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Spitzer observations of molecules and dust in evolved stars in nearby galaxies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 October 2010

Mikako Matsuura*
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom; email: mikako@star.ucl.ac.uk
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Molecules and dust are formed in and around the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars and supernovae (SNe), and are ejected into the interstellar medium (ISM) through the stellar wind. The dust and gas contain elements newly synthesised in stars, thus, dying stars play an important role in the chemical enrichment of the ISM of galaxies. However, quantitative analysis of molecules and dust in these stars had been difficult beyond our Galaxy. The high sensitivity instruments on-board the Spitzer Space Telescope (SST; Werner et al. 2004) have enabled us to study dust and molecules in these stars in nearby galaxies. Nearby galaxies have a wide range in metallicity, thus the impact of the metallicity on dust and gas production can be studied. This study will be useful for chemical evolution of galaxies from low to high metallicity.

Type
Contributed Papers
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2010

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