@article{HamaguchiCorcoran2015,
  author    = {Hamaguchi, K. and Corcoran, M. F.},
  title     = {Extremely Hard X-ray Emission from η Car Observed with XMM-Newton and NuSTAR around Periastron in 2014.6},
  series = {Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.-5. June 2015},
  journal   = {Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.-5. June 2015},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-87926},
  pages     = {159 -- 162},
  year      = {2015},
  abstract  = {The super massive binary system, η Car, experienced periastron passage in the summer of 2014. We observed the star twice around the maximum (forb =0.97, 2014 June 6) and just before the minimum (ϕorb =0.99, 2014 July 28) of its wind-wind colliding (WWC) X-ray emis-sion using the XMM-Newton and NuSTAR observatories, the latter of which is equipped with extremely hard X-ray (>10 keV) focusing mirrors. In both observations, NuSTAR detected the thermal X-ray tail up to 40-50 keV. The hard slope is consistent with an electron tem- perature of ∼6 keV, which is significantly higher than the ionization temperature (kT ∼4 keV) measured from the Fe K emission lines, assuming collisional equilibrium plasma. The spectrum did not show a hard power-law component above this energy range, unlike earlier detections with INTEGRAL and Suzaku. In the second NuSTAR observation, the X-ray flux above 5 keV declined gradually in ∼1 day. This result suggests that the WWC apex was gradually hidden behind the optically thick primary wind around conjunction.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{EldridgeMcClellandXiaoetal.2015,
  author    = {Eldridge, J. J. and McClelland, L. A. S. and Xiao, L. and Stanway, E. R. and Bray, J.},
  title     = {The importance of getting single-star and binary physics correct},
  series = {Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.-5. June 2015},
  journal   = {Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.-5. June 2015},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-87966},
  pages     = {177 -- 182},
  year      = {2015},
  abstract  = {We discuss the uncertainties that need to be considered when creating numerical models of WR stars. We pay close attention to inflation and duplicity of the stellar models, highlighting several observational tests that show these are key to understanding WR stellar populations.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{McClellandEldridge2015,
  author    = {McClelland, L. A. S. and Eldridge, J. J.},
  title     = {Helium stars},
  series = {Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.-5. June 2015},
  journal   = {Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.-5. June 2015},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-88010},
  pages     = {197 -- 200},
  year      = {2015},
  abstract  = {There are outstanding problems in trying to reproduce the observed nature of Wolf-Rayet stars from theoretical stellar models. We have investigated the effects of uncertainties, such as composition and mass-loss rate, on the evolution and structure of Wolf-Rayet stars and their lower mass brethren. We find that the normal Conti scenario needs to be altered, with different WR types being due to different initial masses as well as different stages of evolution.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{GrassitelliLangerSanyaletal.2015,
  author    = {Grassitelli, L. and Langer, N. and Sanyal, D. and Fossati, Luca and Bestenlehner, J. M.},
  title     = {Instabilities in the envelope of Wolf-Rayet stars},
  series = {Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.-5. June 2015},
  journal   = {Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.-5. June 2015},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-88024},
  pages     = {201 -- 204},
  year      = {2015},
  abstract  = {Wolf-Rayet stars are very hot stars close to the Eddington limit. In the conditions encountered in their radiation pressure dominated outer layers several instabilities are expected to arise. These instabilities could influence both the dynamic of their optically thick winds and the observed spectral lines introducing small and large scale variability. We investigate the conditions in the convective envelopes of our helium star models and relate them to the appearance of a high number of stochastic density inhomogeneities, i.e. clumping in the optically thick wind. We also investigate the pulsational stability of these envelope, considering the effect of the high stellar wind mass loss rates.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{ShachamIdanShaviv2015,
  author    = {Shacham, T. and Idan, I. and Shaviv, N. J.},
  title     = {A new mechanism for long long-term pulsations of hot stars?},
  series = {Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.-5. June 2015},
  journal   = {Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.-5. June 2015},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-88058},
