Evolved stars: probing the effect of binaries and magnetic fields
by
Wouter Vlemmings(Onsala Space Observatory, Chalmers)
→
Europe/Stockholm
FB52
FB52
Description
Stars with a mass up to a few solar masses are one of the main
contributors to the enrichment of the interstellar medium in dust and
heavy elements. However, while significant progress has been made, the
process of the mass-loss responsible for this enrichment is still not
exactly known and forces beyond radiation pressure might be
required. Often, the mass lost in the last phases of the stars life
will become a spectacular planetary nebula. The shaping process of
often strongly a-spherical PNe is equally elusive. Both binaries and
magnetic fields have been suggested to be possible agents although a
combination of both might also be a natural explanation. I will
present recent radio- and (sub)millimeter observations of AGB stars
and PNe that provide information on both magnetic fields and
binaries. I will in particular focus on the first cycle-0 ALMA evolved
star observations and the very first mapping of thermal molecular line
polarization of AGB circumstellar envelopes.
