TY - JOUR A1 - Abdalla, Hassan E. A1 - Abramowski, A. A1 - Aharonian, Felix A. A1 - Benkhali, F. Ait A1 - Akhperjanian, A. G. A1 - Andersson, T. A1 - Anguener, E. O. A1 - Arakawa, M. A1 - Arrieta, M. A1 - Aubert, P. A1 - Backes, M. A1 - Balzer, A. A1 - Barnard, M. A1 - Becherini, Y. A1 - Tjus, J. Becker A1 - Berge, D. A1 - Bernhard, S. A1 - Bernloehr, K. A1 - Blackwell, R. A1 - Bottcher, M. A1 - Boisson, C. A1 - Bolmont, J. A1 - Bordas, Pol A1 - Bregeon, J. A1 - Brun, F. A1 - Brun, P. A1 - Bryan, M. A1 - Buechele, M. A1 - Bulik, T. A1 - Capasso, M. A1 - Carr, J. A1 - Casanova, Sabrina A1 - Cerruti, M. A1 - Chakraborty, N. A1 - Chalme-Calvet, R. A1 - Chaves, R. C. G. A1 - Chen, A. A1 - Chevalier, J. A1 - Chretien, M. A1 - Coffaro, M. A1 - Colafrancesco, S. A1 - Cologna, G. A1 - Condon, B. A1 - Conrad, J. A1 - Cui, Y. A1 - Davids, I. D. A1 - Decock, J. A1 - Degrange, B. A1 - Deil, C. A1 - Devin, J. A1 - deWilt, P. A1 - Dirson, L. A1 - Djannati-Atai, A. A1 - Domainko, W. A1 - Donath, A. A1 - Dutson, K. A1 - Dyks, J. A1 - Edwards, T. A1 - Egberts, Kathrin A1 - Eger, P. A1 - Ernenwein, J. -P. A1 - Eschbach, S. A1 - Farnier, C. A1 - Fegan, S. A1 - Fernandes, M. V. A1 - Fiasson, A. A1 - Fontaine, G. A1 - Foerster, A. A1 - Funk, S. A1 - Fuessling, M. A1 - Gabici, S. A1 - Gajdus, M. A1 - Gallant, Y. A. A1 - Garrigoux, T. A1 - Giavitto, G. A1 - Giebels, B. A1 - Glicenstein, J. F. A1 - Gottschall, D. A1 - Goyal, A. A1 - Grondin, M. -H. A1 - Hahn, J. A1 - Haupt, M. A1 - Hawkes, J. A1 - Heinzelmann, G. A1 - Henri, G. A1 - Hermann, G. A1 - Hervet, O. A1 - Hinton, J. A. A1 - Hofmann, W. A1 - Hoischen, Clemens A1 - Holler, M. A1 - Horns, D. A1 - Ivascenko, A. A1 - Iwasaki, H. A1 - Jacholkowska, A. A1 - Jamrozy, M. A1 - Janiak, M. A1 - Jankowsky, D. A1 - Jankowsky, F. A1 - Jingo, M. A1 - Jogler, T. A1 - Jouvin, L. A1 - Jung-Richardt, I. A1 - Kastendieck, M. A. A1 - Katarzynski, K. A1 - Katsuragawa, M. A1 - Katz, U. A1 - Kerszberg, D. A1 - Khangulyan, D. A1 - Khelifi, B. A1 - Kieffer, M. A1 - King, J. A1 - Klepser, S. A1 - Klochkov, D. A1 - Kluzniak, W. A1 - Kolitzus, D. A1 - Komin, Nu. A1 - Kosack, K. A1 - Krakau, S. A1 - Kraus, M. A1 - Kruger, P. P. A1 - Laffon, H. A1 - Lamanna, G. A1 - Lau, J. A1 - Lees, J. -P. A1 - Lefaucheur, J. A1 - Lefranc, V. A1 - Lemiere, A. A1 - Lemoine-Goumard, M. A1 - Lenain, J. -P. A1 - Leser, Eva A1 - Lohse, T. A1 - Lorentz, M. A1 - Liu, R. A1 - Lopez-Coto, R. A1 - Lypova, I. A1 - Marandon, V. A1 - Marcowith, A. A1 - Mariaud, C. A1 - Marx, R. A1 - Maurin, G. A1 - Maxted, N. A1 - Mayer, M. A1 - Meintjes, P. J. A1 - Meyer, M. A1 - Mitchell, A. M. W. A1 - Moderski, R. A1 - Mohamed, M. A1 - Mohrmann, L. A1 - Mora, K. A1 - Moulin, E. A1 - Murach, T. A1 - Nakashima, S. A1 - de Naurois, M. A1 - Niederwanger, F. A1 - Niemiec, J. A1 - Oakes, L. A1 - Odaka, H. A1 - Oettl, S. A1 - Ohm, S. A1 - Ostrowski, M. A1 - Oya, I. A1 - Padovani, M. A1 - Panter, M. A1 - Parsons, R. D. A1 - Pekeur, N. W. A1 - Pelletier, G. A1 - Perennes, C. A1 - Petrucci, P. -O. A1 - Peyaud, B. A1 - Piel, Q. A1 - Pita, S. A1 - Poon, H. A1 - Prokhorov, D. A1 - Prokoph, H. A1 - Puehlhofer, G. A1 - Punch, M. A1 - Quirrenbach, A. A1 - Raab, S. A1 - Reimer, A. A1 - Reimer, O. A1 - Renaud, M. A1 - de los Reyes, R. A1 - Richter, S. A1 - Rieger, F. A1 - Romoli, C. A1 - Rowell, G. A1 - Rudak, B. A1 - Rulten, C. B. A1 - Sahakian, V. A1 - Saito, S. A1 - Salek, D. A1 - Sanchez, D. A. A1 - Santangelo, A. A1 - Sasaki, M. A1 - Schlickeiser, R. A1 - Schussler, F. A1 - Schulz, A. A1 - Schwanke, U. A1 - Schwemmer, S. A1 - Seglar-Arroyo, M. A1 - Settimo, M. A1 - Seyffert, A. S. A1 - Shafi, N. A1 - Shilon, I. A1 - Simoni, R. A1 - Sol, H. A1 - Spanier, F. A1 - Spengler, G. A1 - Spies, F. A1 - Stawarz, L. A1 - Steenkamp, R. A1 - Stegmann, Christian Michael A1 - Stycz, K. A1 - Sushch, I. A1 - Takahashi, T. A1 - Tavernet, J. -P. A1 - Tavernier, T. A1 - Taylor, A. M. A1 - Terrier, R. A1 - Tibaldo, L. A1 - Tiziani, D. A1 - Tluczykont, M. A1 - Trichard, C. A1 - Tsuji, N. A1 - Tuffs, R. A1 - Uchiyama, Y. A1 - van der Walt, D. J. A1 - van Eldik, C. A1 - van Rensburg, C. A1 - van Soelen, B. A1 - Vasileiadis, G. A1 - Veh, J. A1 - Venter, C. A1 - Viana, A. A1 - Vincent, P. A1 - Vink, J. A1 - Voisin, F. A1 - Voelk, H. J. A1 - Vuillaume, T. A1 - Wadiasingh, Z. A1 - Wagner, S. J. A1 - Wagner, P. A1 - Wagner, R. M. A1 - White, R. A1 - Wierzcholska, A. A1 - Willmann, P. A1 - Woernlein, A. A1 - Wouters, D. A1 - Yang, R. A1 - Zabalza, V. A1 - Zaborov, D. A1 - Zacharias, M. A1 - Zanin, R. A1 - Zdziarski, A. A. A1 - Zech, Alraune A1 - Zefi, F. A1 - Ziegler, A. A1 - Zywucka, N. T1 - Systematic search for very-high-energy gamma-ray emission from bow shocks of runaway stars JF - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal N2 - Context. Runaway stars form bow shocks by ploughing through the interstellar medium at supersonic speeds and are promising sources of non-thermal emission of photons. One of these objects has been found to emit non-thermal radiation in the radio band. This triggered the development of theoretical models predicting non-thermal photons from radio up to very-high-energy (VHE, E >= 0.1 TeV) gamma rays. Subsequently, one bow shock was also detected in X-ray observations. However, the data did not allow discrimination between a hot thermal and a non-thermal origin. Further observations of different candidates at X-ray energies showed no evidence for emission at the position of the bow shocks either. A systematic search in the Fermi-LAT energy regime resulted in flux upper limits for 27 candidates listed in the E-BOSS catalogue. Aims. Here we perform the first systematic search for VHE gamma-ray emission from bow shocks of runaway stars. Methods. Using all available archival H.E.S.S. data we search for very-high-energy gamma-ray emission at the positions of bow shock candidates listed in the second E-BOSS catalogue release. Out of the 73 bow shock candidates in this catalogue, 32 have been observed with H.E.S.S. Results. None of the observed 32 bow shock candidates in this population study show significant emission in the H.E.S.S. energy range. Therefore, flux upper limits are calculated in five energy bins and the fraction of the kinetic wind power that is converted into VHE gamma rays is constrained. Conclusions. Emission from stellar bow shocks is not detected in the energy range between 0.14 and 18 TeV. The resulting upper limits constrain the level of VHE gamma-ray emission from these objects down to 0.1-1% of the kinetic wind energy. KW - radiation mechanisms: non-thermal KW - gamma rays: ISM KW - stars: early-type KW - gamma rays: stars Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201630151 SN - 1432-0746 VL - 612 PB - EDP Sciences CY - Les Ulis ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Almeida, Leonardo A. A1 - Sana, H. A1 - Taylor, W. A1 - Barbá, Rodolfo A1 - Bonanos, Alceste Z. A1 - Crowther, Paul A1 - Damineli, Augusto A1 - de Koter, A. A1 - de Mink, Selma E. A1 - Evans, C. J. A1 - Gieles, Mark A1 - Grin, Nathan J. A1 - Hénault-Brunet, V. A1 - Langer, Norbert A1 - Lennon, D. A1 - Lockwood, Sean A1 - Maíz Apellániz, Jesús A1 - Moffat, A. F. J. A1 - Neijssel, C. A1 - Norman, C. A1 - Ramírez-Agudelo, O. H. A1 - Richardson, N. D. A1 - Schootemeijer, Abel A1 - Shenar, Tomer A1 - Soszyński, Igor A1 - Tramper, Frank A1 - Vink, J. S. T1 - The tarantula massive binary monitoring BT - I. Observational campaign and OB-type spectroscopic binaries JF - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal N2 - Context: Massive binaries play a crucial role in the Universe. Knowing the distributions of their orbital parameters is important for a wide range of topics from stellar feedback to binary evolution channels and from the distribution of supernova types to gravitational