  pages     = {209 -- 212},
  year      = {2015},
  abstract  = {We suggest several ideas which when combined could lead to a new mechanism for long-term pulsations of very hot and luminous stars. These involve the interplay between convection, radiation, atmospheric clumping and winds, which collectively feed back to stellar expansion and contraction. We discuss these ideas and point out the future work required in order to fill in the blanks.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{VanbeverenMennekens2015,
  author    = {Vanbeveren, D. and Mennekens, N.},
  title     = {Massive star population synthesis with binaries},
  series = {Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.-5. June 2015},
  journal   = {Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.-5. June 2015},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-88071},
  pages     = {217 -- 224},
  year      = {2015},
  abstract  = {We first give a short historical overview with some key facts of massive star population synthesis with binaries. We then discuss binary population codes and focus on two ingredients which are important for massive star population synthesis and which may be different in different codes. Population simulations with binaries is the third part where we consider the initial massive binary frequency, the RSG/WR and WC/WN and SNII/SNIbc number ratio's, the probable initial rotational velocity distribution of massive stars.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{MunozMoffatHilletal.2015,
  author    = {Munoz, M. and Moffat, Anthony F. J. and Hill, G. M. and Richardson, N. D. and Pablo, H.},
  title     = {The missing Wolf-Rayet X-ray binary systems},
  series = {Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.-5. June 2015},
  journal   = {Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.-5. June 2015},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-88082},
  pages     = {225 -- 228},
  year      = {2015},
  abstract  = {We investigate the rarity of the Wolf-Rayet X-ray binaries (WRXRBs) in contrast to their predecessors, the high mass X-ray binaries (HMXRBs). Recent studies suggest that common envelope (CE) mergers during the evolution of a HMXRBs may be responsible (Linden et al. 2012). We conduct a binary population synthesis to generate a population of HMXRBs mimicking the Galactic sample and vary the efficiency parameter during the CE phase to match the current WRXRB to HMXRB ratio. We find that ∼50\% of systems must merge to match observational constraints.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{GeorgyEkstroemHirschietal.2015,
  author    = {Georgy, C. and Ekstr{\"o}m, S. and Hirschi, R. and Meynet, G. and Groh, J. H. and Eggenberger, P.},
  title     = {Wolf-Rayet stars as an evolved stage of stellar life},
  series = {Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.-5. June 2015},
  journal   = {Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.-5. June 2015},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-88097},
  pages     = {229 -- 232},
  year      = {2015},
  abstract  = {Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars, as they are advanced stages of the life of massive stars, provide a good test for various physical processes involved in the modelling of massive stars, such as rotation and mass loss. In this paper, we show the outputs of the latest grids of single massive stars computed with the Geneva stellar evolution code, and compare them with some observations. We present a short discussion on the shortcomings of single stars models and we also briefly discuss the impact of binarity on the WR populations.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{WoffordCharlotEldridge2015,
  author    = {Wofford, A. and Charlot, S. and Eldridge, J. J.},
  title     = {Properties of LEGUS Clusters Obtained with Different Massive-Star Evolutionary Tracks},
  series = {Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.-5. June 2015},
  journal   = {Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.-5. June 2015},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-88109},
  pages     = {233 -- 236},
  year      = {2015},
  abstract  = {We compute spectral libraries for populations of coeval stars using state-of-the-art massive-star evolutionary tracks that account for different astrophysics including rotation and close-binarity. Our synthetic spectra account for stellar and nebular contributions. We use our models to obtain E(B - V ), age, and mass for six clusters in spiral galaxy NGC 1566, which have ages of < 50 Myr and masses of > 5 x 104M⊙ according to standard models. NGC 1566 was observed from the NUV to the I-band as part of the imaging Treasury HST program LEGUS: Legacy Extragalactic UV Survey. We aim to establish i) if the models provide reasonable fits to the data, ii) how well the models and photometry are able to constrain the cluster properties, and iii) how different the properties obtained with different models are.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{WalshMonrealIberoVilchezetal.2015,
