The Central Regions of M31 in the 3-5 μm Wavelength Region | Zendy

T. J. Davidge | Zendy; Joseph B. Jensen | Zendy; Knut Olsen | Zendy

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The Central Regions of M31 in the 3-5 μm Wavelength Region

Author(s) -

T. J. Davidge,

Joseph B. Jensen,

Knut Olsen

Publication year - 2006

Publication title -

the astronomical journal

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

SCImago Journal Rank - 2.61

H-Index - 271

eISSN - 1538-3881

pISSN - 0004-6256

DOI - 10.1086/505463

Subject(s) - physics , astrophysics , asymptotic giant branch , brightness , stars , astronomy , surface brightness , red giant , galaxy , wavelength , circumstellar envelope , optics

Images obtained with NIRI on the Gemini North telescope are used toinvestigate the photometric properties of the central regions of M31 in the 3 -5 micron wavelength range. The light distribution in the central arcseconddiffers from what is seen in the near-infrared in the sense that the differencein peak brigh tness between P1 and P2 is larger in M' than in K'; no obvioussignature of P3 is dete cted in M'. These results can be explained if there isa source of emission that contributes ~ 20% of the peak M' light of P1 and hasan effective temperature of no more than a few hundred K that is locatedbetween P1 and P2. Based on the red K-M' color of this source, it is suggestedthat the emission originates in a circumstellar dust shell surrounding a singlebright AGB star. A similar bright source that is ~ 8 arcsec from the center ofthe galaxy is also detected in M'. Finally, the (L', K-L') color-magnitudediagram of unblended stars shows a domin ant AGB population with photometriccharacteristics that are similar to those of the most luminous M giants in theGalactic bulge.Comment: To appear in the Astronomical Journa

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