TY  - JOUR
A1  - Abdalla, Hassan E.
A1  - Aharonian, Felix A.
A1  - Benkhali, F. Ait
A1  - Angüner, Ekrem Oǧuzhan
A1  - Arakawa, M.
A1  - Arcaro, C.
A1  - Armand, C.
A1  - Backes, M.
A1  - Barnard, M.
A1  - Becherini, Y.
A1  - Berge, D.
A1  - Bernloehr, K.
A1  - Blackwell, R.
A1  - Bottcher, M.
A1  - Boisson, C.
A1  - Bolmont, J.
A1  - Bonnefoy, S.
A1  - Bregeon, J.
A1  - Brun, F.
A1  - Brun, P.
A1  - Bryan, M.
A1  - Buechele, M.
A1  - Bulik, T.
A1  - Bylund, T.
A1  - Capasso, M.
A1  - Caroff, S.
A1  - Carosi, A.
A1  - Casanova, Sabrina
A1  - Cerruti, M.
A1  - Chakraborty, N.
A1  - Chand, T.
A1  - Chandra, S.
A1  - Chaves, R. C. G.
A1  - Chen, A.
A1  - Colafrancesco, S.
A1  - Condon, B.
A1  - Davids, I. D.
A1  - Deil, C.
A1  - Devin, J.
A1  - deWilt, P.
A1  - Dirson, L.
A1  - Djannati-Atai, A.
A1  - Dmytriiev, A.
A1  - Donath, A.
A1  - Doroshenko, V
A1  - Dyks, J.
A1  - Egberts, Kathrin
A1  - Emery, G.
A1  - Ernenwein, J-P
A1  - Eschbach, S.
A1  - Feijen, K.
A1  - Fegan, S.
A1  - Fiasson, A.
A1  - Fontaine, G.
A1  - Funk, S.
A1  - Fuessling, M.
A1  - Gabici, S.
A1  - Gallant, Y. A.
A1  - Gate, F.
A1  - Giavitto, G.
A1  - Glawion, D.
A1  - Glicenstein, J. F.
A1  - Gottschall, D.
A1  - Grondin, M-H
A1  - Hahn, J.
A1  - Haupt, M.
A1  - Heinzelmann, G.
A1  - Henri, G.
A1  - Hermann, G.
A1  - Hinton, James Anthony
A1  - Hofmann, W.
A1  - Hoischen, Clemens
A1  - Holch, Tim Lukas
A1  - Holler, M.
A1  - Horns, D.
A1  - Huber, D.
A1  - Iwasaki, H.
A1  - Jacholkowska, A.
A1  - Jamrozy, M.
A1  - Jankowsky, D.
A1  - Jankowsky, F.
A1  - Jouvin, L.
A1  - Jung-Richardt, I
A1  - Kastendieck, M. A.
A1  - Katarzynski, K.
A1  - Katsuragawa, M.
A1  - Katz, U.
A1  - Khangulyan, D.
A1  - Khelifi, B.
A1  - King, J.
A1  - Klepser, S.
A1  - Kluzniak, W.
A1  - Komin, Nu
A1  - Kosack, K.
A1  - Kostunin, D.
A1  - Kraus, M.
A1  - Lamanna, G.
A1  - Lau, J.
A1  - Lemiere, A.
A1  - Lemoine-Goumard, M.
A1  - Lenain, J-P
A1  - Leser, Eva
A1  - Lohse, T.
A1  - Lopez-Coto, R.
A1  - Lypova, I
A1  - Malyshev, D.
A1  - Marandon, V
A1  - Marcowith, Alexandre
A1  - Mariaud, C.
A1  - Marti-Devesa, G.
A1  - Marx, R.
A1  - Maurin, G.
A1  - Maxted, N.
A1  - Meintjes, P. J.
A1  - Mitchell, A. M. W.
A1  - Moderski, R.
A1  - Mohamed, M.
A1  - Mohrmann, L.
A1  - Moore, C.
A1  - Moulin, Emmanuel
A1  - Murach, T.
A1  - Nakashima, S.
A1  - de Naurois, M.
A1  - Ndiyavala, H.
A1  - Niederwanger, F.
A1  - Niemiec, J.
A1  - Oakes, L.