wave progenitors, yet no direct measurements exist outside the Milky Way. Aims: The Tarantula Massive Binary Monitoring project was designed to help fill this gap by obtaining multi-epoch radial velocity (RV) monitoring of 102 massive binaries in the 30 Doradus region. Methods: In this paper we analyze 32 FLAMES/GIRAFFE observations of 93 O- and 7 B-type binaries. We performed a Fourier analysis and obtained orbital solutions for 82 systems: 51 single-lined (SB1) and 31 double-lined (SB2) spectroscopic binaries. Results: Overall, the binary fraction and orbital properties across the 30 Doradus region are found to be similar to existing Galactic samples. This indicates that within these domains environmental effects are of second order in shaping the properties of massive binary systems. A small difference is found in the distribution of orbital periods, which is slightly flatter (in log space) in 30 Doradus than in the Galaxy, although this may be compatible within error estimates and differences in the fitting methodology. Also, orbital periods in 30 Doradus can be as short as 1.1 d, somewhat shorter than seen in Galactic samples. Equal mass binaries (q> 0.95) in 30 Doradus are all found outside NGC 2070, the central association that surrounds R136a, the very young and massive cluster at 30 Doradus’s core. Most of the differences, albeit small, are compatible with expectations from binary evolution. One outstanding exception, however, is the fact that earlier spectral types (O2–O7) tend to have shorter orbital periods than later spectral types (O9.2–O9.7). Conclusions: Our results point to a relative universality of the incidence rate of massive binaries and their orbital properties in the metallicity range from solar (Z⊙) to about half solar. This provides the first direct constraints on massive binary properties in massive star-forming galaxies at the Universe’s peak of star formation at redshifts z ~ 1 to 2 which are estimated to have Z ~ 0.5 Z⊙. KW - stars: early-type KW - stars: massive KW - binaries: spectroscopic KW - binaries: close Y1 - 2017 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201629844 SN - 1432-0746 VL - 598 PB - EDP Sciences CY - Les Ulis ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Boehm, Thorsten A1 - Holschneider, Matthias A1 - Lignieres, Frederic A1 - Petit, Pascal A1 - Rainer, Monica A1 - Paletou, Francois A1 - Wade, Gregg A1 - Alecian, Evelyne A1 - Carfantan, Herve A1 - Blazere, Aurore A1 - Mirouh, Giovanni M. T1 - Discovery of starspots on Vega First spectroscopic detection of surface structures on a normal A-type star JF - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal N2 - Context. The theoretically studied impact of rapid rotation on stellar evolution needs to be compared with these results of high-resolution spectroscopy-velocimetry observations. Early-type stars present a perfect laboratory for these studies. The prototype A0 star Vega has been extensively monitored in recent years in spectropolarimetry. A weak surface magnetic field was detected, implying that there might be a (still undetected) structured surface. First indications of the presence of small amplitude stellar radial velocity variations have been reported recently, but the confirmation and in-depth study with the highly stabilized spectrograph SOPHIE/OHP was required. Aims. The goal of this article is to present a thorough analysis of the line profile variations and associated estimators in the early-type standard star Vega (A0) in order to reveal potential activity tracers, exoplanet companions, and stellar oscillations. Methods. Vega was monitored in quasi-continuous high-resolution echelle spectroscopy with the highly stabilized velocimeter SOPHIE/OHP. A total of 2588 high signal-to-noise spectra was obtained during 34.7 h on five nights (2 to 6 of August 2012) in high-resolution mode at R = 75 