Herschel has revealed that wind-ISM interaction regions and detached rings occur frequently around evolved stars. These interaction regionsare observed to yield various shapes and sizes which can be divided in four main morphological classes. To first order the distance between the bow shock apex and the star is set by the stellar properties (mass-loss rate, wind velocity, peculiar motion) and the properties of the local ISM (density and temperature). The primary objective of this proposal is to characterize and understandthe interaction of stellar mass-loss with its immediate surroundings bystudying the direct emission cold dust as it is trapped in the interactionregion between the stellar wind and the ISM. Thus we can follow the fate ofcircumstellar dust, use the observed morphologies as tracers of the ISMand of the later stages of stellar evolution. Also we aim to elucidate effectsof magnetic fields, binarity, and circumstellar chemistry on the shaping ofthese interaction .bow shock. regions. Herschel is uniquely equiped to trace the cold dust that is trapped in the studied interaction zones. These goals can be achieved best by performing a sufficiently comprehensive PACS imaging survey of nearby AGB stars.
Publication
Instrument
PACS_PacsPhoto_largeScan
Temporal Coverage
2012-03-28T22:12:57Z/2013-04-23T15:23:38Z
Version
SPG v14.2.0
Mission Description
Herschel was launched on 14 May 2009! It is the fourth cornerstone mission in the ESA science programme. With a 3.5 m Cassegrain telescope it is the largest space telescope ever launched. It is performing photometry and spectroscopy in approximately the 55-671 µm range, bridging the gap between earlier infrared space missions and groundbased facilities.
European Space Agency, cox et al., 2013, 'Old and slow Galactic bullets: Tracing the dust in turbulent interaction regions due to AGB stars traversing interstellar space', SPG v14.2.0, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-7my48g5
