The outer atmosphere of the M-type supergiant alpha Orionis: KI 7699A emission

Spatially-resolved high-resolution long-slit spectra of Betelgeuse’s circumstellar shell are described for a spectral window centered on the 7699\AA resonance line of neutral potassium. The K I emission from resonance fluorescent scattering of photospheric photons which is mapped out to 50 arcsec from the star is approximately spherically symmetric with a brightness decreasing as r^{-2.36 \pm 0.03}, where $r$ is the radial distance from the star. Our measurements together with the earlier theoretical interpretation by Rodgers & Glassgold suggest that the mass loss rate is about 2 . 10^{-6} solar mass/year. The K I emission is far from homogeneous: intensity inhomogeneities are seen down to the seeing limit of about 1 arcsec and the velocity resolution of about 2 km/s. There is clear evidence for a thin shell of 50 arcsec radius. This is identified with the weaker circumstellar absorption component known as S2. Estimates are made of the density of K atoms in this shell (approx. 6 . 10^{-5} cm^{-3}).