Route towards complete 3D hydro-chemical simulations of companion-perturbed AGB outflows

TL;DR

This paper outlines a pathway to advanced 3D hydro-chemical simulations of AGB star outflows influenced by companions, aiming to match observations and understand complex morphologies.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive approach to include physical and chemical processes in simulations of companion-perturbed AGB outflows using Phantom.

Findings

Identifies missing physical and chemical processes in current models.

Proposes a framework for detailed 3D hydro-chemical simulations.

Aims to enable direct comparison with high-resolution observations.

Abstract

Low- and intermediate mass stars experience a significant mass loss during the last phases of their evolution, which obscures them in a vast, dusty envelope. Although it has long been thought this envelope is generally spherically symmetric in shape, recent high-resolution observations find that most of these stars exhibit complex and asymmetrical morphologies, most likely resulting from binary interaction. In order to improve our understanding about these systems, theoretical studies are needed in the form of numerical simulations. Currently, a handful of simulations exist, albeit they mainly focus on the hydrodynamics of the outflow. Hence, we here present the pathway to more detailed and accurate modelling of companion-perturbed outflows with Phantom, by discussing the missing but crucial physical and chemical processes. With these state-of-the-art simulations we aim to make a direct comparison with observations to unveil the true identity on the embedded systems.