A1  - Odaka, H.
A1  - Ohm, S.
A1  - Wilhelmi, E. de Ona
A1  - Ostrowski, M.
A1  - Oya, I
A1  - Panter, M.
A1  - Parsons, R. D.
A1  - Perennes, C.
A1  - Petrucci, P-O
A1  - Peyaud, B.
A1  - Piel, Q.
A1  - Pita, S.
A1  - Poireau, V
A1  - Noel, A. Priyana
A1  - Prokhorov, D. A.
A1  - Prokoph, H.
A1  - Puehlhofer, G.
A1  - Punch, M.
A1  - Quirrenbach, A.
A1  - Raab, S.
A1  - Rauth, R.
A1  - Reimer, A.
A1  - Reimer, O.
A1  - Renaud, M.
A1  - Rieger, F.
A1  - Rinchiuso, L.
A1  - Romoli, C.
A1  - Rowell, G.
A1  - Rudak, B.
A1  - Ruiz-Velasco, E.
A1  - Sahakian, V
A1  - Saito, S.
A1  - Sanchez, David M.
A1  - Santangelo, A.
A1  - Sasaki, M.
A1  - Schlickeiser, R.
A1  - Schussler, F.
A1  - Schulz, A.
A1  - Schutte, H.
A1  - Schwanke, U.
A1  - Schwemmer, S.
A1  - Seglar-Arroyo, M.
A1  - Senniappan, M.
A1  - Seyffert, A. S.
A1  - Shafi, N.
A1  - Shilon, I
A1  - Shiningayamwe, K.
A1  - Simoni, R.
A1  - Sinha, A.
A1  - Sol, H.
A1  - Specovius, A.
A1  - Spir-Jacob, M.
A1  - Stawarz, L.
A1  - Steenkamp, R.
A1  - Stegmann, Christian
A1  - Steppa, Constantin Beverly
A1  - Takahashi, T.
A1  - Tavernet, J-P
A1  - Tavernier, T.
A1  - Taylor, A. M.
A1  - Terrier, R.
A1  - Tibaldo, Luigi
A1  - Tiziani, D.
A1  - Tluczykont, M.
A1  - Trichard, C.
A1  - Tsirou, M.
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  - Vincent, P.
A1  - Vink, J.
A1  - Voisin, F.
A1  - Voelk, H. J.
A1  - Vuillaume, T.
A1  - Wadiasingh, Z.
A1  - Wagner, S. J.
A1  - White, R.
A1  - Wierzcholska, A.
A1  - Yang, R.
A1  - Yoneda, H.
A1  - Zaborov, D.
A1  - Zacharias, M.
A1  - Zanin, R.
A1  - Zdziarski, A. A.
A1  - Zech, Alraune
A1  - Ziegler, A.
A1  - Zorn, J.
A1  - Zywucka, N.
T1  - H.E.S.S. and Suzaku observations of the Vela X pulsar wind nebula
JF  - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal
N2  - Context. Pulsar wind nebulae (PWNe) represent the most prominent population of Galactic very-high-energy gamma-ray sources and are thought to be an efficient source of leptonic cosmic rays. Vela X is a nearby middle-aged PWN, which shows bright X-ray and TeV gamma-ray emission towards an elongated structure called the cocoon. Aims. Since TeV emission is likely inverse-Compton emission of electrons, predominantly from interactions with the cosmic microwave background, while X-ray emission is synchrotron radiation of the same electrons, we aim to derive the properties of the relativistic particles and of magnetic fields with minimal modelling. Methods. We used data from the Suzaku XIS to derive the spectra from three compact regions in Vela X covering distances from 0.3 to 4 pc from the pulsar along the cocoon. We obtained gamma-ray spectra of the same regions from H.E.S.S. observations and fitted a radiative model to the multi-wavelength spectra. Results. The TeV electron spectra and magnetic field strengths are consistent within the uncertainties for the three regions, with energy densities of the order 10(-12) erg cm(-3). The data indicate the presence of a cutoff in the electron spectrum at energies of similar to 100 TeV and a magnetic field strength of similar to 6 mu G. Constraints on the presence of turbulent magnetic fields are weak. Conclusions. The pressure of TeV electrons and magnetic fields in the cocoon is dynamically negligible, requiring the presence of another dominant pressure component to balance the pulsar wind at the termination shock. Sub-TeV electrons cannot completely account for the missing pressure, which may be provided either by relativistic ions or from mixing of the ejecta with the pulsar wind. The electron spectra are consistent with expectations from transport scenarios dominated either by advection via the reverse shock or by diffusion, but for the latter the role of radiative losses near the termination shock needs to be further investigated in the light of the measured cutoff energies. Constraints on turbulent magnetic fields and the shape of the electron cutoff can be improved by spectral measurements in the energy range greater than or similar to 10 keV.
