Contents of: VI/111/./abstract/MCLAMPIN_LBV_1.abs

The following document lists the file abstract/MCLAMPIN_LBV_1.abs from catalogue VI/111.
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 We are proposing to use  ISO to investigate the presence, and
 characterize the physical properties of dust around a selected
 sample of hot evolved stars populating the upper part of the HR
 Diagram: LBVs, Ofpe/WN9 and B[e] stars . Some of these stars are
 known to show presence of dust in their circumstellar environment,
 from ground-based near-IR and IRAS data. The fact that dust grains do
 exist in the winds and/or in the close vicinities of these hot objects
 suggests that the conditions are present  which increase the chances
 for the formation and survival of grains.  It is clear then that
 determining the distribution and the properties of grains in these
 circumstellar shells will provide vital clues on the stars' modes of
 losing mass and, therefore, vital clues on their evolution. We will
 take advantage of ISO's unique capabilities to determine the
 properties and the distribution of  this dust. We will use ISOCAM
 to spatially resolve the  dust population in the range  3-15 microns,
 and to study selected emission features, in order to characterize
 dust size and composition.  We will clarify the relationship of dust
 grains to the gaseous components of both the stellar wind and the
 stationary circumstellar envelopes.  We will use ISOPHOT to
 investigate the properties of the cool dust, and to extend our
 present knowledge  to the completely new spectral range 100 -- 200
 micron. We will attempt to understand the mechanism regulating the
 formation and survival of the dust grains in such a close proximity
 to these hot stars, thus constraining temperature and density
 conditions in the inner circumstellar region. This information will
 complement our extensive studies of circumstellar shells around
 LBVs, and Ofpe/WN9 stars, performed over several years of corono-
 graphic and spectroscopic ground based and HST observations.