes
A list of the 2027 stars that have the largest photometric amplitudes inHipparcos Photometry shows that most variable stars are all Miras. Thepercentage of variable types change as a function of amplitude. Thiscompilation should also be of value to photometrists looking forrelatively unstudied, but large amplitude stars.
| Infrared colours for Mira-like long-period variables found in the (Mȯ<~10-7 Msolar yr-1) Hipparcos Catalogue
Near-infrared, JHKL, photometry is presented for 193 Mira andsemi-regular variables that were observed by Hipparcos; periods,bolometric magnitudes and amplitudes are derived for 92 of them. Becauseof the way in which the Hipparcos targets were selected, this group ofstars provides a useful data base of Miras with low mass-loss rates(Mȯ<~10-7Msolaryr-1).Various period-colour relationships are discussed in detail. The colour,particularly BCK = 10.86 - 38.10 K (J - K)0 +64.16(J - K)20 - 50.72(J -K)30 + 19, K-L, at a given period is found todepend on the pulsation amplitude of the star. A comparison with modelssuggests that this is a consequence of atmospheric extension, in thesense that large-amplitude pulsators have very extended atmospheres andredder Mȯ<10-7Msolaryr-1, K-L and H-K but bluerJ-H than their lower amplitude counterparts. The stars with veryextended atmospheres also have higher values of K-[12] and hence highermass-loss rates. This finding provides further evidence for the causalconnection between pulsation and mass loss. Two sequences are identifiedin the Hp-K versus logP diagram (where Hp is the Hipparcos broad-bandmagnitude) at short periods (logP<2.35). At a given period these twogroups have, on average, the same pulsation amplitude, but differentJHKL colours and spectral types. The short-period stars in the bluersequence have similar near-infrared colours to the Miras found inglobular clusters. Long-term trends in the infrared light curves arediscussed for stars that have sufficient data.
| Mira kinematics from Hipparcos data: a Galactic bar to beyond the Solar circle
The space motions of Mira variables are derived from radial velocities,Hipparcos proper motions and a period-luminosity relation. Thepreviously known dependence of Mira kinematics on the period ofpulsation is confirmed and refined. In addition, it is found that Miraswith periods in the range 145-200d in the general Solar neighbourhoodhave a net radial outward motion from the Galactic Centre of75+/-18kms-1. This, together with a lag behind the circularvelocity of Galactic rotation of 98+/-19kms-1, is interpretedas evidence for an elongation of their orbits, with their major axesaligned at an angle of ~17° with the Sun-Galactic Centre line,towards positive Galactic longitudes. This concentration seems to be acontinuation to the Solar circle and beyond of the bar-like structure ofthe Galactic bulge, with the orbits of some local Miras probablypenetrating into the bulge. These conclusions are not sensitive to thedistance scale adopted. A further analysis is given of the short-period(SP) red group of Miras discussed in companion papers in this series. InAppendix A the mean radial velocities and other data for 842 oxygen-richMira-like variables are tabulated. These velocities were derived frompublished optical and radio observations.