000 and covering the visible domain from 3895 6270 angstrom. For each reduced spectrum, least square deconvolved equivalent photospheric profiles were calculated with a T-eff = 9500 and log g = 4.0 spectral line mask. Several methods were applied to study the dynamic behaviour of the profile variations (evolution of radial velocity, bisectors, vspan, 2D profiles, amongst others). Results. We present the discovery of a spotted stellar surface on an A-type standard star (Vega) with very faint spot amplitudes Delta F/Fc similar to 5 x 10(-4). A rotational modulation of spectral lines with a period of rotation P = 0.68 d has clearly been exhibited, unambiguously confirming the results of previous spectropolarimetric studies. Most of these brightness inhomogeneities seem to be located in lower equatorial latitudes. Either a very thin convective layer can be responsible for magnetic field generation at small amplitudes, or a new mechanism has to be invoked to explain the existence of activity tracing starspots. At this stage it is difficult to disentangle a rotational from a stellar pulsational origin for the existing higher frequency periodic variations. Conclusions. This first strong evidence that standard A-type stars can show surface structures opens a new field of research and ask about a potential link with the recently discovered weak magnetic field discoveries in this category of stars. KW - starspots KW - stars: early-type KW - stars: rotation KW - stars: oscillations KW - stars: individual: Vega KW - asteroseismology Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201425425 SN - 0004-6361 SN - 1432-0746 VL - 577 PB - EDP Sciences CY - Les Ulis ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Corcoran, Michael F. A1 - Nichols, Joy S. A1 - Pablo, Herbert A1 - Shenar, Tomer A1 - Pollock, Andy M. T. A1 - Waldron, Wayne L. A1 - Moffat, Anthony F. J. A1 - Richardson, Noel D. A1 - Russell, Christopher M. P. A1 - Hamaguchi, Kenji A1 - Huenemoerder, David P. A1 - Oskinova, Lida A1 - Hamann, Wolf-Rainer A1 - Naze, Yael A1 - Ignace, Richard A1 - Evans, Nancy Remage A1 - Lomax, Jamie R. A1 - Hoffman, Jennifer L. A1 - Gayley, Kenneth A1 - Owocki, Stanley P. A1 - Leutenegger, Maurice A1 - Gull, Theodore R. A1 - Hole, Karen Tabetha A1 - Lauer, Jennifer A1 - Iping, Rosina C. T1 - A coordinated X-Ray and optical campaign of the nearest massive eclipsing binary, delta ORIONIS Aa. I. Overview of thr X-Ray spectrum JF - The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics N2 - We present an overview of four deep phase-constrained Chandra HETGS X-ray observations of delta Ori A. Delta Ori A is actually a triple system that includes the nearest massive eclipsing spectroscopic binary, delta Ori Aa, the only such object that can be observed with little phase-smearing with the Chandra gratings. Since the fainter star, delta Ori Aa2, has a much lower X-ray luminosity than the brighter primary (delta Ori Aa1), delta Ori Aa provides a unique system with which to test the spatial distribution of the X-ray emitting gas around delta Ori Aa1 via occultation by the photosphere of, and wind cavity around, the X-ray dark secondary. Here we discuss the X-ray spectrum and X-ray line profiles for the combined observation, having an exposure time of nearly 500 ks and covering nearly the entire binary orbit. The companion papers discuss the X-ray variability seen in the Chandra spectra, present new space-based photometry and ground-based radial velocities obtained simultaneously with the X-ray data to better constrain the system parameters, and model the effects of X-rays on the optical and UV spectra. We find that the X-ray emission is dominated by embedded wind shock emission from star Aa1, with little contribution from the tertiary star Ab or the shocked gas produced by the collision of the wind of Aa1 against the surface of Aa2. We find a