Dust Grains and Circumstellar Motion: The Problem of the Hen and the Egg

Author: Lafon J-P.J.  

Publisher: Springer Publishing Company

ISSN: 0004-640X

Source: Astrophysics and Space Science, Vol.274, Iss.1-2, 2000-01, pp. : 365-376

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Abstract

In the last ten years, the number of models of circumstellar envelopes has exponentially increased, both concerning evolved stars and forming stars with their planetary systems. The main progress was intoduction of chemistry and coupling with dynamics. However, paradoxically, the nucleation theories did not evolve at the same rate; moreover, dynamics and nucleation are rarely analysed at the same degree of accuracy: one is of them is always mostly drawing attention. At the same time observations showed the presence of dust grains at a lot of sites where it could not be expected from usual quasi equilibrium theories. Self consistent systems are omnipresent. Thus, it is important to distinguish causes and effects, even if the phenomena are are strongly coupled.