  author    = {Walsh, J. R. and Monreal-Ibero, A. and V{\´i}lchez, J. M. and P{\´e}rez-Montero, E. and Iglesias-P{\´a}ramo, J. and Sandin, C. and Relano, M. and Amor{\´i}n, R.},
  title     = {The Wolf-Rayet Population and ISM Interaction in Nearby Starbursts},
  series = {Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.-5. June 2015},
  journal   = {Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.-5. June 2015},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-88339},
  pages     = {341 -- 344},
  year      = {2015},
  abstract  = {The interaction between massive star formation and gas is a key ingredient in galaxy evolution. Given the level of observational detail currently achievable in nearby starbursts, they constitute ideal laboratories to study interaction process that contribute to global evolution in all types of galaxies. Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars, as an observational marker of high mass star formation, play a pivotal role and their winds can strongly influence the surrounding gas. Imaging spectroscopy of two nearby (<4 Mpc) starbursts, both of which show multiple regions with WR stars, are discussed. The relation between the WR content and the physical and chemical properties of the surrounding ionized gas is explored.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{GormazMatamalaHerveCheneetal.2015,
  author    = {Gormaz-Matamala, A. C. and Herv{\´e}, A. and Chen{\´e}, A.-N. and Cur{\´e}, M. and Mennickent, R. E.},
  title     = {Results Of The Spectroscopic Analysis Of WR6 Using CMFGEN},
  series = {Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.-5. June 2015},
  journal   = {Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.-5. June 2015},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-88422},
  pages     = {357},
  year      = {2015},
  abstract  = {Using ESPaDOnS optical spectra of WR6, we search variations on the stellar wind parameters during the different phases of the spectral variations. We use the radiative transfer code CMFGEN (Hillier \& Miller 1998) to determine the wind parameters. Our work gives mean parameters for WR6, Teff = 55 kK, M = 2.7 × 10^-5 M⊙/yr and v∞ =1700 km/s. Furthermore the line profiles variations at different phases are the consequence of a variation of mass loss rate and temperature un the winds. Effective temperature reaches 59 kK at the highest intensity, whereas the mass-loss rate decreases to 2.5 × 10^-5 M⊙/yr in that case. On the other hand, effective temperature decreases to 52.5 kK and the mass-loss rate increases to 3 × 10^-5 M/⊙yr when the line profile reach its minimum intensity. Results confirm the variable nature of the stellar wind, presented in this case on two of its fundamental parameters: temperature and mass-loss; which could be used to constrain the nature of the instability at the basis of the wind.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{KanarekSharaFahertyetal.2015,
  author    = {Kanarek, G. and Shara, M. and Faherty, J. and Zurek, D. and Moffat, Anthony F. J.},
  title     = {New Galactic Wolf-Rayet Stars},
  series = {Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.-5. June 2015},
  journal   = {Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.-5. June 2015},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-88448},
  pages     = {359},
  year      = {2015},
  abstract  = {Over the course of 6 months in 2013, we observed nearly 400 Wolf-Rayet candidates in the Galactic plane. Preliminary results from this dataset are presented.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{SugawaraTsuboiMaedaetal.2015,
  author    = {Sugawara, Y. and Tsuboi, Y. and Maeda, Y. and Pollock, A. M. T. and Williams, P. M.},
  title     = {The Swift monitoring of the colliding wind binary WR 21a},
  series = {Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.-5. June 2015},
  journal   = {Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.-5. June 2015},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-88517},
  pages     = {366},
  year      = {2015},
  abstract  = {The X-ray observations of the colliding wind binary WR 21a is reported. The first monitoring performed by Swift/XRT in order to reveal the phase-locked variation. Our observations cover 201 different epochs from 2013 October 1 to 2015 January 30 for a total exposure of about 306 ks. It is found for the first time that the luminosity varies roughly in inverse proportion to the separation of the two stars before the X-ray maximum but later drops rapidly toward periastron.},
  language  = {en}
}
@inproceedings{TodtHamannGraefener2007,
  author    = {Todt, Helge Tobias and Hamann, Wolf-Rainer and Gr{\"a}fener, G.},
