Radial velocities of stars with microwave maser emission. I. Long-period variables

Journal Article · Mon Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1975 · Astrophys. J., Suppl. Ser., v. 29, no. 291, pp. 375-396

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/190350· OSTI ID:4099757

Wallerstein, G

Extensive radial-velocity measurements of high-dispersion optical spectra (lambdalambda3500--9000) of long-period variables are presented and analyzed so as to establish the photospheric, emission, and circumstellar velocities. The data are compared with microwave emission velocities from the molecules OH, H$sub 2$O, and SiO. Correlations among the various velocities are presented and discussed. Usually at least one microwave component has the same velocity as the stellar photosphere, and frequently one or more microwave velocities agree with the velocity of the circumstellar envelope. Other microwave components frequently fall between the photospheric and circumstellar velocities. The question of whether the absorption or emission lines represent the true stellar velocity is carefully discussed. The correlations among the microwave and stellar absorption velocities favor the absorption velocity as representative of the center of mass. However, the possibility remains that the velocities of the permitted and forbidden lines represent the stellar velocity, provided that the emission lines are formed at small optical depth and hence are strongly limb-brightened. (AIP)

• Research Organization: Astronomy Department, University of Washington, Seattle
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-33-018028
• OSTI ID: 4099757
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J., Suppl. Ser., v. 29, no. 291, pp. 375-396, Journal Name: Astrophys. J., Suppl. Ser., v. 29, no. 291, pp. 375-396; ISSN APJSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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