@article{SundeGrijsSubramanianetal.2017, author = {Sun, Ning-Chen and de Grijs, Richard and Subramanian, Smitha and Cioni, Maria-Rosa L. and Rubele, Stefano and Bekki, Kenji and Ivanov, Valentin D. and Piatti, Andr{\´e}s E. and Ripepi, Vincenzo}, title = {The VMC Survey. XXII. Hierarchical star formation in the 30 Doradus-N158-N159-N160 star-forming complex}, series = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics}, volume = {835}, journal = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics}, number = {2}, publisher = {Institute of Physics Publ.}, address = {Bristol}, issn = {0004-637X}, doi = {10.3847/1538-4357/835/2/171}, pages = {10}, year = {2017}, abstract = {We study the hierarchical stellar structures in a similar to 1.5 deg(2) area covering the 30. Doradus-N158-N159-N160 starforming complex with the VISTA Survey of. Magellanic Clouds. Based on the young upper main-sequence stars, we find that the surface densities cover a wide range of values, from log(Sigma.pc(2))less than or similar to -2.0 to log(Sigma. pc(2)) greater than or similar to 0.0. Their distributions are highly non-uniform, showing groups that frequently have subgroups inside. The sizes of the stellar groups do not exhibit characteristic values, and range continuously from several parsecs to more than 100. pc; the cumulative size distribution can be well described by a single power law, with the power-law index indicating a projected fractal dimension D-2 = 1.6 +/- 0.3. We suggest that the phenomena revealed here support a scenario of hierarchical star formation. Comparisons with other star-forming regions and galaxies are also discussed.}, language = {en} } @article{SundeGrijsSubramanianetal.2017, author = {Sun, Ning-Chen and de Grijs, Richard and Subramanian, Smitha and Bekki, Kenji and Bell, Cameron P. M. and Cioni, Maria-Rosa L. and Ivanov, Valentin D. and Marconi, Marcella and Oliveira, Joana M. and Piatti, Andres E. and Ripepi, Vincenzo and Rubele, Stefano and Tatton, Ben L. and van Loon, Jacco Th.}, title = {The VMC Survey. XXII. Hierarchical Star Formation in the 30 Doradus-N158-N159-N160 Star-forming Complex}, series = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics}, volume = {849}, journal = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics}, publisher = {IOP Publ. Ltd.}, address = {Bristol}, issn = {0004-637X}, doi = {10.3847/1538-4357/aa911e}, pages = {16}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Star formation is a hierarchical process, forming young stellar structures of star clusters, associations, and complexes over a wide range of scales. The star-forming complex in the bar region of the Large Magellanic Cloud is investigated with upper main-sequence stars observed by the VISTA Survey of the Magellanic Clouds. The upper main-sequence stars exhibit highly nonuniform distributions. Young stellar structures inside the complex are identified from the stellar density map as density enhancements of different significance levels. We find that these structures are hierarchically organized such that larger, lower-density structures contain one or several smaller, higher-density ones. They follow power-law size and mass distributions, as well as a lognormal surface density distribution. All these results support a scenario of hierarchical star formation regulated by turbulence. The temporal evolution of young stellar structures is explored by using subsamples of upper main-sequence stars with different magnitude and age ranges. While the youngest subsample, with a median age of log(tau/yr) = 7.2, contains the most substructure, progressively older ones are less and less substructured. The oldest subsample, with a median age of log(tau/yr) = 8.0, is almost indistinguishable from a uniform distribution on spatial scales of 30-300. pc, suggesting that the young stellar structures are completely dispersed on a timescale of similar to 100. Myr. These results are consistent with the characteristics of the 30. Doradus complex and the entire Large Magellanic Cloud, suggesting no significant environmental effects. We further point out that the fractal dimension may be method dependent for stellar samples with significant age spreads.