  title     = {Clumping in [WC]-type Central Stars from electron-scattering line wings},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-17711},
  year      = {2007},
  abstract  = {While there is strong evidence for clumping in the winds of massive hot stars, very little is known about clumping in the winds from Central Stars. We have checked [WC]-type CSPN winds for clumping by inspecting the electron-scattering line wings. At least for three stars we found indications for wind inhomogeneities.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Yadavalli2014,
  author    = {Yadavalli, Nataraja Sekhar},
  title     = {Advances in experimental methods to probe surface relief grating formation mechanism in photosensitive materials},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-71213},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {When azobenzene-modified photosensitive polymer films are irradiated with light interference patterns, topographic variations in the film develop that follow the electric field vector distribution resulting in the formation of surface relief grating (SRG). The exact correspondence of the electric field vector orientation in interference pattern in relation to the presence of local topographic minima or maxima of SRG is in general difficult to determine. In my thesis, we have established a systematic procedure to accomplish the correlation between different interference patterns and the topography of SRG. For this, we devise a new setup combining an atomic force microscope and a two-beam interferometer (IIAFM). With this set-up, it is possible to track the topography change in-situ, while at the same time changing polarization and phase of the impinging interference pattern. To validate our results, we have compared two photosensitive materials named in short as PAZO and trimer. This is the first time that an absolute correspondence between the local distribution of electric field vectors of interference pattern and the local topography of the relief grating could be established exhaustively. In addition, using our IIAFM we found that for a certain polarization combination of two orthogonally polarized interfering beams namely SP (↕, ↔) interference pattern, the topography forms SRG with only half the period of the interference patterns. Exploiting this phenomenon we are able to fabricate surface relief structures below diffraction limit with characteristic features measuring only 140 nm, by using far field optics with a wavelength of 491 nm. We have also probed for the stresses induced during the polymer mass transport by placing an ultra-thin gold film on top (5-30 nm). During irradiation, the metal film not only deforms along with the SRG formation, but ruptures in regular and complex manner. The morphology of the cracks differs strongly depending on the electric field distribution in the interference pattern even when the magnitude and the kinetic of the strain are kept constant. This implies a complex local distribution of the opto-mechanical stress along the topography grating. The neutron reflectivity measurements of the metal/polymer interface indicate the penetration of metal layer within the polymer resulting in the formation of bonding layer that confirms the transduction of light induced stresses in the polymer layer to a metal film.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{Moffat2015,
  author    = {Moffat, Anthony F. J.},
  title     = {General overview of Wolf-Rayet stars},
  series = {Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.-5. June 2015},
  journal   = {Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.-5. June 2015},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-87552},
  pages     = {13 -- 18},
  year      = {2015},
  abstract  = {Although we all use the name Wolf-Rayet to refer to specific groups of stars, "Wolf-Rayet" per se is really an astrophysical phenomenon of fast-moving, hot plasma, normally expanding around a hot star. However, expediency demands that we follow established traditions by referring to three specific kinds of WR stars: (1) cWR, "classical" He-burning descendants of massive, O-type stars, presumably all of which pass through a WR stage; (2) WNh, the most massive and luminous hydrogen-rich main-sequence stars with strong winds; and (3) [WR], the central stars of some 15 \% of Planetary Nebulae. Wolf-Rayet stars are the epitome of relatively stable stars with the highest mass-loss rates for their kind. It behooves us to understand the what, how and why of this circumstance, along with its manyfold and fascinating consequences.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{MasseyNeugentMorrell2015,
  author    = {Massey, P. and Neugent, K. F. and Morrell, N. I.},
  title     = {Finding Wolf-Rayet Stars in the Local Group},
  series = {Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.-5. June 2015},
