Astronomy and Astrophysics Letters dedicated to ISO

The rich spectrum of circumstellar PAHs

D.A. Beintema, M.E. van den Ancker, F.J. Molster, L.B.F.M. Waters, A.G.G.M. Tielens, C. Waelkens, T. de Jong, Th. de Graauw, K. Justtanont, I. Yamamura, A. Heras, F. Lahuis, A. Salama

Abstract:

We present observations taken with the Short Wavelength Spectrometer (SWS) on board the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) of three evolved C-rich stars, the post-AGB star HR 4049 and two planetary nebulae, IRAS21282+5050 and NGC 7027. The spectra are dominated by the well-known infrared emission bands, attributed to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). The SWS spectra for the first time allow a complete overview of the richness of the PAH spectrum with high spectral resolution and high S/N. We present an inventory of the spectral features in the 2.4-17  micron wavelength window.

Keywords:
Stars: AGB and post-AGB - Stars: mass loss - Dust - Planetary Nebulae - Infrared: stars

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