Monday, 16 October 2006 - 10:40 AM
Salon C (Doubletree Hotel at Reid Park)
77

The unexpected chemistry of an oxygen-rich supergiant, VY CMa

Stefanie N. Milam, Aldo J. Apponi, N.J. Woolf, and Lucy M. Ziurys. University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

Circumstellar envelopes have proven to provide an environment conducive to a rich chemistry. However, of the multiple objects studied, very few have been classified as oxygen-rich. The most chemically rich and well studied object is the carbon-rich asymptotic giant branch star, IRC+10216. Over 50 molecular species have been detected in this object including “oxygen-rich type” molecules such as C3O and H2CO. To further understand these environments and their unique chemistries, an investigation of the oxygen-rich Supergiant, VY CMa, is currently underway utilizing the Arizona Radio Observatory's 12m telescope and submillimeter telescope at λ = 1, 2 and 3 mm. This is one of the brightest infrared objects in the sky and is known to have a dense envelope with unique structure. VY CMa is classified as a cool hypergiant with multiple molecular masers including OH, SiO, and H2O – typical for an oxygen rich circumstellar envelope. Initial results of this survey include the detection three new molecular species for an oxygen-rich envelope including PN, NaCl, and HCO+. Isotopic substitutions for carbon, silicon, and sulfur have also been detected as well as five carbon-containing species beyond CO. The results of this survey will be presented as well as a comparison of oxygen vs. carbon-rich circumstellar chemistry.

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