H2O Isotopologues in Extreme OH/IR Stars

Author(s)
Kay Justtanont, Michael J. Barlow, Joris A D L Blommaert, Leen Decin, Franz Kerschbaum
Abstract

Using Herschel Space Observatory, we observed isotopologues of H2O in extreme OH/IR stars. We detected strong H216O and H217O while the H218O lines are missing, contrary to the overall galactic oxygen abundance in the interstellar medium and the Sun, where 18O is more abundant than 17O. Theoretical stellar evolution suggests that 18O is being destroyed during the hot-bottom burning. This implies that these OH/IR stars come from a population of intermediate-mass stars which have an initial mass ≥ 5 M⊙.

Organisation(s)
Department of Astrophysics
External organisation(s)
Aix-Marseille Université, Chalmers University of Technology, University College London, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Pages
85 - 90
Publication date
08-2015
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
103003 Astronomy, 103004 Astrophysics
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/h2o-isotopologues-in-extreme-ohir-stars(10efb29d-53eb-49aa-9f4a-dc117fc919cb).html