Spectroscopic and photometric monitoring of a poorly known high-luminous OH/IR star: IRAS 18278+0931

Abstract

We present the time-dependent properties of a poorly known OH/IR star $-$ IRAS 18278+0931 (hereafter, IRAS 18+09) towards the Ophiuchus constellation. We have carried out long-term optical/near-infrared (NIR) photometric and spectroscopic observations to study the object. From optical $R$- and $I$-band light curves, the period of IRAS 18+09 is estimated to be 575 $\pm$ 30 days and the variability amplitudes range from $\Delta$R $\sim$ 4.0 mag to $\Delta$I $\sim$ 3.5 mag. From the standard Period-Luminosity (PL) relations, the distance ($D$) to the object, 4.0 $\pm$ 1.3 kpc, is estimated. Applying this distance in the radiative transfer model, the spectral energy distribution (SED) are constructed from multi-wavelength photometric and IRAS-LRS spectral data which provides the luminosity, optical depth, and gas mass-loss rate (MLR) of the object to be 9600 $\pm$ 500 $L_{\odot }$, 9.1 $\pm$ 0.6 at 0.55 $\mu$m and 1.0$\times$10${}^{-6}$ M${}_{\odot }$ yr${}^{-1}$, respectively. The current mass of the object infers in the range 1.0 $-$ 1.5 $M_{\odot }$ assuming solar metallicity. Notably, the temporal variation of atomic and molecular features (e.g., TiO, Na I, Ca I, CO, H${}_2$O) over the pulsation cycle of the OH/IR star illustrates the sensitivity of the spectral features to the dynamical atmosphere as observed in pulsating AGB stars.

14 pages, 7 figures, 5 tables. Accepted for publication in AJ

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