We link the onset of pulsation-enhanced, dust-driven winds from asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars in the Magellanic Clouds to the star's transition between period-luminosity sequences (from B to C′). This transition occurs at 1/460 d for solar-mass stars, which represent the bulk of the AGB population: this is the same period at which copious dust production starts in solar-neighbourhood AGB stars. It is contemporaneous with the onset of long secondary period (LSP) variability on sequence D. The combined amplitude of the first-overtone (B + C′) and fundamental (C) modes and (perhaps) long-secondary period (D; LSP) variability appears to drive a sudden increase in mass-loss rate to a stable plateau, previously identified to be a few ×10 '7 M yr '1. We cite this as evidence that pulsations are necessary to initiate mass-loss from AGB stars and that these pulsations are significant in controlling stars' mass-loss rates. We also show evidence that LSPs may evolve from long to short periods as the star evolves, counter to the other period-luminosity sequences.

The onset of the AGB wind tied to a transition between sequences in the period-luminosity diagram

McDonald I.
;
Trabucchi M.
2019

Abstract

We link the onset of pulsation-enhanced, dust-driven winds from asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars in the Magellanic Clouds to the star's transition between period-luminosity sequences (from B to C′). This transition occurs at 1/460 d for solar-mass stars, which represent the bulk of the AGB population: this is the same period at which copious dust production starts in solar-neighbourhood AGB stars. It is contemporaneous with the onset of long secondary period (LSP) variability on sequence D. The combined amplitude of the first-overtone (B + C′) and fundamental (C) modes and (perhaps) long-secondary period (D; LSP) variability appears to drive a sudden increase in mass-loss rate to a stable plateau, previously identified to be a few ×10 '7 M yr '1. We cite this as evidence that pulsations are necessary to initiate mass-loss from AGB stars and that these pulsations are significant in controlling stars' mass-loss rates. We also show evidence that LSPs may evolve from long to short periods as the star evolves, counter to the other period-luminosity sequences.
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
1901.06325.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia: Published (publisher's version)
Licenza: Accesso libero
Dimensione 945.91 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
945.91 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri
Pubblicazioni consigliate

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11577/3428345
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 27
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 22
social impact