Bibcode
Lambert, David; Rao, N. Kameswara; Garcia-Hernandez, D. A.
Bibliographical reference
Spitzer Proposal ID #50212
Advertised on:
3
2008
Citations
0
Refereed citations
0
Description
R Coronae Borealis stars (RCBs) provide an unique circumstellar
environment that is hydrogen-deficient, helium-rich and carbon-rich in
which dust condensation occurs. Litle is known about how and where the
dust condensation process, compositions of the dust, and the trigger for
dust formation. The hydrogen-poor carbon-rich and metal-poor (in some
cases) character of the gas may facilitate the formation of dust species
which are not seen in the interstellar medium or in envelopes of normal
stars. Spitzer/IRS spectroscopy offers a great opportunity to
characterize the infrared spectra of RCBs. Surprisingly, Spitzer has not
systematically observed a complete sample of RCB stars in the previous
four cycles and, thus, a comprehensive study of these dusty and
fascinating stars is at present lacking. Completely inadequate spectra
have been obtained from ground-based telescopes, even after nearly four
decades since the discovery of the IR excess of RCB stars. We propose to
obtain a library of Spitzer/IRS spectra of 18 RCB stars. Our goal is to
observe stars across the chemical composition range observed in RCBs and
to extend observations to the coolest RCB stars. These spectra will be
complemented with the existing Spitzer/IRS spectra of 12 warmer RCB
stars, creating a complete sample of 30 RCBs observed with Spitzer.
Present knowledge of the dust features in RCBs depends on our previous
ISO spectra of the 3 brightest RCB stars in the 3 to 25 micron region. A
representative inventory of infrared spectra and dust features in our
complete sample of RCB stars will provide important clues to the
composition and dust formation process in these unique stars.