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Dust Formation in Evolved Stars
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 February 2009
Abstract
All stars end through a phase where they form copious amounts of dust either in a stellar outflow or following explosive events. The most efficient dust factories seem to be stars that evolve through the Red Giant stage and form for several 105 yrs, dust in a cool stellar wind. The dust returned by them triggers the interstellar dust cycle and therefore is vital for the matter cycling in space. We discuss the theoretical basis for calculating the dust production by such stars. First, some elements of the theory of chemical equilibrium condensation calculations are presented and it is then discussed how the concept of activities can be used to also study non-equilibrium condensation. Then we discuss how dust particle growth in stellar winds can be calculated and which kind of input data are required for such calculations. Finally some results for dust production by AGB stars are discussed.
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- Research Article
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- © EAS, EDP Sciences, 2009
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