similar temperature distribution to previous X-ray spectrum analyses. We also show that the line half-widths are about 0.3-0.5 times the terminal velocity of the wind of star Aa1. We find a strong anti-correlation between line widths and the line excitation energy, which suggests that longer-wavelength, lower-temperature lines form farther out in the wind. Our analysis also indicates that the ratio of the intensities of the strong and weak lines of Fe XVII and Ne X are inconsistent with model predictions, which may be an effect of resonance scattering. KW - binaries: close KW - binaries: eclipsing KW - stars: early-type KW - stars: individual (Delta Ori) KW - stars: mass-loss KW - X-rays: stars Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/809/2/132 SN - 0004-637X SN - 1538-4357 VL - 809 IS - 2 PB - IOP Publ. Ltd. CY - Bristol ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Evans, C. J. A1 - Hainich, Rainer A1 - Oskinova, Lida A1 - Gallagher, J. S. A1 - Chu, Y.-H. A1 - Gruendl, R. A. A1 - Hamann, Wolf-Rainer A1 - Henault-Brunet, V. A1 - Todt, Helge Tobias T1 - A rare early-type star revealed in the wing of the small megellanic cloud JF - The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics N2 - Sk 183 is the visually brightest star in the N90 nebula, a young star-forming region in the Wing of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). We present new optical spectroscopy from the Very Large Telescope which reveals Sk 183 to be one of the most massive O-type stars in the SMC. Classified as an O3-type dwarf on the basis of its nitrogen spectrum, the star also displays broadened He I absorption, which suggests a later type. We propose that Sk 183 has a composite spectrum and that it is similar to another star in the SMC, MPG 324. This brings the number of rare O2- and O3-type stars known in the whole of the SMC to a mere four. We estimate physical parameters for Sk 183 from analysis of its spectrum. For a single-star model, we estimate an effective temperature of 46 +/- 2 kK, a low mass-loss rate of similar to 10(-7) M-circle dot yr(-1), and a spectroscopic mass of 46(-8)(+ 9) M-circle dot (for an adopted distance modulus of 18.7 mag to the young population in the SMC Wing). An illustrative binary model requires a slightly hotter temperature (similar to 47.5 kK) for the primary component. In either scenario, Sk 183 is the earliest-type star known in N90 and will therefore be the dominant source of hydrogen-ionizing photons. This suggests Sk 183 is the primary influence on the star formation along the inner edge of the nebula. KW - open clusters and associations: individual (NGC 602) KW - stars: early-type KW - stars: fundamental parameters KW - stars: individual (Sanduleak 183) Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/753/2/173 SN - 0004-637X VL - 753 IS - 2 PB - IOP Publ. Ltd. CY - Bristol ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Evans, Chris J. A1 - van Loon, Jacco Th A1 - Hainich, Rainer A1 - Bailey, M. T1 - 2dF-AAOmega spectroscopy of massive stars in the Magellanic Clouds The north-eastern region of the Large Magellanic Cloud JF - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal N2 - We present spectral classifications from optical spectroscopy of 263 massive stars in the north-eastern region of the Large Magellanic Cloud. The observed two-degree field includes the massive 30 Doradus star-forming region, the environs of SN1987A, and a number of star-forming complexes to the south of 30 Dor. These are the first classifications for the majority (203) of the stars and include eleven double-lined spectroscopic binaries. The sample also includes the first examples of early OC-type spectra (AA Omega 30 Dor 248 and 280), distinguished by the weakness of their nitrogen spectra and by C IV lambda 4658 emission. We propose that these stars have relatively unprocessed CNO