Infrared Observations of Circumstellar Molecules

Abstract

This review presents an updated listing of infrared observations of circumstellar molecules. The compendium is restricted to the more abundant species with infrared spectra accessible to groundbased observations. No analysis is offered on the chemical importance of a particular species, and no attempt is made to correlate the infrared work with the much larger body of data available from radio frequency observations. Some discussions of these topics may be found in the more comprehensive reviews listed below. The observations described here include both the successful and the unrewarded efforts. Often the negative results from attempted observations are not widely disseminated, even though such results can sometimes be of significant theoretical value. Discussions of infrared stellar and circumstellar spectroscopy from other vantage points may be found in the following reviews. in 1979 Merrill and Ridgway surveyed the contributions of infrared spectroscopy to studies of stellar photospheres and the near circumstellar environment. The following year Zuckerman (1980) summarized the current state of knowledge on circumstellar molecular clouds with attention given to both infrared and microwave observations. Ridgway and Keady (1981) subsequently noted the importance of infrared spectroscopy for studies of circumstellar gas and dust in the star IRC + 10216. in 1983 Hinkle reviewed the high-resolution spectroscopy of late-type circumstellar shells in general but emphasized chemistry and kinematics. Finally, in the proceedings of the 1984 UCLA meeting on mass-loss, Omont (1985) reviewed the physical and chemical structure of circumstellar envelopes and IRC + 10216 in particular, and Wannier (1985) discussed the significance of infrared spectroscopy for studies of mass-loss in late-type stars.