}, language = {en} } @article{SteinkeOskinovaHamannetal.2016, author = {Steinke, Martin and Oskinova, Lida and Hamann, Wolf-Rainer and Sander, Andreas Alexander Christoph and Liermann, A. and Todt, Helge Tobias}, title = {Analysis of the WN star WR102c, its WR nebula, and the associated cluster of massive stars in the Sickle Nebula}, series = {Tectonophysics : international journal of geotectonics and the geology and physics of the interior of the earth}, volume = {588}, journal = {Tectonophysics : international journal of geotectonics and the geology and physics of the interior of the earth}, publisher = {EDP Sciences}, address = {Les Ulis}, issn = {1432-0746}, doi = {10.1051/0004-6361/201527692}, pages = {10}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Context. The massive Wolf-Rayet type star WR102c is located near the Quintuplet Cluster, one of the three massive star clusters in the Galactic centre region. Previous studies indicated that WR102c may have a dusty circumstellar nebula and is among the main ionising sources of the Sickle Nebula associated with the Quintuplet Cluster. Aims. The goals of our study are to derive the stellar parameters of WR102c from the analysis of its spectrum and to investigate its stellar and nebular environment. Methods. We obtained observations with the ESO VLT integral field spectrograph SINFONI in the K-band, extracted the stellar spectra, and analysed them by means of stellar atmosphere models. Results. Our new analysis supersedes the results previously reported for WR102c. We significantly decrease its bolometric luminosity and hydrogen content. We detect four early OB type stars close to WR102c. These stars have radial velocities similar to that of WR102c. We suggest that together with WR102c these stars belong to a distinct star cluster with a total mass of similar to 1000 M-circle dot. We identify a new WR nebula around WR102c in the SINFONI map of the di ff use Br gamma emission and in the HST Pa ff images. The Br gamma line at di ff erent locations is not significantly broadened and similar to the width of nebular emission elsewhere in the H i i region around WR102c. Conclusions. The massive star WR102c located in the Galactic centre region resides in a star cluster containing additional early-type stars. The stellar parameters of WR102c are typical for hydrogen-free WN6 stars. We identify a nebula surrounding WR102c that has a morphology similar to other nebulae around hydrogen-free WR stars, and propose that the formation of this nebula is linked to interaction of the fast stellar wind with the matter ejected at a previous evolutionary stage of WR102c.}, language = {en} } @misc{MartinsBergemannBestenlehneretal.2012, author = {Martins, Fabrice and Bergemann, Maria and Bestenlehner, Joachim M. and Crowther, Paul A. and Hamann, Wolf-Rainer and Najarro, Francisco and Nieva, Maria Fernanda and Przybilla, Norbert and Freimanis, Juris and Hou, Weizhen and Kaper, Lex}, title = {SpS5 - II. Stellar and wind parameters}, series = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe}, journal = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe}, number = {688}, issn = {1866-8372}, doi = {10.25932/publishup-41495}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-414956}, pages = {9}, year = {2012}, abstract = {The development of infrared observational facilities has revealed a number of massive stars in obscured environments throughout the Milky Way and beyond. The determination of their stellar and wind properties from infrared diagnostics is thus required to take full advantage of the wealth of observations available in the near and mid infrared. However, the task is challenging. This session addressed some of the problems encountered and showed the limitations and successes of infrared studies of massive stars.}, language = {en} } @misc{LiermannHamannOskinova2014, author = {Liermann, Angelika and Hamann, Wolf-Rainer and Oskinova, Lida}, title = {The quintuplet cluster III. Hertzsprung-Russell diagram and cluster age (vol 540, pg A14, 2012)}, series = {Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal}, volume = {563}, journal = {Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal}, publisher = {EDP Sciences}, address = {Les Ulis}, issn = {0004-6361}, doi = {10.1051/0004-6361/201117534e}, pages = {2}, year = {2014}, language = {en} } @article{LiermannHamannOskinova2012, author = {Liermann, A. and Hamann, Wolf-Rainer and Oskinova, Lida}, title = {The Quintuplet cluster III. Hertzsprung-Russell diagram and cluster age}, series = {Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal}, volume = {540}, journal = {Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal}, publisher = {EDP Sciences}, address = {Les Ulis}, issn = {0004-6361}, doi = {10.1051/0004-6361/201117534}, pages = {9}, year = {2012}, abstract = {The Quintuplet, one of three