Carbonaceous molecules in the oxygen-rich circumstellar environment of binary post-AGB stars: C_{60} fullerenes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

TL;DR

This study investigates three post-AGB binary stars with oxygen-rich discs that unexpectedly contain complex carbon molecules like PAHs and fullerenes, revealing unusual chemical processing in their circumstellar environments.

Contribution

It provides detailed infrared spectral analysis showing the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and C60 fullerenes in oxygen-rich post-AGB star environments, challenging existing chemical models.

Findings

Detection of PAHs in oxygen-rich environments

Identification of C60 fullerenes in two sources

Evidence of complex carbon chemistry in oxygen-rich discs

Abstract

Context. The circumstellar environment of evolved stars is generally rich in molecular gas and dust. Typically, the entire environment is either oxygen-rich or carbon-rich, depending on the evolution of the central star. Aims. In this paper we discuss three evolved disc sources with evidence of atypical emission lines in their infrared spectra. The stars were taken from a larger sample of post-AGB binaries for which we have Spitzer infrared spectra, characterised by the presence of a stable oxygen-rich circumbinary disc. Our previous studies have shown that the infrared spectra of post-AGB disc sources are dominated by silicate dust emission, often with an extremely high crystallinity fraction. However, the three sources described here are selected because they show a peculiar molecular chemistry. Methods. Using Spitzer infrared spectroscopy, we study in detail the peculiar mineralogy of the three sample stars. Using the observed emission features, we identify the different observed dust, molecular and gas species. Results. The infrared spectra show emission features due to various oxygen-rich dust components, as well as CO2 gas. All three sources show the strong infrared bands generally ascribed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Furthermore, two sample sources show C60 fullerene bands. Conclusions. Even though the majority of post-AGB disc sources are dominated by silicate dust in their circumstellar environment, we do find evidence that, for some sources at least, additional processing must occur to explain the presence of large carbonaceous molecules. There is evidence that some of these sources are still oxygen-rich, which makes the detection of these molecules even more surprising.