abundances compared to morphologically normal O-type stars, indicative of an earlier evolutionary phase. From analysis of observations obtained on two consecutive nights, we present radial-velocity estimates for 233 stars, finding one apparent single-lined binary and nine (>3 sigma) outliers compared to the systemic velocity; the latter objects could be runaway stars or large-amplitude binary systems and further spectroscopy is required to investigate their nature. KW - Magellanic Clouds KW - stars: early-type KW - stars: fundamental parameters KW - open clusters and associations: general Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201525882 SN - 1432-0746 VL - 584 PB - EDP Sciences CY - Les Ulis ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Gagne, Marc A1 - Fehon, Garrett A1 - Savoy, Michael R. A1 - Cohen, David H. A1 - Townsley, Leisa K. A1 - Broos, Patrick S. A1 - Povich, Matthew S. A1 - Corcoran, Michael F. A1 - Walborn, Nolan R. A1 - Evans, Nancy Remage A1 - Moffat, Anthony F. J. A1 - Naze, Yael A1 - Oskinova, Lida T1 - Carina ob stars: x-ray signatures of wind shocks and magnetic FIELDS JF - The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics ; Supplement series N2 - The Chandra Carina Complex contains 200 known O- and B-type stars. The Chandra survey detected 68 of the 70 O stars and 61 of 127 known B0-B3 stars. We have assembled a publicly available optical/X-ray database to identify OB stars that depart from the canonical L-X/L-bol relation or whose average X-ray temperatures exceed 1 keV. Among the single O stars with high kT we identify two candidate magnetically confined wind shock sources: Tr16-22, O8.5 V, and LS 1865, O8.5 V((f)). The O4 III(fc) star HD 93250 exhibits strong, hard, variable X-rays, suggesting that it may be a massive binary with a period of > 30 days. The visual O2 If* binary HD 93129A shows soft 0.6 keV and hard 1.9 keV emission components, suggesting embedded wind shocks close to the O2 If* Aa primary and colliding wind shocks between Aa and Ab. Of the 11 known O-type spectroscopic binaries, the long orbital-period systems HD 93343, HD 93403, and QZ Car have higher shock temperatures than short-period systems such as HD 93205 and FO 15. Although the X-rays from most B stars may be produced in the coronae of unseen, low-mass pre-main-sequence companions, a dozen B stars with high L-X cannot be explained by a distribution of unseen companions. One of these, SS73 24 in the Treasure Chest cluster, is a new candidate Herbig Be star. KW - open clusters and associations: individual (Cl Bochum 10, Cl Bochum 11, Cl Collinder 228, Cl Trumpler 14, Cl Trumpler 15, Cl Trumpler 16) KW - stars: early-type KW - stars: individual (HD 93250, HD 93129A, HD 93403, HD 93205, HD 93343, QZ Car, SS73 24, FO 15, Cl Trumpler 16 22, CPD-59 2610, HD 93501) KW - X-rays: stars Y1 - 2011 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1088/0067-0049/194/1/5 SN - 0067-0049 VL - 194 IS - 1 PB - IOP Publ. Ltd. CY - Bristol ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Gimenez-Garcia, Angel A1 - Torrejon, Jose Miguel A1 - Eikmann, Wiebke A1 - Martinez-Nunez, Silvia A1 - Oskinova, Lida A1 - Rodes-Roca, Jose Joaquin A1 - Bernabeu, Guillermo T1 - An XMM-Newton view of FeK alpha in high-mass X-ray binaries JF - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal N2 - We present a comprehensive analysis of the whole sample of available XMM-Newton observations of high-mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs) until August 2013, focusing on the FeK alpha emission line. This line is key to better understanding the physical properties of the material surrounding the X-ray source within a few stellar radii (the circumstellar medium). We collected observations from 46 HMXBs and detected FeK alpha in 21 of them. We used the standard classification of HMXBs to divide the sample into different