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American Astronomical Society, Astrophysical Journal, 2(656), p. 1150-1166, 2007

DOI: 10.1086/510480

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Adaptive Optics Imaging of IRAS 18276−1431: A Bipolar Preplanetary Nebula with Circumstellar “Searchlight Beams” and “Arcs”

Journal article published in 2007 by C. Sanchez Contreras, D. Le Mignant, R. Sahai, A. Gil de Paz ORCID, M. Morris
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

We present high angular resolution images of the post-AGB nebula IRAS 18276-1431 (also known as OH 17.7-2.0) obtained with the Keck II adaptive optics (AO) system in its natural guide star (NGS) mode in the Kp, L p, and Ms near-infrared bands. We also present supporting optical F606W and F814W HST images as well as interferometric observations of the 12CO J = 1-0, 13CO J = 1-0, and 2.6 mm continuum emission with OVRO. The envelope of IRAS 18276-1431 displays a clear bipolar morphology in our optical and NIR images with two lobes separated by a dark waist and surrounded by a faint 4.5″ × 3.4″ halo. Our K p-band image reveals two pairs of radial "searchlight beams" emerging from the nebula center and several intersecting, arclike features. From our CO data we derive a mass of M > 0.38(D/3 kpc)2 M⊙ and an expansion velocity Vexp = 17 kms-1 for the molecular envelope. The density in the halo follows a radial power law ∝r-3, which is consistent with a mass-loss rate increasing with time. Analysis of the NIR colors indicates the presence of a compact central source of ∼300-500 K dust illuminating the nebula in addition to the central star. Modeling of the thermal IR suggests a two-shell structure in the dust envelope: (1) an outer shell with inner and outer radius Rin ∼ 1.6 × 1016 and Rout ≳ 1.25 × 10 17 cm, dust temperature Tdust ∼ 105-50 K, and a mean mass-loss rate of M ≈ 10-3 M⊙ yr-1; and (2) an inner shell with Rin ∼ 6.3 × 1014 cm, Tdust ∼ 500-105 K, and Ṁ ∼ 3 × 10-5 M⊙ yr-1. An additional population of big dust grains (radius a ≳; 0.4 mm) with Tdust 150-20 K and mass M dust = (0.16-1.6) × 10-3 (D/3 kpc)2 M⊙can account for the observed submillimeter and millimeter flux excess. The mass of the envelope enclosed within Aout = 1.25 × 1017 cm derived from SED modeling is ∼1 (D/ 3 kpc)2 Ṁ. © 2007. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.