Detection of 1612 MHz OH emission in the semiregular variable stars RT Vir, R Crt and W Hya

We present evidence of 1612 MHz emission in SR variable stars. The two SRb, RT Vir and R Crt, as well as the SRa W Hya have been monitored with the upgraded Nançay radio telescope since February 2001. All three objects have shown a weak 1612 MHz emission occuring in the velocity range of the strongest emission observed in the main-lines. Such a detection is the second observational evidence for emission in the 1612 MHz OH maser satellite line from SRb stars. It also confirms the presence of 1612 MHz emission in the SRa W Hya discovered by Etoka et al. (2001). Such a finding strongly suggests that the shell properties of those three objects are quite similar to those of the Mira stars with similar IR characteristics.