TY - JOUR A1 - Tramper, F. A1 - Straal, S. M. A1 - Sanyal, D. A1 - Sana, Hugues A1 - de Koter, A. A1 - Gräfener, G. A1 - Langer, N. A1 - Vink, J. S. A1 - de Mink, S. E. A1 - Kaper, L. T1 - Massive Wolf-Rayet stars on the verge to explode BT - the properties of the WO stars JF - Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.–5. June 2015 N2 - The enigmatic oxygen-sequence Wolf-Rayet stars represent a rare stage in the evolution of massive stars. Their properties can provide unique constraints on the pre-supernova evolution of massive stars. This work presents the results of a quantitative spectroscopic analysis of the known single WO stars, with the aim to obtain the key stellar parameters and deduce their evolutionary state.X-Shooter spectra of the WO stars are modeled using the line-blanketed non-local thermal equilibrium atmosphere code cmfgen. The obtained stellar parameters show that the WO stars are very hot, with temperatures ranging from 150 kK to 210 kK. Their chemical composition is dominated by carbon (>50%), while the helium mass fraction is very low (down to 14%). Oxygen mass fractions reach as high as 25%. These properties can be reproduced with dedicated evolutionary models for helium stars, which show that the stars are post core-helium burning and very close to their eventual supernova explosion. The helium-star masses indicate initial masses or approximately 40 - 60M⊙.Thus, WO stars represent the final evolutionary stage of stars with estimated initial masses of 40 - 60M⊙. They are post core-helium burning and may explode as type Ic supernovae within a few thousand years. Y1 - 2015 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-87786 SP - 109 EP - 112 ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Vink, J. S. A1 - Benaglia, P. A1 - Davies, B. A1 - de Koter, A. A1 - Oudmaijer, R. D. T1 - Advances in mass-loss predictions N2 - We present the results of Monte Carlo mass-loss predictions for massive stars covering a wide range of stellar parameters. We critically test our predictions against a range of observed massloss rates – in light of the recent discussions on wind clumping. We also present a model to compute the clumping-induced polarimetric variability of hot stars and we compare this with observations of Luminous Blue Variables, for which polarimetric variability is larger than for O and Wolf-Rayet stars. Luminous Blue Variables comprise an ideal testbed for studies of wind clumping and wind geometry, as well as for wind strength calculations, and we propose they may be direct supernova progenitors. Y1 - 2007 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-17948 ER - TY - CHAP A1 - de Koter, A. A1 - Vink, J. S. A1 - Muijres, L. T1 - Constraints on wind clumping from the empirical mass-loss vs. metallicity relation for early-type stars N2 - We present the latest results on the observational dependence of the mass-loss rate in stellar winds of O and early-B stars on the metal content of their atmospheres, and compare these with predictions. Absolute empirical rates for the mass loss of stars brighter than 10$^{5.2} L_{\odot}$, based on H$\alpha$ and ultraviolet (UV) wind lines, are found to be about a factor of two higher than predictions. If this difference is attributed to inhomogeneities in the wind this would imply that luminous O and early-B stars have clumping factors in their H$\alpha$ and UV line forming regime of about a factor of 3--5. The investigated stars cover a metallicity range $Z$ from 0.2 to 1 $Z_{\odot}$. We find a hint towards smaller clumping factors for lower $Z$. The derived clumping factors, however, presuppose that clumping does not impact the predictions of the mass-loss rate. We discuss this assumption and explain how we intend to investigate its validity in more detail. Y1 - 2007 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-17736 ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Vink, J. S. T1 - Discussion: Hydrodynamic modeling Y1 - 2007 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-18046 ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Davies, B. A1 - Vink, J. S. A1 - Oudmaijer, R. D. T1 - Modelling the polarimetric variability of hot stars N2 - Many hot stars exhibit stochastic polarimetric variability, thought to arise from clumping low in the wind. Here we investigate the wind properties required to reproduce this variability using analytic models, with particular emphasis on Luminous Blue Variables. We find that the winds must be highly structured, consisting of a large number of optically-thin clumps; while we find that the overall level of polarization should scale with mass-loss rate – consistent with observations of LBVs. The models also predict variability on very short timescales, which is supported by the results of a recent polarimetric monitoring campaign. Y1 - 2007 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-17939 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Vink, J. S. T1 - The True origin of Wolf-Rayet stars JF - Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.–5. June 2015 N2 - The Wolf-Rayet (WR) phenomenon is widespread in astronomy. It involves classical WRs, very massive stars (VMS), WR central stars of planetary nebula CSPN [WRs], and supernovae (SNe). But what is the root cause for a certain type of object to turn into an emission-line star? In this contribution, I discuss the basic aspects of radiation-driven winds that might reveal the ultimate difference between WR stars and canonical O-type stars. I discuss the aspects of (i) self-enrichment via CNO elements, (ii) high effective temperatures (Tₑff), (iii) an increase in the helium abundance (Y ), and finally (iv) the Eddington factor Γₑ. Over the last couple of years, we have made a breakthrough in our understanding of Γₑ -dependent mass loss, which will have far-reaching consequences for the evolution and fate of the most massive stars in the Universe. Finally, I discuss the prospects for studies of the WR phenomenon in the highest redshift Lyα and He ii emitting galaxies. Y1 - 2015 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-87848 SP - 133 EP - 138 ER -