groups. We find that (1) different classes of HMXBs display different qualitative behaviours in the FeK alpha spectral region. This is visible especially in SGXBs (showing ubiquitous Fe fluorescence but not recombination Fe lines) and in gamma Cass analogues (showing both fluorescent and recombination Fe lines). (2) FeK alpha is centred at a mean value of 6.42 keV. Considering the instrumental and fits uncertainties, this value is compatible with ionization states that are lower than Fe xviii. (3) The flux of the continuum is well correlated with the flux of the line, as expected. Eclipse observations show that the Fe fluorescence emission comes from an extended region surrounding the X-ray source. (4) We observe an inverse correlation between the X-ray luminosity and the equivalent width of FeK alpha (EW). This phenomenon is known as the X-ray Baldwin effect. (5) FeK alpha is narrow (sigma(line) < 0.15 keV), reflecting that the reprocessing material does not move at high speeds. We attempt to explain the broadness of the line in terms of three possible broadening phenomena: line blending, Compton scattering, and Doppler shifts (with velocities of the reprocessing material V similar to 1000 km s(-1)). (6) The equivalent hydrogen column (N-H) directly correlates to the EW of FeK alpha, displaying clear similarities to numerical simulations. It highlights the strong link between the absorbing and the fluorescent matter. (7) The observed NH in supergiant X-ray binaries (SGXBs) is in general higher than in supergiant fast X-ray transients (SFXTs). We suggest two possible explanations: different orbital configurations or a different interaction compact object - wind. (8) Finally, we analysed the sources IGR J16320-4751 and 4U 1700-37 in more detail, covering several orbital phases. The observed variation in NH between phases is compatible with the absorption produced by the wind of their optical companions. The results clearly point to a very important contribution of the donor's wind in the FeK alpha emission and the absorption when the donor is a supergiant massive star. KW - surveys KW - X-rays: binaries KW - binaries: general KW - circumstellar matter KW - stars: winds, outflows KW - stars: early-type Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201425004 SN - 0004-6361 SN - 1432-0746 VL - 576 PB - EDP Sciences CY - Les Ulis ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hainich, Rainer A1 - Oskinova, Lida A1 - Shenar, Tomer A1 - Marchant Campos, Pablo A1 - Eldridge, J. J. A1 - Sander, Andreas Alexander Christoph A1 - Hamann, Wolf-Rainer A1 - Langer, Norbert A1 - Todt, Helge Tobias T1 - Observational properties of massive black hole binary progenitors JF - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal N2 - Context: The first directly detected gravitational waves (GW 150914) were emitted by two coalescing black holes (BHs) with masses of ≈ 36 M⊙ and ≈ 29 M⊙. Several scenarios have been proposed to put this detection into an astrophysical context. The evolution of an isolated massive binary system is among commonly considered models. Aims: Various groups have performed detailed binary-evolution calculations that lead to BH merger events. However, the question remains open as to whether binary systems with the predicted properties really exist. The aim of this paper is to help observers to close this gap by providing spectral characteristics of massive binary BH progenitors during a phase where at least one of the companions is still non-degenerate. Methods: Stellar evolution models predict fundamental stellar parameters. Using these as input for our stellar atmosphere code (Potsdam Wolf-Rayet), we compute a set of models for selected evolutionary stages of massive merging BH progenitors at different metallicities. Results: The synthetic spectra obtained from our atmosphere calculations reveal that progenitors