HIGH-RESOLUTION MID-IR LINE SURVEY OF THE LATE-TYPE STAR VY CMa

Giesen, Thomas

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/122547 Copy

Description

Title

HIGH-RESOLUTION MID-IR LINE SURVEY OF THE LATE-TYPE STAR VY CMa

Author(s)

Giesen, Thomas

Contributor(s)

• Richter, Matthew J
• Montiel, Edward J
• Lacy, John H.
• Giles, Rohini S
• Greathouse, Thomas K
• Witsch, Daniel
• Döring, Eileen
• Fuchs, Guido W.

Issue Date

2023-06-20

Keyword(s)

Mini-symposium: Infrared Spectroscopy in the JWST Era

Abstract

VY CMa is a supermassive, late-type, oxygen-rich star surrounded by a dense envelope of dust and molecules. Radio observations have identified about 25 different molecular species (plus many isotopologues) in the vicinity of this star, but little is known about molecular features in the mid-IR wavelength range. In a recent (and ongoing) line survey, we investigated the region around 7 to 8 and 10 µm with the TEXES instrument at IRTF (Mauna Kea, Hawai’i) and the EXES spectrograph aboard the SOFIA airborne telescope. Both instruments are high-resolution instruments with R=100,000. Preliminary results on the observed NH₃ and SiO spectra will be presented. Other observed spectral features will be discussed. With the decommissioning of SOFIA in September 2022, a high-resolution mid-IR telescope will no longer be available for frequency ranges blocked by the Earth’s atmosphere. However, for some applications, the space telescope JWST can be a very valuable tool for studying the envelope of VY CMa, even though it has only a resolution of R=3000. Possible synergies with the current mid-IR line survey and JWST will be discussed.

Publisher

International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy

Type of Resource

Text

Language

eng

Handle URL

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/122547

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