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U.S. Department of Energy
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The eight micron band of silicon monoxide in the expanding cloud around VY Canis Majoris

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5829381
Observations of vibration-rotation transitions of silicon monoxide in VY CMa show that the lines originate in accelerating, expanding, and cool (600 K) layers of a circumstellar cloud at a distance of roughly 0.15 minutes from the central star. The central stellar velocity, as estimated from observed SiO P Cygni line profiles, is somewhat redshifted from the midpoint of the maser emission features. Most of the silicon is proabably in the form of dust grains. The isotopic ratios of silicon are nearly terrestrial.
Research Organization:
Hale Observatories, Pasadena, CA (USA)
OSTI ID:
5829381
Report Number(s):
N-79-13959
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English