The dustiest Post-Main sequence stars in the Magellanic Clouds

TL;DR

This study identifies and characterizes the dustiest evolved stars in the Magellanic Clouds using Herschel far-infrared observations, revealing a diverse population including low- and high-mass stars, some previously undocumented.

Contribution

The paper presents a thoroughly vetted catalog of dusty evolved stars in the Magellanic Clouds, including new detections and detailed spectral and luminosity analysis.

Findings

Identified 35 dusty evolved stars in the Magellanic Clouds.

Discovered nine previously undocumented evolved objects.

Included a diverse range of stellar types from AGB to supernova remnants.

Abstract

Using observations from the {\em Herschel} Inventory of The Agents of Galaxy Evolution (HERITAGE) survey of the Magellanic Clouds, we have found thirty five evolved stars and stellar end products that are bright in the far-infrared. These twenty eight (LMC) and seven (SMC) sources were selected from the 529 evolved star candidates in the HERITAGE far-infrared point source catalogs. Our source identification method is based on spectral confirmation, spectral energy distribution characteristics, careful examination of the multiwavelength images and includes constraints on the luminosity, resulting in a thoroughly vetted list of evolved stars. These sources span a wide range in luminosity and hence initial mass. We found thirteen low- to intermediate mass evolved stars, including asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars, post-AGB stars, planetary nebulae and a symbiotic star. We also identify ten high mass stars, including four of the fifteen known B[e] stars in the Magellanic Clouds, three extreme red supergiants which are highly enshrouded by dust, a Luminous Blue Variable, a Wolf-Rayet star and two supernova remnants. Further, we report the detection of nine probable evolved objects which were previously undescribed in the literature. These sources are likely to be among the dustiest evolved objects in the Magellanic Clouds. The {\em Herschel} emission may either be due to dust produced by the evolved star or it may arise from swept-up ISM material.