Direct imaging of mass transfer and circumcompanion structures in <i>π</i> ¹ Gru with VLTI/MATISSE

Aims. We investigate how the presence of a binary companion appears to affect dust and molecule formation in the circumstellar environment of a star on the asymptotic giant branch (AGB). Methods.L - and N -band observations obtained over the course of one month with the multi aperTure mid-infrared spectroScopic experiment instrument (MATISSE) at the very large telescope interferometer (VLTI) were used to constrain the distribution of dust and molecules in the close environment of π 1 Gru through image reconstruction. The reconstructed images were fit to the interferometric observables, that is, the visibilities and closure phases, using the two Python-based tools Python for MiRA ( PYRA ) and mean astrophysical images with PYRA ( MYTHRA ) built around the multi-aperture image reconstruction algorithm ( MiRA ). Results. Our observations support (i) a wind Roche-lobe overflow (WRLOF) scenario, where mass transfer from the AGB star to its companion produces a possible circumcompanion disk in the L band around π 1 Gru C, with a central cavity that likely traces dust sublimation and a circumcompanion envelope in the N band. (ii) A main-sequence nature for the companion: Because both Atacama large millimeter/submillimeter array (ALMA) and the VLTI/MATISSE N -band observations show emission, we favor a thermal infrared emission from the main-sequence star over free-free emission from a with dwarf companion. Finally, (iii) a plume-like structure extending from π 1 Gru C, likely marking the onset of the spiral observed at larger scales. Together, this provides direct evidence that links small-scale mass transfer and disk formation through WRLOF to the global circumstellar morphology. Conclusions. These results highlight the atmospheric deformation induced by the companion, reveal ongoing mass transfer between the evolved star and its companion, and indicate a circumcompanion disk-like structure.