2006/11/17 by S. Muller, S. Müller, Dinh‐V‐Trung +8 · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy #Astrophysics #Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies #Bipolar outflow #Circumstellar envelope #Computer science #Envelope (radar) #Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena #Line-of-sight #Millimeter #Optics #Physics #Red supergiant #Star formation #Stars #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies #Submillimeter Array #Supergiant #Telecommunications #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1086/510513
published as Astrophys.J.656:1109-1120,2007 · accepted for publication in ApJ
arxiv created 2006/11/17 · openalex publication_date 2007/02/14 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
We present millimeter interferometric observations of the molecular envelope around the red supergiant VY CMa with the Submillimeter Array (SMA). The high angular resolution (<2'') allows us to derive the structure of the envelope as observed in the 1.3 mm continuum, 12 CO(2-1), 13 CO(2-1), and SO(6 5 -5 4 ) lines emission. The circumstellar envelope is resolved into three components: (1) a dense, compact, and dusty central component, embedded in (2) a more diffuse and extended envelope, and (3) a high-velocity component. We construct a simple model, consisting of a spherically symmetric slowly expanding envelope and bipolar outflows with a wide opening angle (~120°) viewed close to the line of sight ( i = 15°). Our model can explain the main features of the SMA data and previous single-dish CO multiline observations. An episode of enhanced mass loss along the bipolar direction is inferred from our modeling. The SMA data provide a better understanding of the complicated morphology seen in the optical/IR high-resolution observations.