massive stellar clusters in the Galactic center (GC), is located about 30 pc in projection from Sagittarius A*. We aim at the construction of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram (HRD) of the cluster to study its evolution and to constrain its star-formation history. For this purpose we use the most complete spectral catalog of the Quintuplet stars. Based on the K-band spectra we determine stellar temperatures and luminosities for all stars in the catalog under the assumption of a uniform reddening towards the cluster. We find two groups in the resulting HRD: early-type OB stars and late-type KM stars, well separated from each other. By comparison with Geneva stellar evolution models we derive initial masses exceeding 8 M-circle dot for the OB stars. In the HRD these stars are located along an isochrone corresponding to an age of about 4 Myr. This confirms previous considerations, where a similar age estimate was based on the presence of evolved Wolf-Rayet stars in the cluster. We derive number ratios for the various spectral subtype groups (e.g. N-WR/N-O, N-WC/N-WN) and compare them with predictions of population synthesis models. We find that an instantaneous burst of star formation at about 3.3 to 3.6 Myr ago is the most likely scenario to form the Quintuplet cluster. Furthermore, we apply a mass-luminosity relation to construct the initial mass function (IMF) of the cluster. We find indications for a slightly top-heavy IMF. The late-type stars in the LHO catalog are red giant branch (RGB) stars or red supergiants (RSGs) according to their spectral signatures. Under the assumption that they are located at about the distance of the Galactic center we can derive their luminosities. The comparison with stellar evolution models reveals that the initial masses of these stars are lower than 15 M-circle dot implying that they needed about 15 Myr (RSG) or even more than 30 Myr (RGB) to evolve into their present stage. It might be suspected that these late-type stars do not physically belong to the Quintuplet cluster. Indeed, most of them disqualify as cluster members because their radial velocities differ too much from the cluster average. Nevertheless, five of the brightest RGB/RSG stars from the LHO catalog share the mean radial velocity of the Quintuplet, and thus remain highly suspect for being gravitationally bound members. If so, this would challenge the cluster formation and evolution scenario.}, language = {en} } @article{OskinovaSteinkeHamannetal.2013, author = {Oskinova, Lida and Steinke, M. and Hamann, Wolf-Rainer and Sander, A. and Todt, Helge Tobias and Liermann, Adriane}, title = {One of the most massive stars in the Galaxy may have formed in isolation}, series = {Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society}, volume = {436}, journal = {Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society}, number = {4}, publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0035-8711}, doi = {10.1093/mnras/stt1817}, pages = {3357 -- 3365}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Very massive stars, 100 times heavier than the sun, are rare. It is not yet known whether such stars can form in isolation or only in star clusters. The answer to this question is of fundamental importance. The central region of our Galaxy is ideal for investigating very massive stars and clusters located in the same environment. We used archival infrared images to investigate the surroundings of apparently isolated massive stars presently known in the Galactic Centre (GC). We find that two such isolated massive stars display bow shocks and hence may be 'runaways' from their birthplace. Thus, some isolated massive stars in the GC region might have been born in star clusters known in this region. However, no bow shock is detected around the isolated star WR 102ka (Peony nebula star), which is one of the most massive and luminous stars in the Galaxy. This star is located at the centre of an associated circumstellar nebula. To study whether a star cluster may be 'hidden' in the surroundings of WR 102ka, to obtain new and better spectra of this star, and to measure its radial velocity, we obtained observations with the integral-field spectrograph SINFONI at the ESO's Very Large Telescope. Our observations confirm that WR 102ka is one of the most massive stars in the Galaxy and reveal that this star is not associated with a star cluster. We suggest that WR 102ka has been born in relative isolation, outside of any massive star cluster.}, language = {en} }