| 1. |
- Vlemmings, Wouter, 1974, et al.
(författare)
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Magnetically aligned dust and SiO maser polarisation in the envelope of the red supergiant VY Canis Majoris
- 2017
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 603, s. A92-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims. Polarisation observations of circumstellar dust and molecular (thermal and maser) lines provide unique information about dust properties and magnetic fields in circumstellar envelopes of evolved stars. Methods. We use Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) Band 5 science verification observations of the red supergiant VY CMa to study the polarisation of SiO thermal /maser lines and dust continuum at similar to 1.7 mm wavelength. We analyse both linear and circular polarisation and derive the magnetic field strength and structure, assuming the polarisation of the lines originates from the Zeeman effect, and that of the dust originates from aligned dust grains. We also discuss other effects that could give rise to the observed polarisation. Results. We detect, for the first time, significant polarisation (similar to 3%) of the circumstellar dust emission at millimeter wavelengths. The polarisation is uniform with an electric vector position angle of similar to 8 degrees. Varying levels of linear polarisation are detected for the J = 4-3 (SiO)-Si-28 nu = 0; 1; 2; and (SiO)-Si-29 nu = 0; 1 lines, with the strongest polarisation fraction of similar to 30% found for the (SiO)-Si-29 nu = 1 maser. The linear polarisation vectors rotate with velocity, consistent with earlier observations. We also find significant (up to similar to 1%) circular polarisation in several lines, consistent with previous measurements. We conclude that the detection is robust against calibration and regular instrumental errors, although we cannot yet fully rule out non-standard instrumental effects. Conclusions. Emission from magnetically aligned grains is the most likely origin of the observed continuum polarisation. This implies that the dust is embedded in a magnetic field >13 mG. The maser line polarisation traces the magnetic field structure. The magnetic field in the gas and dust is consistent with an approximately toroidal field configuration, but only higher angular resolution observations will be able to reveal more detailed field structure. If the circular polarisation is due to Zeeman splitting, it indicates a magnetic field strength of similar to 1-3 Gauss, consistent with previous maser observations.
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| 2. |
- Amiri, N., et al.
(författare)
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VLBA SiO maser observations of the OH/IR star OH 44.8-2.3: magnetic field and morphology
- 2012
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union. - 1743-9213 .- 1743-9221. ; 8:5287, s. 54-58
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- We report on Very Long Baseline Array SiO maser observations of the OH/IR star OH 44.8 - 2.3. The observations show that the maser features form a ring located at a distance of 5.4 AU around the central star. The masers show high fractional linear polarization up to 100%. The polarization vectors are consistent with a dipole field morphology. Additionally, we report a tentative detection of circular polarization of 7% for the brightest maser feature. This indicates a magnetic field of 1.5 ± 0.3 G. The SiO masers and the 1612 MHz OH masers suggest a mildly preferred outflow direction in the circumstellar environment of this star. The observed polarization is consistent with magnetic field structures along the preferred outflow direction. This could indicate the possible role of the magnetic fields in shaping the circumstellar environment of this object.
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| 3. |
- Amiri, N., et al.
(författare)
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VLBA SiO maser observations of the OH/IR star OH 44.8-2.3: magnetic field and morphology
- 2012
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 538
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. SiO maser emission occurs in the extended atmosphere of evolved stars and can be studied at high angular resolution. As compact, high-brightness components they can be used as important tracers of the dynamics at distances close to the central star. The masers also serve as probes of the evolutionary path from spherically symmetric AGB stars to aspherical PNe. Very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations of Mira variables indicate that SiO masers are significantly linearly polarized with linear polarization fractions up to 100%. However, no information is available at high angular resolution for SiO masers in higher mass loss OH/IR stars. Theory indicates a different SiO pumping mechanism in higher mass loss evolved stars.Aims. We extend the VLBI SiO maser studies to OH/IR stars. The observations enable us to understand the SiO pumping mechanisms in higher mass-loss evolved objects and to compare them with Mira variables. Additionally, polarimetric observations of SiO masers help us to understand the magnetic field strength and morphology and to distinguish between conflicting polarization theories.Methods. The 43 GHz SiO maser observations of the OH/IR star OH 44.8-2.3 were performed with the VLBA in full polarization spectral line mode. Auxiliary EVLA observations were performed to allow for the absolute calibration of the polarization angle. The Zeeman splitting was measured by cross correlating the right and left circular polarization spectra, as well as the S-curve fitting. Additionally, we analyzed the 1612 MHz OH maser observations of OH 44.8-2.3 from the VLA archive.Results. The SiO masers of OH 44.8-2.2 form a ring located at ~5.4 AU around the star. The masers appear to be highly linearly polarized with fractional linear polarization up to 100%. The linear polarization vectors are consistent with a dipole field morphology in this star. We report a tentative detection of circular polarization of ~0.7% for the brightest maser feature. The magnetic field measured for this feature corresponds to 1.5 ± 0.3 G. Additionally, the distribution of the 1612 MHz OH maser emission could indicate an elongated morphology.Conclusions. The SiO masers in OH 44.8-2.3 exhibit a ring morphology. Even though the central AGB star of OH 44.8-2.3 is expected to be larger than typical Mira variables, the SiO masers occur at a similar distance from the stellar photosphere as Mira variables. The SiO masers and the 1612 MHz OH maser emission suggest a mildly preferred direction of the outflow in the CSE of this star. Significant linear polarization is measured for the SiO region of this star, which could develop from either collisional or radiative pumping. In either case, the observed polarization is also consistent with magnetic field structures along the preferred outflow direction. This could reflect the possible role of the magnetic field in shaping the circumstellar environment of this object. Although we cannot firmly distinguish between the different polarization theories, the derived magnetic field strength assuming standard Zeeman emission is fully consistent with other maser polarization measurements.
