Interpretation of the line profiles of the 8 micron band of silicon monoxide from VY canis majoris

Journal Article · Fri Jan 15 04:00:00 EST 1982 · Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/183723· OSTI ID:5652988

Van Blerkom, D; Xinjie, M

Observations of the vibration-rotation transitions of silicon monoxide from the expanding circumstellar envelope of VY Canis Majoris have previously been interpreted in terms of line formation in a thin shell of gas surrounding an opaque core of dust which emits a continuous spectrum. We show that the use of this model is the cause of the apparent displacement of the stellar velocity derived from the 8 ..mu..m lines by 14 km s/sup -1/ from the value based on the v = 0, J = 2..-->..1 SiO line and on the midpoint of the OH maser emission. No such displacement occurs if a model of line formation is employed in which emission from the entire envelope contributes to the emergent profile. This eliminates the need to postulate asymmetries in the envelope and agrees with infrared continuum studies.

• Research Organization: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Massachusetts 01003
• OSTI ID: 5652988
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States) Vol. 252:2; ISSN AJLEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ATMOSPHERES
CHALCOGENIDES
COSMIC DUST
COSMIC GASES
DUSTS
EMISSION
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
FLUIDS
GASES
GIANT STARS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
STARS
STELLAR ATMOSPHERES
SUPERGIANT STARS