KW  - stars: winds, outflows
KW  - gamma rays: stars
KW  - radiation mechanisms: non-thermal
KW  - acceleration of particles
KW  - pulsars: individual: PSR B0833-45
Y1  - 2019
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201935458
SN  - 1432-0746
VL  - 627
PB  - EDP Sciences
CY  - Les Ulis
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - del Valle, Maria Victoria
A1  - Pohl, Martin
T1  - Nonthermal emission from Stellar Bow Shocks
JF  - The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics
N2  - Since the detection of nonthermal radio emission from the bow shock of the massive runaway star BD +43 degrees 3654, simple models have predicted high-energy emission, at X-rays and gamma-rays, from these Galactic sources. Observational searches for this emission so far give no conclusive evidence but a few candidates at gamma-rays. In this work we aim at developing a more sophisticated model for the nonthermal emission from massive runaway star bow shocks. The main goal is to establish whether these systems are efficient nonthermal emitters, even if they are not strong enough yet to be detected. For modeling the collision between the stellar wind and the interstellar medium we use 2D hydrodynamic simulations. We then adopt the flow profile of the wind and the ambient medium obtained with the simulation as the plasma state for solving the transport of energetic particles injected in the system, as well as the nonthermal emission they produce. For this purpose we solve a 3D (two spatial vertical bar energy) advection-diffusion equation in the test-particle approximation. We find that a massive runaway star with a powerful wind converts 0.16%-0.4% of the power injected in electrons into nonthermal emission, mostly produced by inverse Compton scattering of dust-emitted photons by relativistic electrons, and second by synchrotron radiation. This represents a fraction of similar to 10(-5) to 10(-4) of the wind kinetic power. Given the better sensibility of current instruments at radio wavelengths, these systems are more prone to be detected at radio through the synchrotron emission they produce rather than at gamma energies.
KW  - gamma-rays: stars
KW  - hydrodynamics
KW  - radiation mechanisms: nonthermal
KW  - stars: winds, outflows
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/aad333
SN  - 0004-637X
SN  - 1538-4357
VL  - 864
IS  - 1
PB  - IOP Publ. Ltd.
CY  - Bristol
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - El Mellah, Ileyk
A1  - Sander, Andreas Alexander Christoph
A1  - Sundqvist, Jon Olof
A1  - Keppens, Rony
T1  - Formation of wind-captured disks in supergiant X-ray binaries Consequences for Vela X-1 and Cygnus X-1
JF  - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal
N2  - Context. In supergiant X-ray binaries (SgXB), a compact object captures a fraction of the wind of an O/B supergiant on a close orbit. Proxies exist to evaluate the efficiency of mass and angular momentum accretion, but they depend so dramatically on the wind speed that given the current uncertainties, they only set loose constraints. Furthermore, these proxies often bypass the impact of orbital and shock effects on the flow structure. Aims. We study the wind dynamics and angular momentum gained as the flow is accreted. We identify the conditions for the formation of a disk-like structure around the accretor and the observational consequences for SgXB. Methods. We used recent results on the wind launching mechanism to compute 3D streamlines, accounting for the gravitational and X-ray ionizing influence of the compact companion on the wind. Once the flow enters the Roche lobe of the accretor, we solved the hydrodynamics equations with cooling. Results. A shocked region forms around the accretor as the flow is beamed. For wind speeds on the order of the orbital speed, the shock is highly asymmetric compared to the axisymmetric bow shock obtained for a purely planar homogeneous flow. With net radiative cooling, the flow always circularizes for sufficiently low wind speeds. Conclusions. Although the donor star does not fill its Roche lobe, the wind can be significantly beamed and bent by the orbital effects. The net angular momentum of the accreted flow is then sufficient to form a persistent disk-like structure. This mechanism could explain the proposed limited outer extension of the accretion disk in Cygnus X-1 and suggests the presence of a disk at the outer rim of the neutron star magnetosphere in Vela X-1 and has dramatic consequences on the spinning up of the accretor.
