Infrared Spectra and Visibilities as Probes of the Outer Atmospheres of Red Supergiant Stars

Abstract

In the light of the recent results of the stellar interferometry, we examine the nature of the extra molecular layer outside the photosphere of red super- giant stars, so far studied mostly with the use of the infrared spectra. Although the visibility data are more direct probes of the spatial structure of the outer atmosphere, it is essential that they are analyzed in combination with the spectral data of a wide spectral coverage. In the case of the M2 supergiant mu Cephei, several sets of data, both spectra and visibilities, strongly suggested the presence of an extra-molecular layer, and its basic parameters are estimated to be: excitation temperature T_ex = 1600 K, column densities of CO and H2O N_col = 3.0d+20/cm2, and inner radius R_in = 2.0R*. The result shows reasonable agreement with the one based on the infrared spectra alone, and this may be because the infrared spectra already include some information on the spatial structure of the outer atmosphere. It is important, however, that the model inferred from the spectra is now fully supported with the recent visibility data. In the case of the M2 supergiant alpha Orionis, the infrared spectra and visibilities show a consistent picture in that its molecular layer is closer to the photosphere (R_in = 1.3R*) with higher gas temperature (T_ex = 2250 K) and lower gas column density (N_col = 1.0d+20/cm2), compared with that of mu Cephei. Some controversy on the interpretation of the mid infrared data of alpha Orionis can be reconciled.

arXiv comment47 pages, 14 Postscript figures, to be published in the Astrophysical Journal

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