The dust and gas content of carbon stars toward the Galactic Halo

TL;DR

This study analyzes the dust and gas properties of four carbon stars in the Galactic Halo using Spitzer IRS spectra, revealing their metal-poor gas characteristics but metal-rich dust features, with implications for their origins.

Contribution

First detailed infrared spectral analysis of halo carbon stars showing their dust and gas properties and discussing their possible origins.

Findings

Gas properties indicate metal-poor stars with low expansion velocities.

Dust features suggest these stars may be metal-rich or produce silicon.

The origin of these stars could be from the halo, satellite galaxies, or the galactic disk.

Abstract

We present Spitzer IRS spectra of four carbon stars located in the Galactic Halo and the thick disc. The spectra display typical features of carbon stars with SiC dust emission and C$_2$H$_2$ molecular absorption. Dust radiative transfer models and infrared colors enable us to determine the dust production rates for these stars whilst prior CO measurements yield expansion velocities and total mass-loss rates. The gas properties (low expansion velocities (around 7 km/s) and strong C$_2$H$_2$ molecular absorption bands) are consistent with the stars being metal-poor. However the dust content of these stars (strong SiC emission bands) is very similar to what is observed in metal-rich carbon stars. The strong SiC emission may indicate that the carbon stars derive from a metal-rich population, or that these AGB stars produce silicon. The origin of the halo carbon stars is not known. They may be extrinsinc halo stars belonging to the halo population, they may have been accreted from a satellite galaxy such as the Sagittarius Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy, or they may be escapees from the galactic disk. If the stars are intrinsically metal-rich, an origin in the disc would be most likely. If an $\alpha$-element enhancement can be confirmed, it would argue for an origin in the halo (which is known to be $\alpha$-enhanced) or a Galactic satellite.