KW  - accretion, accretion disks
KW  - X-rays: binaries
KW  - stars: black holes
KW  - stars: neutron
KW  - supergiants
KW  - stars: winds, outflows
Y1  - 2019
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201834498
SN  - 1432-0746
VL  - 622
PB  - EDP Sciences
CY  - Les Ulis
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Gimenez-Garcia, Ana
A1  - Shenar, Tomer
A1  - Torrejon, J. M.
A1  - Oskinova, Lida
A1  - Martinez-Nunez, S.
A1  - Hamann, Wolf-Rainer
A1  - Rodes-Roca, J. J.
A1  - González-Galan, A.
A1  - Alonso-Santiago, J.
A1  - González-Fernández, C.
A1  - Bernabeu, Guillermo
A1  - Sander, Andreas Alexander Christoph
T1  - Measuring the stellar wind parameters in IGR J17544-2619 and Vela X-1 constrains the accretion physics in supergiant fast X-ray transient and classical supergiant X-ray binaries
JF  - Siberian Mathematical Journal
N2  - Aims. To close this gap, we perform a comparative analysis of the optical companion in two important systems: IGR J175442619 (SFXT) and Vela X-1 (SGXB). We analyze the spectra of each star in detail and derive their stellar and wind properties. As a next step, we compare the wind parameters, giving us an excellent chance of recognizing key differences between donor winds in SFXTs and SGXBs. Methods. We use archival infrared, optical and ultraviolet observations, and analyze them with the non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE) Potsdam Wolf-Rayet model atmosphere code. We derive the physical properties of the stars and their stellar winds, accounting for the influence of X-rays on the stellar winds. Results. We find that the stellar parameters derived from the analysis generally agree well with the spectral types of the two donors: O9I (IGR J17544-2619) and B0.5Iae (Vela X-1). The distance to the sources have been revised and also agree well with the estimations already available in the literature. In IGR J17544-2619 we are able to narrow the uncertainty to d = 3.0 +/- 0.2 kpc. From the stellar radius of the donor and its X-ray behavior, the eccentricity of IGR J17544-2619 is constrained to e < 0.25. The derived chemical abundances point to certain mixing during the lifetime of the donors. An important difference between the stellar winds of the two stars is their terminal velocities (v(infinity) = 1500 km s(-1) in IGR J17544-2619 and v(infinity) = 700 km s(-1) in Vela X-1), which have important consequences on the X-ray luminosity of these sources. Conclusions. The donors of IGR J17544-2619 and Vela X-1 have similar spectral types as well as similar parameters that physically characterize them and their spectra. In addition, the orbital parameters of the systems are similar too, with a nearly circular orbit and short orbital period. However, they show moderate differences in their stellar wind velocity and the spin period of their neutron star which has a strong impact on the X-ray luminosity of the sources. This specific combination of wind speed and pulsar spin favors an accretion regime with a persistently high luminosity in Vela X-1, while it favors an inhibiting accretion mechanism in IGR J17544-2619. Our study demonstrates that the relative wind velocity is critical in class determination for the HMXBs hosting a supergiant donor, given that it may shift the accretion mechanism from direct accretion to propeller regimes when combined with other parameters.
KW  - accretion, accretion disks
KW  - methods: observational
KW  - techniques: spectroscopic
KW  - stars: atmospheres
KW  - X-rays: binaries
KW  - stars: winds, outflows
Y1  - 2016
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201527551
SN  - 1432-0746
VL  - 591
PB  - EDP Sciences
CY  - Les Ulis
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  - Grinberg, Victoria
A1  - Hell, Natalie
A1  - El Mellah, Ileyk
A1  - Neilsen, Joseph
A1  - Sander, Andreas Alexander Christoph
A1  - Leutenegger, Maurice
A1  - Fürst, Felix
A1  - Huenemoerder, David P.
