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Synthesis of Organic and Inorganic Compounds in Asymptotic Giant Branch Stars Kwok, Sun

Abstract

After the synthesis of carbon in the core of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars, carbon is dredged up to the surface by convection. Many carbon-based molecules are formed in the subsequently developed stellar wind. These include acetylene, which can link together to form benzene in post-AGB evolution. The emergence of the spectral signatures of aromatic and aliphatic compounds in the transition phase between AGB stars and planetary nebulae suggests that complex organic compounds can be formed in the circumstellar environment over very short (103 yr) timescales. We suggest that the carrier of the family of unidentified infrared emission bands is an amorphous carbonaceous compound—mixed aromatic/aliphatic nanoparticles (MAONs). The implications of the synthesis of complex organics in evolved stars are discussed.

Item Metadata

Title
Synthesis of Organic and Inorganic Compounds in Asymptotic Giant Branch Stars
Creator
Kwok, Sun
Publisher
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Date Issued
2024-10-11
Description
After the synthesis of carbon in the core of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars, carbon is dredged up to the surface by convection. Many carbon-based molecules are formed in the subsequently developed stellar wind. These include acetylene, which can link together to form benzene in post-AGB evolution. The emergence of the spectral signatures of aromatic and aliphatic compounds in the transition phase between AGB stars and planetary nebulae suggests that complex organic compounds can be formed in the circumstellar environment over very short (103 yr) timescales. We suggest that the carrier of the family of unidentified infrared emission bands is an amorphous carbonaceous compound—mixed aromatic/aliphatic nanoparticles (MAONs). The implications of the synthesis of complex organics in evolved stars are discussed.
Subject
asymptotic giant branch stars; planetary nebulae; molecules; infrared bands; infrared spectroscopy
Genre
Article
Type
Text
Language
eng
Date Available
2024-10-28
Provider
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
Rights
CC BY 4.0
DOI
10.14288/1.0447148
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/2429/89550
Affiliation
Science, Faculty of; Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of
Citation
Galaxies 12 (5): 64 (2024)
Publisher DOI
10.3390/galaxies12050064
Peer Review Status
Reviewed
Scholarly Level
Faculty; Researcher
Rights URI
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Aggregated Source Repository
DSpace

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CC BY 4.0