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| 4. |
- Huang, Ko Yun, et al.
(författare)
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Mapping Circumstellar Magnetic Fields of Late-type Evolved Stars with the Goldreich-Kylafis Effect: CARMA Observations at λ1.3 mm of R Crt and R Leo
- 2020
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 1538-4357 .- 0004-637X. ; 899:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Mapping magnetic fields is the key to resolving the unclear physical picture of circumstellar magnetic fields in late-type evolved stars. Observations of linearly polarized emission from thermal molecular line transitions due to the Goldreich-Kylafis (G-K) effect provide valuable insights into the magnetic field geometry in these sources that are complementary to other key studies. In this paper, we present the detection of spectral-line polarization from both the thermal J = 2-1 CO line and the v = 1, J = 5-4 SiO maser line toward two thermal-pulsating asymptotic giant branch stars, R Crt and R Leo. The observed fractional linear polarization in the CO emission is measured as m l ∼ 3.1% and m l ∼ 9.7% for R Crt and R Leo, respectively. A circumstellar envelope (CSE) model profile and the associated parameters are estimated and used as input to a more detailed modeling of the predicted linear polarization expected from the G-K effect. The observed thermal line polarization level is consistent with the predicted results from the G-K model for R Crt; additional effects need to be considered for R Leo.
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| 5. |
- Leal-Ferreira, M. L., et al.
(författare)
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Magnetic fields around evolved stars: further observations of H2O maser polarization
- 2013
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 554
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context: A low-or intermediate-mass star is believed to maintain a spherical shape throughout the evolution from the main sequence to the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) phase. However, many post-AGB objects and planetary nebulae exhibit non-spherical symmetry. Several candidates have been suggested as factors that can play a role in this change of morphology, but the problem is still not well understood. Magnetic fields are one of these possible agents. Aims. We aim to detect the magnetic field and infer its properties around four AGB stars using H2O maser observations. The sample we observed consists of the following sources: the semi-regular variable RT Vir, and the Mira variables AP Lyn, IK Tau, and IRC+60370. Methods. We observed the 6(1,6)-5(2,3) H2O maser rotational transition in full-polarization mode to determine its linear and circular polarization. Based on the Zeeman effect, one can infer the properties of the magnetic field from the maser polarization analysis. Results. We detected a total of 238 maser features in three of the four observed sources. No masers were found toward AP Lyn. The observed masers are all located between 2.4 and 53.0 AU from the stars. Linear and circular polarization was found in 18 and 11 maser features, respectively. Conclusions. We more than doubled the number of AGB stars in which a magnetic field has been detected from H2O maser polarization. Our results confirm the presence of fields around IK Tau, RT Vir, and IRC+60370. The strength of the field along the line of sight is found to be between 47 and 331 mG in the H2O maser region. Extrapolating this result to the surface of the stars, assuming a toroidal field (proportional to r(-1)), we find magnetic fields of 0.3-6.9 G on the stellar surfaces. If, instead of a toroidal field, we assume a poloidal field (proportional to r(-2)), then the extrapolated magnetic field strength on the stellar surfaces are in the range between 2.2 and similar to 115 G. Finally, if a dipole field (proportional to r(-3)) is assumed, the field strength on the surface of the star is found to be between 15.8 and similar to 1945 G. The magnetic energy of our sources is higher than the thermal and kinetic energy in the H2O maser region of this class of objects. This leads us to conclude that, indeed, magnetic fields probably play an important role in shaping the outflows of evolved stars.
