Related papers: The evolutionary state of Miras with changing puls…
Atmospheres of evolved AGB stars are heavily affected by pulsation, dust formation and mass loss, and they can become very extended. Time series of observed high-resolution spectra proved to be a useful tool to study atmospheric dynamics…
Evolution of stars with initial masses $M_\mathrm{ZAMS}=1.1M_\odot$, $1.3M_\odot$, $1.5M_\odot$ and relative mass abundances of metals $Z=0.006$ and 0.02 was computed from the main sequence up to the final AGB stage. Selected models of…
S stars are transition objects between M-type giants and carbon stars on the asymptotic giant branch (AGB). They are characterized by overabundances of s-process elements. Roughly half of them are enhanced in technetium (Tc), an s-process…
The Mira variable R Hydrae is well known for its declining period, which Wood & Zarro (1981) attributed to a possible recent thermal pulse. Here we investigate the long-term period evolution, covering 340 years, going back to its discovery…
Mira variables share essential characteristics: High visual amplitude, periods of hundreds of days, red colors (spectral types M, S, and C), and the presence of emission lines at some phases. They are fundamental mode pulsators, with…
Pre-main sequence (PMS) stars evolve into main sequence (MS) phase over a period of time. Interestingly, we found a scarcity of studies in existing literature that examines and attempts to better understand the stars in PMS to MS transition…
Encoded in the time- and wavelength dependent properties of pulsating AGB stars are the underlying fundamental parameters of mass, composition and evolutionary state. However, the standard technique of placing stars on a HR diagram, even…
Context. The majority of stars that leave the main sequence are undergoing extensive mass loss, in particular during the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) phase of evolution. Observations show that the rate at which this phenomenon develops…
As part of a reanalysis of galactic Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) stars at infrared (IR) wavelengths, we discuss a sample (357) of carbon stars for which mass loss rates, near-IR photometry and distance estimates exist. For 252 sources we…
We present a new analysis of the long-period variables in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) from the MACHO Variable Star Catalog. Three-quarters of our sample of evolved, variable stars have periodic light curves. We characterize the stars…
Near-infrared, JHKL, photometry of 239 Galactic carbon-rich variable stars is presented and discussed. From these and published data the stars were classified as Mira or non-Mira variables and amplitudes and pulsation periods, ranging from…
We present the results of a near-infrared monitoring programme of a selected sample of stars, initially suspected to be Mira variables and OH/IR stars, covering more than a decade of observations. The objects monitored cover the typical…
We have carried out a new photometric V,Rc study of 12 protoplanetary nebulae, objects in the short-lived transition between the AGB and PN phases of stellar evolution. These had been the subjects of an earlier study, using data from…
Context: In a recent publication, we established a close relationship between light-curve asymmetries in Mira variables and indicators of their dust mass-loss rate. The light-curve asymmetries appear to be related to the stars' third…
We have identified 22 new variable red giants in 47 Tuc and determined periods for another 8 previously known variables. All red giants redder than V-I_c=1.8 are variable at the limits of our detection threshold, which corresponds to delta…
The outflows of oxygen-rich asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars are thought to be driven by radiation pressure by photon scattering on grains with sizes of tenths of microns. The details of the formation of dust in the extended atmospheres…
To search for phase lags in the optical-infrared light curves of asymptotic giant branch stars, we have compared infrared data from the COBE DIRBE satellite with optical light curves from the AAVSO and other sources. We found 17 examples of…
Our understanding of large amplitude pulsating stars and their status in stellar evolution is briefly reviewed. The paper then describes the near-infrared light curves of various asymptotic giant branch stars, concentrating on possible…
In a shallow near-infrared survey of the dwarf Irregular galaxy, NGC 3109, near the periphery of the Local Group, we have found eight Mira variables, seven of which appear to be oxygen-rich (O-Miras). The periods range from about 430 days…
We present period-luminosity diagrams for nearby Miras and semiregulars, selecting stars with parallaxes better than 20 per cent and well-determined periods. Using K-band magnitudes, we find two well-defined P-L sequences, one corresponding…