Relation of SiO maser emission to IR radiation in evolved stars based on the MSX observation

Abstract

Based on the space MSX observation in bands A(8$μ$m), C(12$μ$m), D(15$μ$m) and E(21$μ$m), and the ground SiO maser observation of evolved stars by the Nobeyama 45-m telescope in the v=1 and v=2 J=1-0 transitions, the relation between SiO maser emission and mid-IR continuum radiation is analyzed. The relation between SiO maser emission and the IR radiation in the MSX bands A, C, D and E is all clearly correlated. The SiO maser emission can be explained by a radiative pumping mechanism according to its correlation with infrared radiation in the MSX band A.