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| 6. |
- Leal-Ferreira, M. L., et al.
(författare)
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Rotten Egg nebula: the magnetic field of a binary evolved star
- 2012
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 540, s. Article Number: A42-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. Most of the planetary nebulae (PNe) observed are not spherical. The loss of spherical symmetry occurs somewhere between the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) phase and the PNe phase. The cause of this change of morphology is not yet well understood, but magnetic fields are one of the possible agents. The origin of the magnetic field remains to be determined, and potentially requires the presence of a massive companion to the AGB star. Therefore, further detections of the magnetic field around evolved stars, and in particular those thought to be part of a binary system, are crucial to improve our understanding of the origin and role of magnetism during the late stages of stellar evolution. One such binary is the pre-PN OH231.8+4.2, around which a magnetic field has previously been detected in the OH maser region of the outer circumstellar envelope. Aims. We aim to detect and infer the properties of the magnetic field of the pre-PN OH231.8+4.2 in the H2O maser region that probes the region close to the central star. This source is a confirmed binary with collimated outflows and an envelope containing several maser species. Methods. In this work we observed the 6(1,6)-5(2,3) H2O maser rotational transition to determine its linear and circular polarization. As a result of Zeeman splitting, the properties of the magnetic field can be derived from maser polarization analysis. The H2O maser emissions of OH231.8+4.2 are located within the inner regions of the source (at a few tens of AU). Results. We detected 30 H2O maser features around OH231.8+4.2. The masers occur in two distinct regions that are moving apart with a velocity on the sky of 2.3 mas/year. Taking into account the inclination angle of the source with the line of sight, this corresponds to an average separation velocity of 21 km s(-1). Based on the velocity gradient of the maser emission, the masers appear to be dragged along the direction of the nebula jet. Linear polarization is present in three of the features, and circular polarization is detected in the two brightest features. The circular polarization results imply a magnetic field strength of vertical bar B-parallel to vertical bar similar to 45 mG. Conclusions. We confirm the presence of a magnetic field around OH231.8+4.2, and report the first measurements of its strength within a few tens of AU of the stellar pair. Assuming a toroidal magnetic field, this imples B similar to 2.5 G on the stellar surface. The morphology of the field is not yet determined, but the high scatter found in the directions of the linear polarization vectors could indicate that the masers occur near the tangent points of a toroidal field.
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| 7. |
- Leal-Ferreira, M.L., et al.
(författare)
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Water Maser Emission Around Low/Intermediate Mass Evolved Stars
- 2012
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union. - 1743-9213 .- 1743-9221. ; 8:S287, s. 79 - 80
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- We present results of Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) polarimetric 22 GHz H2O maser observations of a number of low/intermediate mass evolved stars. We observed 3 Miras (Ap Lyn, IK Tau and IRC+60370), 1 semi-regular variable (RT Vir) and 1 pPN (OH231.8+4.2). Circular polarization is detected in the H2O maser region of OH231.8+4.2 and we infer a magnetic field of |B||| = ~45 mG. This implies an extrapolated magnetic field of ~2.5 G on the surface of the central star. The preliminary results on RT Vir and IRC+60370 also indicate the first detection of weak H2O maser linear polarization.
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| 8. |
- Leal-Ferreira, M., et al.
(författare)
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Magnetic fields around evolved stars
- 2014
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Ingår i: Asymmetrical Planetary Nebulae VI conference, Proceedings of the conference held 4-8 November, 2013. ; , s. 49-
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- A number of mechanisms, such as magnetic fields, (binary) companions and circumstellar disks have been suggested to be the cause of non-spherical PNe and in particular collimated outflows. This work investigates one of these mechanisms: the magnetic fields. While MHD simulations show that the fields can indeed be important, few observations of magnetic fields have been done so far. We used the VLBA to observe five evolved stars, with the goal of detecting the magnetic field by means of water maser polarization. The sample consists in four AGB stars (IK Tau, RT Vir, IRC+60370 and AP Lyn) and one pPN (OH231.8+4.2). In four of the five sources, several strong maser features were detected allowing us to measure the linear and/or circular polarization. Based on the circular polarization detections, we infer the strength of the component of the field along the line of sight to be between ~30 mG and ~330 mG in the water maser regions of these four sources. When extrapolated to the surface of the stars, the magnetic field strength would be between a few hundred mG and a few Gauss when assuming a toroidal field geometry and higher when assuming more complex magnetic fields. We conclude that the magnetic energy we derived in the water maser regions is higher than the thermal and kinetic energy, leading to the conclusion that, indeed, magnetic fields probably play an important role in shaping Planetary Nebulae.
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