E. Gonzalezalfonso et al., DETECTION OF (SIO)-SI-29 NU=3 J=8-]7 MASER EMISSION - A NEW IR SIO OVERLAP, Astronomy and astrophysics, 313(3), 1996, pp. 13-16
We have performed detailed radiative transfer calculations which show
that, in circumstellar envelopes of late-type stars, some submillimete
r rotational transitions of (SiO)-Si-29 and (SiO)-Si-30 can be inverte
d with amplification high enough to be detected. The pumping mechanism
is due to overlaps between re-vibrational lines of the three stable S
iO isotopomers. We present the detection of one of these lines, the v=
3 J=8-7 transition of (SiO)-Si-29, in four circumstellar sources. This
is the highest frequency SiO maser detected up to date, and provides
a strong confirmation of infrared SiO overlaps as efficient pumping ag
ents of SiO masers.