Infrared interferometric three-dimensional diagnosis of the atmospheric dynamics of the AGB star R Dor with VLTI/AMBER

TL;DR

This study uses infrared interferometry to create a three-dimensional map of the atmospheric dynamics of the AGB star R Dor, revealing outward motion in the outer atmosphere likely driven by dust radiation pressure or other dynamic processes.

Contribution

First 3D atmospheric dynamics diagnosis of an AGB star beyond the Sun using VLTI/AMBER, revealing detailed velocity fields and mass loss mechanisms.

Findings

Detected systematic outward motion at ~1.8 stellar radii.

Observed little motion in lower atmospheric layers.

Suggested radiation pressure on dust as a driver of mass loss.

Abstract

The mechanism of mass loss in late evolutionary stages of low- and intermediate-mass stars is not yet well understood. Therefore, it is crucial to study the dynamics of the region within a few stellar radii, where the wind acceleration is considered to take place. We present three-dimensional diagnosis of the atmospheric dynamics of the closest asymptotic giant branch (AGB) star R Dor from the low photospheric layers to the extended outer atmosphere--for the first time for a star other than the Sun. The images reconstructed with a spatial resolution of 6.8 mas--seven times finer than the star's angular diameter of 51.2 mas in the continuum--using the AMBER instrument at the Very Large Telescope Interferometer show a large, bright region over the surface of the star and an extended atmosphere. The velocity-field maps over the star's surface and atmosphere obtained from the Mg and H2O lines near 2.3 micron forming at atmospheric heights below ~1.5 stellar radii show little systematic motion beyond the measurement uncertainty of 1.7 km/s. In marked contrast, the velocity-field map obtained from the CO first overtone lines reveals systematic outward motion at 7--15 km/s in the extended outer atmosphere at a height of ~1.8 stellar radii. Given the detection of dust formation at ~1.5 stellar radii, the strong acceleration of material between ~1.5 and 1.8 stellar radii may be caused by the radiation pressure on dust grains. However, we cannot yet exclude the possibility that the outward motion may be intermittent, caused by ballistic motion due to convection and/or pulsation.