Tracing the Development of Dust around Evolved Stars: The Case of 47 Tuc

Abstract

We observed mid-infrared (7.5-22 µm) spectra of AGB stars in the globular cluster 47 Tuc with the Spitzer telescope and find significant dust features of various types. Comparison of the characteristics of the dust spectra with the location of the stars in a logP-K-diagram shows that dust mineralogy and position on the AGB are related. A 13 µm feature is seen in spectra of low luminosity AGB stars. More luminous AGB stars show a broad feature at 11.5 µm. The spectra of the most luminous stars are dominated by the amorphous silicate bending vibration centered at 9.7 µm. For 47 Tuc AGB stars, we conclude that early on the AGB dust consisting primarily of Mg-, Al-and Fe oxides is formed. With further AGB evolution amorphous silicates become the dominant species.