A Pilot Imaging Line Survey of RW LMi and IK Tau Using the Expanded Very large Array

Abstract

We report on a pilot imaging line survey (36.0 - 37.0 GHz, with ~1 km/s spectral channels) with the Expanded Very Large Array for two asymptotic giant branch stars, RW LMi (= CIT6, which has a carbon-rich circumstellar envelope) and IK Tau (= NML Tau, with an oxygen-rich circumstellar envelope). Radio continuum emission consistent with photospheric emission was detected from both stars. From RW LMi we imaged the HC3N (J = 4 -> 3) emission. The images show several partial rings of emission; these multiple shells trace the evolution of the CSE from 400 to 1200 years. SiS (J = 2 -> 1) emission was detected from both RW LMi and IK Tau. For both stars the SiS emission is centrally condensed with the peak line emission coincident with the stellar radio continuum emission. In addition, we have detected weak HC7N (J = 32 -> 31) emission from RW LMi.

ApJ Letters Special EVLA Issue

References in corpus (6)

• The Expanded Very Large Array -- a New Telescope for New Science
• Imaging the circumstellar envelopes of AGB stars
• An Interferometric Spectral-line Survey of IRC+10216 in the 345 GHz Band
• The abundance of SiS in circumstellar envelopes around AGB stars
• Molecular shells in IRC+10216: Evidence for non-isotropic and episodic mass loss enhancement
• Tracing the asymmetry in the envelope around the carbon star CIT 6

Cited by in corpus (6)

• Evidence of a Binary-Induced Spiral from an Incomplete Ring Pattern of CIT 6
• Templates of binary-induced spiral-shell patterns around mass-losing post-main sequence stars
• The Evolving Radio Photospheres of Long-Period Variable Stars
• An HI Imaging Survey of Asymptotic Giant Branch Stars
• The astrosphere of the Asymptotic Giant Branch star CIT 6
• Two-wind interactions in binaries with two orbiting giant stars