Dust-enshrouded Asymptotic Giant Branch Stars in the Solar Neighborhood
Abstract
Using available infrared catalogs, an inventory is taken of the AGB star losing large amounts of mass within about 1 kpc of the sun. A surface density of these stars is estimated of about 25/sq kpc projected onto the plane of the Galaxy. Of these stars, about one-half are oxygen-rich while the other half are carbon-rich. The total mass-loss rate from AGB stars into the interstellar medium is probably between 3 and 6 x 10 to the -4th solar mass/sq kpc/yr. Within the uncertainties, this is in reasonable agreement with an estimated net loss rate of about 8 x 10 to the -4th solar mass/sq kpc/yr for main-sequence stars with initial masses between 1 and 5 solar masses as they evolve to white dwarfs. However, it is possible that there are important sources of mass loss which have not yet been identified. In the solar neighborhood, about one-half of all about 1.2 solar mass main-sequence stars spend greater than 30,000 yr in a carbon-star phase where they lose 1-2 x 10 to the -5th solar mass/yr and then become white dwarfs with about 0.7 solar mass.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- June 1989
- DOI:
- 10.1086/167499
- Bibcode:
- 1989ApJ...341..359J
- Keywords:
-
- Asymptotic Giant Branch Stars;
- Carbon Stars;
- Cosmic Dust;
- Solar Neighborhood;
- Star Distribution;
- Stellar Composition;
- Stellar Evolution;
- Stellar Mass Ejection;
- Astrophysics;
- STARS: CIRCUMSTELLAR SHELLS;
- STARS: EVOLUTION;
- STARS: HORIZONTAL-BRANCH;
- STARS: MASS LOSS;
- STARS: WHITE DWARFS