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Water in IRC+10216: a genuine formation process by shock-induced chemistry in the inner wind

Cherchneff, Isabelle. (2011) Water in IRC+10216: a genuine formation process by shock-induced chemistry in the inner wind. Astronomy and Astrophysics, 526. L11.

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Official URL: http://edoc.unibas.ch/51264/

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Abstract

Context: The presence of water in the wind of the extreme carbon star IRC+10216 has been confirmed by the Herschel telescope. The regions where the high-J H 2 O lines have been detected are close to the star at radii r ≤ 15 R star . Aims: We investigate the formation of water and related molecules in the periodically-shocked inner layers of IRC+10216 where dust also forms and accelerates the wind. Methods: We describe the molecular formation by a chemical kinetic network involving carbon-and oxygen-based molecules. We then apply this network to the physical conditions pertaining to the dust-formation zone which experiences the passage of pulsation-driven shocks between 1 and 5 R star . We solve for a system of stiff, coupled, ordinary, and differential equations.
Results: Non-equilibrium chemistry prevails in the dust-formation zone. H 2 O forms quickly above the photosphere from the synthesis of hydroxyl OH induced by the thermal fragmentation of CO in the hot post-shock gas. The derived abundance with respect to H 2 at 5 R star is 1.4 × 10 -7 , which excellently agrees with the values derived from Herschel observations. The non-equilibrium formation process of water will be active whatever the stellar C/O ratio, and H 2 O should then be present in the wind acceleration zone of all stars on the Asymptotic Giant Branch.
Faculties and Departments:05 Faculty of Science > Departement Physik > Physik
UniBasel Contributors:Cherchneff-Parrinello, Isabelle
Item Type:Article, refereed
Article Subtype:Research Article
Publisher:EDP Sciences
ISSN:0004-6361
e-ISSN:1432-0746
Note:Publication type according to Uni Basel Research Database: Journal article
Language:English
Identification Number:
edoc DOI:
Last Modified:01 Mar 2017 07:59
Deposited On:01 Mar 2017 07:54

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