2007/03/28 by C. J. Wareing, C J Wareing, A. A. Zijlstra +3 · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #Astro and Planetary Science #Astronomy #Astrophysics #Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies #Asymptotic giant branch #Bow shock (aerodynamics) #Galaxy #Interstellar medium #Mechanics #Nebula #Physics #Planetary nebula #Shock wave #Stars #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies #Vortex #Wake #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1086/518308
ApJL accepted, preprint form, 13 pages including 4 pages of figures
arxiv created 2007/03/28 · openalex publication_date 2007/04/06 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
Vortices have been postulated at a range of size scales in the universe, including at the stellar-size scale. While hydrodynamically simulating the wind from an asymptotic giant branch (AGB) star moving through and sweeping up its surrounding interstellar medium (ISM), we have found vortices on the size scale of 10 -1 to 10 1 pc in the wake of the star. These vortices appear to be the result of instabilities at the head of the bow shock formed upstream of the AGB star. The instabilities peel off downstream and form vortices in the tail of AGB material behind the bow shock, mixing with the surrounding ISM. We suggest such structures are visible in the planetary nebula Sh 2-188.