| Millimeter and some near infra-red observations of short-period Miras and other AGB stars
Millimeter observations of 48 oxygen- and 20 carbon-rich AGB Miras withperiods shorter than 400 days are presented. In addition, observationsof 14 O-rich and 15 C-stars with longer, or no known, periods have alsobeen obtained. The detection statistics is as follows: in12CO J=1-0 and 2-1 we observed 97 stars, and detected 66 inat least one line. We find 24 new detections in the 1-0 line, 38 newdetections in the 2-1 line, and 29 stars have been detected for thefirst time in one or both lines. In 12CO J=3-2 we observed 14stars and detected 11, with 4 new detections. In 13CO J=2-1,3-2 we observed 2 stars and had one new detection. In HCN(1-0) weobserved 5 carbon stars and detected 3, one new. In SO(6_5-5_4) weobserved the same 5 stars and detected none. In CS(3-2) we observed 8carbon stars and detected 3, all new. In SiO(3-2, v=0) we observed 34O-rich stars and detected 25, all new except one. Near-infrared JHKphotometry is presented for seven stars. For four stars it is the firstNIR data published. The luminosity and dust mass loss rate are obtainedfor seven very red stars with unknown pulsation period from modellingthe spectral energy distribution (SED) and IRAS LRS spectra. Thereby, anew IR supergiant is confirmed (AFGL 2968). For the rest of the sample,luminosity and distance are obtained in a variety of ways: usinghipparcos parallaxes, period-luminosity and period-M_K-relationscombined with apparent K magnitudes, and kinematic distances. The dustmass loss rate is obtained from model fitting of the SED (either fromthe literature, or presented in the present paper), or from the observedIRAS 60 mu m flux, corrected for the photospheric contribution. The gasmass loss rate is derived from the observed CO line intensities, aspresented here, combined with existing literature data, if any. Thisallows the derivation of the dust-to-gas ratio. Our and literature CO J= 3-2 data has been used to calibrate the relation between mass lossrate and peak intensity of the CO(3-2) line. Diagrams showing mass lossrate, dust-to-gas ratio and expansion velocity versus pulsation periodare presented. Our observations confirm the existence of an upper limitfor the expansion velocity of C- and O-rich stars, and that this maximumis larger for C-stars, as predicted by the theory of radiation pressureon dust particles. The James Clerk Maxwell Telescope is operated by theObservatories on behalf of the Science and Engineering Council of theUK, the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research, and theNational Research Council of Canada. Based on observations made with theCarlos Sanchez telescope operated on the island of Tenerife in theSpanish Observatorio del Teide of the Instituto de Astrof\'\i sica deCanarias. Based on observations collected at the European SouthernObservatory, La Silla, Chile within programs ESO 57.E-0105, 59.E-0198and 61.E-0254. Based on data from the ESA Hipparcos astrometrysatellite.
| Period-Luminosity-Colour distribution and classification of Galactic oxygen-rich LPVs. I. Luminosity calibrations
The absolute K magnitudes and kinematic parameters of about 350oxygen-rich Long-Period Variable stars are calibrated, by means of anup-to-date maximum-likelihood method, using Hipparcos parallaxes andproper motions together with radial velocities and, as additional data,periods and V-K colour indices. Four groups, differing by theirkinematics and mean magnitudes, are found. For each of them, we alsoobtain the distributions of magnitude, period and de-reddened colour ofthe base population, as well as de-biased period-luminosity-colourrelations and their two-dimensional projections. The SRa semiregulars donot seem to constitute a separate class of LPVs. The SRb appear tobelong to two populations of different ages. In a PL diagram, theyconstitute two evolutionary sequences towards the Mira stage. The Mirasof the disk appear to pulsate on a lower-order mode. The slopes of theirde-biased PL and PC relations are found to be very different from theones of the Oxygen Miras of the LMC. This suggests that a significantnumber of so-called Miras of the LMC are misclassified. This alsosuggests that the Miras of the LMC do not constitute a homogeneousgroup, but include a significant proportion of metal-deficient stars,suggesting a relatively smooth star formation history. As a consequence,one may not trivially transpose the LMC period-luminosity relation fromone galaxy to the other Based on data from the Hipparcos astrometrysatellite. Appendix B is only available in electronic form at the CDSvia anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html
| The Infrared Spectral Classification of Oxygen-rich Dust Shells
This paper presents infrared spectral classifications for a flux-limitedsample of 635 optically identified oxygen-rich variables includingsupergiants and sources on the asymptotic giant branch (AGB). Severalclasses of spectra from oxygen-rich dust exist, and these can bearranged in a smoothly varying sequence of spectral shapes known as thesilicate dust sequence. Classification based on this sequence revealsseveral dependencies of the dust emission on the properties of thecentral star. Nearly all S stars show broad emission features fromalumina dust, while most of the supergiants exhibit classic featuresfrom amorphous silicate dust. Mira variables with symmetric light curvesgenerally show broad alumina emission, while those with more asymmetriclight curves show classic silicate emission. These differences may arisefrom differences in the photospheric C/O ratio.
