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arXiv · 0802.0893

On the Luminosity and Mass Loss of Galactic AGB Stars

Abstract

As part of a reanalysis of Galactic Asymptotic Giant Branch stars (hereafter AGB stars) at infrared wavelengths, we discuss here two samples (the first of carbon-rich stars, the second of S stars) for which photometry in the near- and mid-IR and distance estimates are available. Whenever possible we searched also for mass-loss rates. The observed spectral energy distributions extended in all cases up to 20 $μ$m and for the best-observed sources up to 45 $μ$m. The wide wavelength coverage allows us to obtain reliable bolometric corrections, and hence bolometric magnitudes. We show that mid-IR fluxes are crucial for estimating bolometric magnitudes for stars with dusty envelopes and that the so-called luminosity problem of C stars (i.e. the suggestion that they are less luminous than predicted by models) does not appear to exist.

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R. Guandalini, M. Busso, M. Cardinali. 2008-02-06. On the Luminosity and Mass Loss of Galactic AGB Stars. https://arxiv.org/abs/0802.0893

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