Discovery of two new HCN maser lines in five carbon stars

John H. Bieging

doi:10.1086/319130

Discovery of two new HCN maser lines in five carbon stars

John H. Bieging

Steward Observatory

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

A survey with the Heinrich Hertz Submillimeter Telescope of HCN emission from mass-losing carbon stars has revealed masers in the J = 3-2 and 4-3 transitions of the (01^1c0) vibrational bending mode. These lines have not previously been known to show maser action. Five stars - R Scl, V384 Per, R Lep, Y CVn, and V Cyg - out of 12 observed were detected as masers. Allowing for evidence of variability, this detection rate suggests that these HCN lines are masers at least some of the time in the majority of mass-losing carbon stars. The line widths and velocities imply that the maser action occurs in gas close to the star, where the circumstellar envelope is just being accelerated outward.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	L125-L129
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	549
Issue number	1 PART 2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/319130
State	Published - Mar 1 2001

Keywords

Masers
Molecular processes
Radio lines: Stars
Stars: Carbon
Stars: Mass loss

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1086/319130

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title = "Discovery of two new HCN maser lines in five carbon stars",

abstract = "A survey with the Heinrich Hertz Submillimeter Telescope of HCN emission from mass-losing carbon stars has revealed masers in the J = 3-2 and 4-3 transitions of the (011c0) vibrational bending mode. These lines have not previously been known to show maser action. Five stars - R Scl, V384 Per, R Lep, Y CVn, and V Cyg - out of 12 observed were detected as masers. Allowing for evidence of variability, this detection rate suggests that these HCN lines are masers at least some of the time in the majority of mass-losing carbon stars. The line widths and velocities imply that the maser action occurs in gas close to the star, where the circumstellar envelope is just being accelerated outward.",

keywords = "Masers, Molecular processes, Radio lines: Stars, Stars: Carbon, Stars: Mass loss",

author = "Bieging, {John H.}",

note = "Funding Information: I thank the referee, J. Cernicharo, for helpful comments on HCN excitation. I acknowledge support from the National Science Foundation through grant AST 96-18523. This work is based on measurements made with the Heinrich Hertz Submillimeter Telescope, which is operated by the Submillimeter Telescope Observatory on behalf of the Steward Observatory and the Max-Planck-Institut f{\"u}r Radioastronomie. This research has made use of the SIMBAD database, operated at CDS, Strasbourg, France.",

year = "2001",

month = mar,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1086/319130",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "549",

pages = "L125--L129",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal",

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publisher = "IOP Publishing Ltd.",

number = "1 PART 2",

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AU - Bieging, John H.

N1 - Funding Information: I thank the referee, J. Cernicharo, for helpful comments on HCN excitation. I acknowledge support from the National Science Foundation through grant AST 96-18523. This work is based on measurements made with the Heinrich Hertz Submillimeter Telescope, which is operated by the Submillimeter Telescope Observatory on behalf of the Steward Observatory and the Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie. This research has made use of the SIMBAD database, operated at CDS, Strasbourg, France.

PY - 2001/3/1

Y1 - 2001/3/1

N2 - A survey with the Heinrich Hertz Submillimeter Telescope of HCN emission from mass-losing carbon stars has revealed masers in the J = 3-2 and 4-3 transitions of the (011c0) vibrational bending mode. These lines have not previously been known to show maser action. Five stars - R Scl, V384 Per, R Lep, Y CVn, and V Cyg - out of 12 observed were detected as masers. Allowing for evidence of variability, this detection rate suggests that these HCN lines are masers at least some of the time in the majority of mass-losing carbon stars. The line widths and velocities imply that the maser action occurs in gas close to the star, where the circumstellar envelope is just being accelerated outward.

AB - A survey with the Heinrich Hertz Submillimeter Telescope of HCN emission from mass-losing carbon stars has revealed masers in the J = 3-2 and 4-3 transitions of the (011c0) vibrational bending mode. These lines have not previously been known to show maser action. Five stars - R Scl, V384 Per, R Lep, Y CVn, and V Cyg - out of 12 observed were detected as masers. Allowing for evidence of variability, this detection rate suggests that these HCN lines are masers at least some of the time in the majority of mass-losing carbon stars. The line widths and velocities imply that the maser action occurs in gas close to the star, where the circumstellar envelope is just being accelerated outward.

KW - Masers

KW - Molecular processes

KW - Radio lines: Stars

KW - Stars: Carbon

KW - Stars: Mass loss

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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0039840336&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1086/319130

DO - 10.1086/319130

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:0039840336

VL - 549

SP - L125-L129

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

SN - 0004-637X

IS - 1 PART 2

ER -

Discovery of two new HCN maser lines in five carbon stars

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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