| Detection of short-term variations in Mira-type variables from HIPPARCOS photometry
The Hipparcos photometric observations carried out over 37 months havebeen investigated in detail for ~ 250 Miras. This leads to an unexpectedby-product of the mission that we already suspected from ESOC real-timereductions: the first detection from space of photometric short-termbrightness variations in Mira-type variables. Altogether, 51 events in39 M-type Miras are detected and no similar variations are found for Sand C-type Miras. Their amplitude ranges from 0.23 mag up to 1.11 magand their duration extends from 2 hours up to almost 6 days. Theseevents seem to occur preferentially in late spectral types. We suggestthat they might be related to molecular opacity effects. Based on datafrom the \HIP astrometry ESA satellite
| Classification and Identification of IRAS Sources with Low-Resolution Spectra
IRAS low-resolution spectra were extracted for 11,224 IRAS sources.These spectra were classified into astrophysical classes, based on thepresence of emission and absorption features and on the shape of thecontinuum. Counterparts of these IRAS sources in existing optical andinfrared catalogs are identified, and their optical spectral types arelisted if they are known. The correlations between thephotospheric/optical and circumstellar/infrared classification arediscussed.
| Mean light curves of long-period variables and discrimination between carbon- and oxygen-rich stars
Using 75 years of AAVSO data, mean light curve parameters of a sample of355 long period M, S, and C mira and semi-regular variable stars areinvestigated. We present a classification of the light curves of LPVsinto 6 distinct groups. Combining this classification with IRAS colorsmakes it possible to distinguish oxygen-rich from carbon-rich miras.Table 2 is only available in electronic form at the CDS via anonymousftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html
| Line emission in stellar envelopes
We examine the problem of what could be called a `compact planetarynebula' in studying the radiative equilibrium of a spherical envelopewith inner radius comparable or equal to the radius of the illuminatingcore. The envelope is composed of hydrogen atoms in statisticalequilibrium and photoionized by a central radiation of relatively hightemperature T*>15 000K. We consistently solve the equations ofradiative transfer in spherical geometry for all lines and continua,including the Lyman transitions, together with the equations ofstatistical equilibrium. Yet we ignore the energy balance equation andconsider the electronic temperature as a given parameter. We show thatBalmer and other subordinate lines may appear in emission, even at lowtemperature, provided that (i) the density is low enough for theradiative terms to partly control the populations of the levels and (ii)the geometrical extension of the H II region is significant. Althoughthe present model is only intended to isolate and illustrate a specificphysical mechanism, we suggest that the emission features detected inthe spectrum of cool giant or supergiant stars could result from purelyradiative processes, at least in some cases.
| AGB stars: densities and formation rates obtained from OH/IR stars.
We determine densities and star formation rates of AGB stars from ananalysis of OH/IR stars in the solar neighbourhood. The stars aredivided into three distinct mass ranges corresponding to the precursorsof type I, II and III planetary nebulae, according to the Peimbertclassification scheme. The adopted distance scale is based on theperiod-luminosity relationship by Feast et al. (1989). The formation (ordeath) rates are calculated using stellar evolution models for AGBstars, and are compared with the corresponding rates for planetarynebulae and white dwarfs. The results indicate that both surface andvolume densities of AGB stars are in good agreement with previousdeterminations in the literature. The formation rates are found to bevery sensitive to the evolution time at the AGB, and depend also on theadopted model.
| Lumnosity attenuation and distances of red giant stars
The Mv of M red variable stars is increased by the molecularTiO bands which grow from M0 to M10 in an inherent spectral darkeningsequence. The Mv is the result of both the effective visualflux and the equivalent radius. The equivalent radius is apparentlysmaller than the empirical radius due to a molecular covering process instars later than M3. The full range of optical red giant stars forms asequence from the brightest M early spectral types (S Car, M0(max),Mv approx = -3.2 mag) to the faintest M-latest spectral types(IK Tau, M10.5 min), Mv approx. = 16.5 mag). The typicalMiras and SR stars of M-medium and M-late spectral types are betweenthese two extremes. The sequence has a range of 20 mag on the visual(HR) diagram which extends from the red giant branch (RGB) passingbeyond the Mv of red dwarf stars as far as the point where itintercepts with the prolongation of the zero-age main sequence (ZAMS) inthe latest spectral type. Typical M10-stars at 200 pc has a V approx. =20 mag. M-latest stars at larger distances are unobservable stars in thevisual band. The distances of 134 variable stars are also given. Thedistances to 86 stars were determined by using a pure photometricmethod, while preliminary distances (less than 200 pc) for the remaining48 M-latest stars were determined by the spectral-photometric method.Since the local stellar density of M stars up to 100 pc rises at least7.5 times, it is possible to discuss that the long-standing problem ofdark matter in spiral galaxies could be resolved by these very dimmassive giant stars and by the molecular covered stars at the extremeend of the attenuating sequence. Furthermore, post M-latest stars may bethe only nonvisual stellar objects that can explain the enormousquantity of faint and point infrared sources found by IRAS. These weakobjects suggest the existence of an infrared Milky Way which is moredense than the optical one.
