Probing the dust formation zone in IRC+10216 with the SMA

Submillimeter imaging of high-excitation molecular rotational lines provides a powerful probe of the dust formation and acceleration region (R ≤ 5×10¹⁶ cm) in the extreme carbon-rich star IRC+10216. We present Submillimeter Array (SMA) observations of several rotational lines of SiCC from our 345 and 400 GHz spectral-line surveys, showing a progression from rectangular to narrow triangular line-profiles, and spatially extended to point-like unresolved emission, as a function of increasing energy Eu. Maps of SiC and SiN emission show asymmetrical extended shell-like structures. These results are compared with published chemical model calculations of the radial abundances of molecules believed to be relevant for dust formation.

Duke Scholars

Author Ken H Young Pathology