of massive BH merger events start their lives as O2-3V stars that evolve to early-type blue supergiants before they undergo core-collapse during the Wolf-Rayet phase. When the primary has collapsed, the remaining system will appear as a wind-fed high-mass X-ray binary. Based on our atmosphere models, we provide feedback parameters, broad band magnitudes, and spectral templates that should help to identify such binaries in the future. Conclusions: While the predicted parameter space for massive BH binary progenitors is partly realized in nature, none of the known massive binaries match our synthetic spectra of massive BH binary progenitors exactly. Comparisons of empirically determined mass-loss rates with those assumed by evolution calculations reveal significant differences. The consideration of the empirical mass-loss rates in evolution calculations will possibly entail a shift of the maximum in the predicted binary-BH merger rate to higher metallicities, that is, more candidates should be expected in our cosmic neighborhood than previously assumed. KW - gravitational waves KW - binaries: close KW - stars: early-type KW - stars: atmospheres KW - stars: winds KW - outflows KW - stars: mass-loss Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201731449 SN - 1432-0746 VL - 609 PB - EDP Sciences CY - Les Ulis ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hainich, Rainer A1 - Pasemann, Diana A1 - Todt, Helge Tobias A1 - Shenar, Tomer A1 - Sander, Andreas Alexander Christoph A1 - Hamann, Wolf-Rainer T1 - Wolf-Rayet stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud I. Analysis of the single WN stars JF - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal N2 - Context. Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars have a severe impact on their environments owing to their strong ionizing radiation fields and powerful stellar winds. Since these winds are considered to be driven by radiation pressure, it is theoretically expected that the degree of the wind mass-loss depends on the initial metallicity of WR stars. Aims. Following our comprehensive studies of WR stars in the Milky Way, M31, and the LMC, we derive stellar parameters and mass-loss rates for all seven putatively single WN stars known in the SMC. Based on these data, we discuss the impact of a low-metallicity environment on the mass loss and evolution of WR stars. Methods. The quantitative analysis of the WN stars is performed with the Potsdam Wolf-Rayet (PoWR) model atmosphere code. The physical properties of our program stars are obtained from fitting synthetic spectra to multi-band observations. Results. In all SMC WN stars, a considerable surface hydrogen abundance is detectable. The majority of these objects have stellar temperatures exceeding 75 kK, while their luminosities range from 10(5.5) to 10(6.1) L-circle dot. The WN stars in the SMC exhibit on average lower mass-loss rates and weaker winds than their counterparts in the Milky Way, M31, and the LMC. Conclusions. By comparing the mass-loss rates derived for WN stars in different Local Group galaxies, we conclude that a clear dependence of the wind mass-loss on the initial metallicity is evident, supporting the current paradigm that WR winds are driven by radiation. A metallicity effect on the evolution of massive stars is obvious from the HRD positions of the SMC WN stars at high temperatures and high luminosities. Standard evolution tracks are not able to reproduce these parameters and the observed surface hydrogen abundances. Homogeneous evolution might provide a better explanation for their evolutionary past. KW - stars: Wolf-Rayet KW - Magellanic Clouds KW - stars: early-type KW - stars: atmospheres KW - stars: winds, outflows KW - stars: mass-loss Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201526241 SN - 1432-0746 VL - 581 PB - EDP Sciences CY - Les Ulis ER -