THE FIRST 8-13 MICRON SPECTRA OF ASYMPTOTIC GIANT BRANCH STARS IN THEMAGELLANIC-CLOUDS

We have obtained 8-13 mu m spectra of two asymptotic giant branch star s in the Magellanic Clouds (MCs) and report the first detection of dus t features in AGE stars in the MCs. The long-period variable (LPV) TRM 60 (P = 1260 days) in the LMC displays silicate absorption, and the L PV GM 103 (P = 1070 days) in the SMC shows silicate emission. The pres ence of silicates confirms previous observations using different techn iques that these stars are oxygen rich. By modeling the spectral energ y distributions and 8-13 mu m spectra with a dust radiative transfer m odel we find that although the two stars have similar high luminositie s their dust optical depths differ by a factor of 10. A similar analys is was carried out for a Galactic OH/IR star of comparable period. The results for these three stars suggest that the mass-loss rate increas es with metallicity in AGE stars.