A1  - Kretschmar, Peter
A1  - Kuehnel, Matthias
A1  - Martinez-Nunez, Silvia
A1  - Niu, Shu
A1  - Pottschmidt, Katja
A1  - Schulz, Norbert S.
A1  - Wilms, Joern
A1  - Nowak, Michael A.
T1  - The clumpy absorber in the high-mass X-ray binary Vela X-1
JF  - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal
N2  - Bright and eclipsing, the high-mass X-ray binary Vela X-1 offers a unique opportunity to study accretion onto a neutron star from clumpy winds of O/B stars and to disentangle the complex accretion geometry of these systems. In Chandra-HETGS spectroscopy at orbital phase similar to 0.25, when our line of sight towards the source does not pass through the large-scale accretion structure such as the accretion wake, we observe changes in overall spectral shape on timescales of a few kiloseconds. This spectral variability is, at least in part, caused by changes in overall absorption and we show that such strongly variable absorption cannot be caused by unperturbed clumpy winds of O/B stars. We detect line features from high and low ionization species of silicon, magnesium, and neon whose strengths and presence depend on the overall level of absorption. These features imply a co-existence of cool and hot gas phases in the system, which we interpret as a highly variable, structured accretion flow close to the compact object such as has been recently seen in simulations of wind accretion in high-mass X-ray binaries.
KW  - X-rays: individuals: Vela X-1
KW  - X-rays: binaries
KW  - stars: winds, outflows
KW  - stars: massive
Y1  - 2017
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201731843
SN  - 1432-0746
VL  - 608
PB  - EDP Sciences
CY  - Les Ulis
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Guerrero, Martín A.
A1  - Ruiz, N.
A1  - Hamann, Wolf-Rainer
A1  - Chu, Y.-H.
A1  - Todt, Helge Tobias
A1  - Schönberner, Detlef
A1  - Oskinova, Lida
A1  - Gründl, R. A.
A1  - Steffen, M.
A1  - Blair, William P.
A1  - Toala, Jesús Alberto
T1  - Rebirth of X-Ray emission from the born-again planetary Nebula A30
JF  - The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics
N2  - The planetary nebula A30 is believed to have undergone a very late thermal pulse resulting in the ejection of knots of hydrogen-poor material. Using multi-epoch Hubble Space Telescope images, we have detected the angular expansion of these knots and derived an age of 850(-150)(+280) yr. To investigate the spectral and spatial properties of the soft X-ray emission detected by ROSAT, we have obtained Chandra and XMM-Newton deep observations of A30. The X-ray emission from A30 can be separated into two components: a point source at the central star and diffuse emission associated with the hydrogen-poor knots and the cloverleaf structure inside the nebular shell. To help us assess the role of the current stellar wind in powering this X-ray emission, we have determined the stellar parameters and wind properties of the central star of A30 using a non-LTE model fit to its optical and UV spectra. The spatial distribution and spectral properties of the diffuse X-ray emission are highly suggestive that it is generated by the post-born-again and present fast stellar winds interacting with the hydrogen-poor ejecta of the born-again event. This emission can be attributed to shock-heated plasma, as the hydrogen-poor knots are ablated by the stellar winds, under which circumstances the efficient mass loading of the present fast stellar wind raises its density and damps its velocity to produce the observed diffuse soft X-rays. Charge transfer reactions between the ions of the stellar winds and material of the born-again ejecta have also been considered as a possible mechanism for the production of diffuse X-ray emission, and upper limits on the expected X-ray production by this mechanism have been derived. The origin of the X-ray emission from the central star of A30 is puzzling: shocks in the present fast stellar wind and photospheric emission can be ruled out, while the development of a new, compact hot bubble confining the fast stellar wind seems implausible.
KW  - planetary nebulae: general
KW  - planetary nebulae: individual (A30)
KW  - stars: winds, outflows
KW  - X-rays: ISM
Y1  - 2012
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/755/2/129
SN  - 0004-637X
VL  - 755
IS  - 2
PB  - IOP Publ. Ltd.
CY  - Bristol
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  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Hainich, Rainer
A1  - Ruehling, Ute
A1  - Todt, Helge Tobias
A1  - Oskinova, Lida
A1  - Liermann, A.
A1  - Graefener, G.
A1  - Foellmi, C.
