Grazia Umana (Catalina Astrophysical Observatory)

The nebulae around Luminous Blue Variables (LBVs): a multi-wavelengths approach-- Grazia Umana Colloquium

Marsfield Lecture Theatre

Abstract

We present a study of a sample of Galactic LBV, aimed at contributing to a better understanding of the LBV phenomenon, by recovering the mass-loss history of the central object from the analysis of its associated nebula.
Physical properties of the Nebulae have been derived by a synergistic use of different techniques, at different wavelengths, to obtain high-resolution, multi-wavelength maps, tracing the different emitting components coexisting in the stellar ejecta: the ionized/neutral gas and the dust.
Evidence for asymmetric mass-loss and possible mutual interaction between gas and dust components have
been observed by the comparison of mid-IR and radio images of the nebulae, while important information on the gas and dust composition have been derived from mid-IR spectra.