| The Henry Draper Extension Charts: A catalogue of accurate positions, proper motions, magnitudes and spectral types of 86933 stars
The Henry Draper Extension Charts (HDEC), published in the form offinding charts, provide spectral classification for some 87000 starsmostly between 10th and 11th magnitude. This data, being highlyvaluable, as yet was practically unusable for modern computer-basedastronomy. An earlier pilot project (Roeser et al. 1991) demonstrated apossibility to convert this into a star catalogue, using measurements ofcartesian coordinates of stars on the charts and positions of theAstrographic Catalogue (AC) for subsequent identification. We presenthere a final HDEC catalogue comprising accurate positions, propermotions, magnitudes and spectral classes for 86933 stars of the HenryDraper Extension Charts.
| 86 GHz SiO, v=1, J=2--> 1 survey of southern IRAS point sources. II. Detection of 74 new maser sources
The detection of 74 new southern stellar SiO, v=1, J=2->1 masersassociated with IRAS point sources is reported. 57 of these were foundin an IRAS based survey of oxygen rich stellar envelopes. The detectionrate in this survey was 45%. 17 further new maser sources were detectedduring a search for strong pointing sources for the Swedish-ESOSubmillimeter Telescope (SEST). The distribution of the IRAS lowresolution spectral (LRS) classes of all the SiO masers (this paper andliterature) peaks sharply at class 15. The distribution of the LRSclasses of the maser sources from 21 to 29 is similar to thedistribution of these classes of all the point sources in the pointsource catalogue except for class 25. Only few maser sources of thisspectral class are known. This is possibly explained by a selectioneffect.
| Stellar Maser Characteristics and Their Analysis Based on IRAS Data
Not Available
| Detection of 51 new 86 GHz SiO, V = 1, J = 2-1 masers associated with IRAS point sources
This paper reports the results of a search for southern stellar SiO, v =1, J = 2-1 masers in a survey of IRAS point sources. Out of the 116observed southern sources, 51 identified as new SiO, v = 1, J = 2-1masers, on the basis of their position in IRAS color-color plot. Ofthese, 42 masers have stellar identifications in IPSC, two arepreviously known non-IRAS IR objects, and six have no identification inIPSC.
| Emission features in IRAS LRS spectra of M Mira variables
A total of 291 M Mira variables with IRAS low-resolution spectrometer(LRS) spectra that have 8-micron fluxes greater than 15 Jy have beenanalyzed. After subtraction of a 2500 K blackbody energy distributionfrom the spectrum, the remaining difference spectra can be classifiedinto seven groups, depending on the shape of their spectral emissionfeatures around 10 microns: Sil, Sil(+) Sil(2+), S, three-component,'broad', and no feature. The spectral emission features are interpretedas being produced primarily by amorphous silicates with differingamounts of crystalline olivine. A weak broad feature at 9-13 microns ispossibly produced by aluminum oxide and/or a size distribution ofsilicate particles that favors larger grains. The 8-22-micron IR excess,defined as the fraction of energy above the 2500 K continuum, shows onlya slight tendency to correlate with period and no tendency to correlatewith mass loss rate. Maser emission from OH and H2O is much morefrequently detected in stars that show the Sil or Sil(+) emissionfeature, but SiO maser emission is detected with the same percentage inall emission feature classes with the exception of the S feature. Starsshowing the S feature appear to be closely related to the MS and Sstars.
| Maxima and minima of long period variables, 1949-1975
Not Available
| A study of M Mira variables based on IRAS LRS observations. II - Model FITS and derived parameters for 109 Miras
Dust shell models have been fitted to the IRAS LRS spectra of 109 M Miravariables. Best fit models are calculated for each star. A model iscompletely determined by five parameters: the dust temperatures at theinner boundaries of the aluminum oxide and 'silicate' dust shells, thecolumn densities of each dust grain component, and the distance to thestar. It turns out that the 1 - 200 micron IR energy distributionscalculated for the best fit parameters also provide quite satisfactoryfits to the observed NIR and FIR.