  journal   = {Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.-5. June 2015},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-87592},
  pages     = {35 -- 42},
  year      = {2015},
  abstract  = {We summarize past and current surveys for WRs among the Local Group galaxies, empha- sizing both the why and how. Such studies are invaluable for helping us learn about massive star evolution, and for providing sensitive tests of the stellar evolution models. But for such surveys to be useful, the completeness limits must be well understood. We illustrate that point by following the "evolution" of the observed WC/WN ratio in nearby galaxies. We end by examining our new survey for WR stars in the Magellanic Clouds, which has revealed a new type of WN star, never before seen.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{MarstonMauerhanMorrisetal.2015,
  author    = {Marston, A. P. and Mauerhan, J. and Morris, P. W. and Van Dyk, S.},
  title     = {Finding Wolf-Rayet Stars in the Milky Way},
  series = {Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.-5. June 2015},
  journal   = {Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.-5. June 2015},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-87577},
  pages     = {27 -- 30},
  year      = {2015},
  abstract  = {The total population of Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars in the Galaxy is predicted by models to be as many as ~6000 stars, and yet the number of catalogued WR stars as a result of optical surveys was far lower than this (~200) at the turn of this century. When beginning our WR searches using infrared techniques it was not clear whether WR number predictions were too optimistic or whether there was more hidden behind interstellar and circumstellar extinction. During the last decade we pioneered a technique of exploiting the near- and mid-infrared continuum colours for individual point sources provided by large-format surveys of the Galaxy, including 2MASS and Spitzer/GLIMPSE, to pierce through the dust and reveal newly discovered WR stars throughout the Galactic Plane. The key item to the colour discrimination is via the characteristic infrared spectral index produced by the strong winds of the WR stars, combined with dust extinction, which place WR stars in a relatively depopulated area of infrared colour-colour diagrams. The use of the Spitzer/GLIMPSE 8µm and, more recently, WISE 22µm fluxes together with cross-referencing with X-ray measurements in selected Galactic regions have enabled improved candidate lists that increased our confirmation success rate, achieved via follow-up infrared and optical spectroscopy. To date a total of 102 new WR stars have been found with many more candidates still available for follow-up. This constitutes an addition of ~16\% to the current inventory of 642 Galactic WR stars. In this talk we review our methods and provide some new results and a preliminary review of their stellar and interstellar medium environments. We provide a roadmap for the future of this search, including statistical modeling, and what we can add to star formation and high mass star evolution studies.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{RomanLopesFrancoSanmartin2015,
  author    = {Roman-Lopes, A. and Franco, G. A. P. and Sanmartin, D.},
  title     = {SOAR Near-Infrared and Optical Survey of OIf* and OIf*/WN Stars in the Periphery of Galactic Massive Star Forming Regions},
  series = {Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.-5. June 2015},
  journal   = {Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.-5. June 2015},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-87585},
  pages     = {31 -- 34},
  year      = {2015},
  abstract  = {In this contribution we present some preliminary results obtained from a SOAR-Goodman optical spectroscopic survey aimed to confirm the OIf* - OIf*/WN nature of a sample of Galactic candidates that were previously confirmed as massive stars based on near-infrared spectra taken with OSIRIS at SOAR. With only a few of such stars known in the Galaxy to date, our study significantly contributes to improve the number of known Galactic O2If* stars, as well as almost doubling the number of known members of the galactic sample of the rare type OIf*/WN.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{TramperStraalSanyaletal.2015,
  author    = {Tramper, F. and Straal, S. M. and Sanyal, D. and Sana, Hugues and de Koter, A. and Gr{\"a}fener, G. and Langer, N. and Vink, J. S. and de Mink, S. E. and Kaper, L.},
  title     = {Massive Wolf-Rayet stars on the verge to explode},
  series = {Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.-5. June 2015},
  journal   = {Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.-5. June 2015},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-87786},
  pages     = {109 -- 112},
  year      = {2015},
  abstract  = {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.},
  language  = {en}
}