A1  - Schnurr, O.
A1  - Hamann, Wolf-Rainer
T1  - The Wolf-Rayet stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud - A comprehensive analysis of the WN class
JF  - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal
N2  - Context. Massive stars, although being important building blocks of galaxies, are still not fully understood. This especially holds true for Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars with their strong mass loss, whose spectral analysis requires adequate model atmospheres. Aims. Following our comprehensive studies of the WR stars in the Milky Way, we now present spectroscopic analyses of almost all known WN stars in the LMC.
 Methods. For the quantitative analysis of the wind-dominated emission-line spectra, we employ the Potsdam Wolf-Rayet (PoWR) model atmosphere code. By fitting synthetic spectra to the observed spectral energy distribution and the available spectra (ultraviolet and optical), we obtain the physical properties of 107 stars.
 Results. We present the fundamental stellar and wind parameters for an almost complete sample of WN stars in the LMC. Among those stars that are putatively single, two different groups can be clearly distinguished. While 12% of our sample are more luminous than 10(6) L-circle dot and contain a significant amount of hydrogen, 88% of the WN stars, with little or no hydrogen, populate the luminosity range between log (L/L-circle dot) = 5.3 ... 5.8.
 Conclusions. While the few extremely luminous stars (log (L/L-circle dot) > 6), if indeed single stars, descended directly from the main sequence at very high initial masses, the bulk of WN stars have gone through the red-supergiant phase. According to their luminosities in the range of log (L/L-circle dot) = 5.3 ... 5.8, these stars originate from initial masses between 20 and 40 M-circle dot. This mass range is similar to the one found in the Galaxy, i.e. the expected metallicity dependence of the evolution is not seen. Current stellar evolution tracks, even when accounting for rotationally induced mixing, still partly fail to reproduce the observed ranges of luminosities and initial masses. Moreover, stellar radii are generally larger and effective temperatures correspondingly lower than predicted from stellar evolution models, probably due to subphotospheric inflation.
KW  - stars: Wolf-Rayet
KW  - Magellanic Clouds
KW  - stars: early-type
KW  - stars: atmospheres
KW  - stars: winds, outflows
KW  - stars: mass-loss
Y1  - 2014
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201322696
SN  - 0004-6361
SN  - 1432-0746
VL  - 565
PB  - EDP Sciences
CY  - Les Ulis
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Hamaguchi, K.
A1  - Oskinova, Lida
A1  - Russell, C. M. P.
A1  - Petre, R.
A1  - Enoto, T.
A1  - Morihana, K.
A1  - Ishida, M.
T1  - DISCOVERY OF RAPIDLY MOVING PARTIAL X-RAY ABSORBERS WITHIN GAMMA CASSIOPEIAE
JF  - The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics
N2  - detected six rapid X-ray spectral hardening events called "softness dips" in a similar to 100 ks observation in 2011. All the softness dip events show symmetric softness-ratio variations, and some of them have flat bottoms apparently due to saturation. The softness dip spectra are best described by either similar to 40% or similar to 70% partial covering absorption to kT similar to 12 keV plasma emission by matter with a neutral hydrogen column density of similar to(2-8) x 10(21) cm(-2), while the spectrum outside these dips is almost free of absorption. This result suggests the presence of two distinct X-ray-emitting spots in the.. Cas system, perhaps on a white dwarf (WD) companion with dipole mass accretion. The partial covering absorbers may be blobs in the Be stellar wind, the Be disk, or rotating around the WD companion. Weak correlations of the softness ratios to the hard X-ray flux suggest the presence of stable plasmas at kT similar to 0.9 and 5 keV, which may originate from the Be or WD winds. The formation of a Be star and WD binary system requires mass transfer between two stars; gamma Cas may have experienced such activity in the past.
KW  - blue stragglers
KW  - stars: emission-line, Be
KW  - stars: individual (gamma Cassiopeiae)
KW  - stars: winds, outflows
KW  - white dwarfs
KW  - X-rays: stars
Y1  - 2016
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3847/0004-637X/832/2/140
SN  - 0004-637X
SN  - 1538-4357
VL  - 832
SP  - 33
EP  - 49
PB  - IOP Publ. Ltd.
CY  - Bristol
ER  -