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Abstract Emission lines from Rydberg transitions are detected for the first time from a region close to the surface of Betelgeuse. The H30αline is observed at 231.905 GHz, with an FWHM ∼42 km s⁻¹and extended wings. A second line at 232.025 GHz (FWHM ∼21 km s⁻¹), is modeled as a combination of Rydberg transitions of abundant low first ionization potential metals. Both H30αand the Rydberg combined line X30αare fitted by Voigt profiles, and collisional broadening with electrons may be partly responsible for the Lorentzian contribution, indicating electron densities of a few 10⁸cm⁻³. X30αis located in a relatively smooth ring at a projected radius of 0.9× the optical photospheric radiusR_⋆, whereas H30αis more clumpy, reaching a peak at ∼1.4R_⋆. We use a semiempirical thermodynamic atmospheric model of Betelgeuse to compute the 232 GHz (1.29 mm) continuum and line profiles making simple assumptions. Photoionized abundant metals dominate the electron density, and the predicted surface of continuum optical depth unity at 232 GHz occurs at ∼1.3R_⋆, in good agreement with observations. Assuming a Saha–Boltzmann distribution for the level populations of Mg, Si, and Fe, the model predicts that the X30αemission arises in a region of radially increasing temperature and turbulence. Inclusion of ionized C and non-LTE effects could modify the integrated fluxes and location of emission. These simulations confirm the identity of the Rydberg transition lines observed toward Betelgeuse and reveal that such diagnostics can improve future atmospheric models. 

Abstract Intense mass loss through cool, low-velocity winds is a defining characteristic of low-to-intermediate mass stars during the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) evolutionary stage. Such winds return up ∼80% of the initial stellar mass to the interstellar medium and play a major role in enriching it with dust and heavy elements. A challenge to understanding the physics underlying AGB mass loss is its dependence on an interplay between complex and highly dynamic processes, including pulsations, convective flows, shocks, magnetic fields, and opacity changes resulting from dust and molecule formation. I highlight some examples of recent advances in our understanding of late-stage stellar mass loss that are emerging from radio and (sub)millimeter observations, with a particular focus on those that resolve the surfaces and extended atmospheres of evolved stars in space, time, and frequency. 

Abstract We report the detection of 15 GHz radio continuum emission associated with the classical Cepheid variable starδCephei (δCep) based on observations with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array. Our results constitute the first probable detection of radio continuum emission from a classical Cepheid. We observed the star at pulsation phaseϕ≈ 0.43 (corresponding to the phase of maximum radius and minimum temperature) during three pulsation cycles in late 2018 and detected statistically significant emission (>5σ) during one of the three epochs. The observed radio emission appears to be variable at a ≳10% level on timescales of days to weeks. We also present an upper limit on the 10 GHz flux density at pulsation phaseϕ= 0.31 from an observation in 2014. We discuss possible mechanisms that may produce the observed 15 GHz emission, but cannot make a conclusive identification from the present data. The emission does not appear to be consistent with originating from a close-in, late-type dwarf companion, although this scenario cannot yet be strictly excluded. Previous X-ray observations have shown thatδCep undergoes periodic increases in X-ray flux during pulsation phaseϕ≈ 0.43. The lack of radio detection in two out of three observing epochs atϕ≈ 0.43 suggests that either the radio emission is not linked with a particular pulsation phase, or else that the strength of the generated radio emission in each pulsation cycle is variable. 

ScatteringOptics.jl is an astronomy software package developed in the Julia programming language (Bezanson et al., 2017). It implements physical models for the anisotropic scattering of radio waves, which arise from turbulence in the ionized interstellar medium. This toolkit excels in simulating and modeling the temporal, spatial, and spectral effects of interstellar scintillation in the strong scattering regime, taking advantage of Julia’s speed and composability. The package provides essential functionalities for modeling, analyzing, and interpreting the images of the Galactic Center’s supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A*, especially with the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), as well as the images of extremely high brightness temperature emissions in active galactic nuclei using space very long baseline interferometry. 

We present a compendium of HI 21-cm line observations of circumstellar envelopes (CSEs) of 290 evolved stars, mostly (~84%) on the asymptotic giant branch (AGB), made with the 100 m-class, single-dish Nançay Radio Telescope. The observational and data reduction procedures were optimised to separate genuine CSE HI emission from surrounding Galactic line features. For most targets (254), the results have not been previously published. Clear detections were made of 34 objects, for 33 of which the total HI flux and the size of the CSE could be determined. Possible detections were made of 21 objects, and upper limits could be determined for 95 undetected targets, while for 140 objects confusion from Galactic HI emission along the line of sight precluded meaningful upper limits. The collective results of this survey can provide guidance on the detectability of circumstellar HI gas for future mapping and imaging studies. 

The East Asian VLBI Network (EAVN) is an international VLBI facility in East Asia and is operated under mutual collaboration between East Asian countries, as well as part of Southeast Asian and European countries. EAVN currently consists of 16 radio telescopes and three correlators located in China, Japan, and Korea, and is operated mainly at three frequency bands, 6.7, 22, and 43 GHz with the longest baseline length of 5078 km, resulting in the highest angular resolution of 0.28 milliarcseconds at 43 GHz. One of distinct capabilities of EAVN is multi-frequency simultaneous data reception at nine telescopes, which enable us to employ the frequency phase transfer technique to obtain better sensitivity at higher observing frequencies. EAVN started its open-use program in the second half of 2018, providing a total observing time of more than 1100 h in a year. EAVN fills geographical gap in global VLBI array, resulting in enabling us to conduct contiguous high-resolution VLBI observations. EAVN has produced various scientific accomplishments especially in observations toward active galactic nuclei, evolved stars, and star-forming regions. These activities motivate us to initiate launch of the ’Global VLBI Alliance’ to provide an opportunity of VLBI observation with the longest baselines on the earth.