The Interaction of Asymptotic Giant Branch Stars with the Interstellar Medium

Villaver, Eva; Manchado, A.; García-Segura, Guillermo
Bibliographical reference

The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 748, Issue 2, article id. 94 (2012).

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4
2012
Number of authors
3
IAC number of authors
1
Citations
48
Refereed citations
38
Description
We study the hydrodynamical behavior of the gas expelled by moving asymptotic giant branch stars interacting with the interstellar medium (ISM). Our models follow the wind modulations prescribed by stellar evolution calculations, and we cover a range of expected relative velocities (10-100 km s-1), ISM densities (between 0.01 and 1 cm-3), and stellar progenitor masses (1 and 3.5 M &sun;). We show how and when bow shocks and cometary-like structures form, and in which regime the shells are subject to instabilities. Finally, we analyze the results of the simulations in terms of the different kinematical stellar populations expected in the Galaxy.
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Nucleosynthesis and molecular processes in the late stages of Stellar Evolution
Low- to intermediate-mass (M < 8 solar masses, Ms) stars represent the majority of stars in the Cosmos. They finish their lives on the Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) - just before they form planetary nebulae (PNe) - where they experience complex nucleosynthetic and molecular processes. AGB stars are important contributors to the enrichment of the
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