| A study of M Mira variables based on IRAS LRS observations. I - Dust formation in the circumstellar shell
A study of low-resolution IRAS spectra for a sample of 109 M Miravariables confirms the previous suggestion that stars whose spectra showthe 9.7-micron silicate emission feature have asymmetric light curves.The observed spectra are found to be well reproduced by models ofoptically thin spherical shells containing mixtures of amorphousmagnesium silicate and aluminum oxide dust particles. The broad12-micron feature observed in the spectra of stars without the9.7-micron feature is associated with aluminum oxide particles. Modelresults imply that silicate dust condenses at low temperatures far outin the circumstellar shell, suggesting that mantle growth on preexistingaluminum oxide particles is the major process responsible for silicateformation.
| IRAS low resolution spectrograph spectral class and M and S Miras
A large sample of 177 M and S Miras, as revealed by their IRAS LRSspectral class, have been examined to determine the dependence ofsilicate emission on the visual light curve asymmetry factor, f. It isconfirmed that 9.7-micron silicate emission feature not only in M but inS Miras also occurs only when f is not greater than 0.45. However, notall stars with f of not greater than 0.45 show the silicate emission;this nondetection reveals dependence on other parameters like the meanvisual light amplitude. Though strong emission feature in M Miras mayoccur for any value of f, very weak features are absent for small valuesof f, and the strongest features tend to appear for larger values of f.Infrared excess tends to increase with the strength of the silicateemission as well as with decrease in the value of f. The probability ofdetection of silicate emission is very high for the visual light curveclasses (Ludendorff, 1928) alpha 1, alpha 2, and alpha 3, decreases foralpha 4 and gamma 1, and is negligible for the beta class.
| Classification of Mira variables based on visual light curve shape
The paper presents classifications of 368 Mira variables of M, S and Cspectral classes based on the shape of their visual light curve. Theclassification is esentially based on Ludendorff's (1928) scheme and thelight curves used are mainly from the compilation of Campbell (1955).The distribution of light curves over period, mean amplitude, lightcurve asymmetry factor, period variability, and spectral class atmaximum is discussed.
| The visible spectra of Southern Hemisphere Mira variable stars
The 483 blue classification spectrograms of 72 Southern Hemisphere Miravariables presently added to the Keenan et al. (1974) catalog indicatethat the irregular behavior of absorption features in Mira variables canbe accounted for by a second shock front that lies higher in theatmosphere than the one producing Balmer emission. Since shock velocityprobably varies from cycle to cycle, the affected lines are not expectedto maintain the same equivalent width at the same phase in differentcycles.
| On the contribution of interstellar extinction to the 10 micron dust feature in OH/IR stars
The IRAS Low Resolution Spectra of 467 sources with the 10 micron dustfeature are analyzed. The strengths of the dust feature are determinedby the ratio of the flux at 9.7 micron to the fitted continuum level.Color temperatures are derived from the fluxes of the four IRASphotometric bands after correcting for the effect of the 10 micronfeature on the fluxes of the 12 micron band. A definite correlationbetween the strength of the feature and the color temperature of thecontinuum is found, implying that the 10 micron dust feature is largelycircumstellar in origin. A reexamination of the strength of the silicatefeature for seven of the OH/IR star used by Gehrs and colleagues in 1985has failed to reproduce the optical depth-distance relationship found bythese authors. It is concluded that interstellar extinction does notplay a major role in the formation of the 10 micron absorption feature.
| The velocity dispersion of old stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud
Radial velocities have been obtained for a group of the oldestlong-period variables (LPVs) in the Large Magellanic Cloud. The LPVshave periods in the range 150 to 250 days, and they are similar to theMira variables in 47 Tuc and the Galactic center; in particular, theyhave ages more than 10 billion yr. The old LPVs belong to a kinematicsystem which has a systemic velocity that is indistinguishable from thatof the H I gas. The intrinsic line-of-sight dispersion of the LPVvelocities about their systemic velocity mean is 30 km/s. Such avelocity dispersion is consistent with that expected for stars belongingto a flattened disk with a scale height of about 0.3 kpc. There ismarginal evidence that the kinematic system to which the old LPVs belongrotates.
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