3D reconstruction of the environment of the red supergiant μCep from NOEMA observations of the CO v=0 J=2-1 line
Abstract
Red supergiant stars are surrounded by a circumstellar environment containing gas and dust. It is created as the star loses its mantle via an unknown mass-loss process. Refining our knowledge of the morphology and physics of such environments is critical to understanding the processes that drive this mass loss. This mass loss phenomenon is also a key element to determine the fate of the star, as it directly determines the mass of the supernova progenitor and hence of the remaining compact object. We present the result of our observations of the CO v=0 J=2-1 emission line of the RSG μ Cep with the NOEMA interferometer at the arcsec angular resolution scale (∼ 500 au at the star distance). Using a combination of 3D deprojection and 3D radiative transfer modeling, we show that at least 25% of the mass loss is due to clumps, randomly arranged in space and emitted episodically by the star.