Three-dimensional simulations of the atmosphere of an AGB star

Context. Winds of asymptotic giant branch stars are assumed to be driven by radiation pressure on dust. Previously, this process has been modeled with detailed time-dependent simulations of atmospheres and winds assuming spherically symmetric flows. In such models kinetic energy is injected by a variable inner boundary (“piston”) simulating the effects of stellar pulsation. However, the dynamical processes in these atmospheres – convection and pulsations – are actually three-dimensional.