TY - JOUR A1 - Liermann, A. A1 - Hamann, Wolf-Rainer A1 - Oskinova, Lida T1 - The Quintuplet cluster III. Hertzsprung-Russell diagram and cluster age JF - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal N2 - 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. KW - stars: late-type KW - Hertzsprung-Russell and C-M diagrams KW - infrared: stars KW - stars: early-type KW - open cluster and associations: individual: Quintuplet Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201117534 SN - 0004-6361 VL - 540 PB - EDP Sciences CY - Les Ulis ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Surlan, B. A1 - Hamann, Wolf-Rainer A1 - Kubat, Jirij A1 - Oskinova, Lida A1 - Feldmeier, Achim T1 - Three-dimensional radiative transfer in clumped hot star winds I influence of clumping on the resonance line formation JF - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal N2 - Context. The true mass-loss rates from massive stars are important for many branches of astrophysics. For the correct modeling of the resonance lines, which are among the key diagnostics of stellar mass-loss, the stellar wind clumping has been found to be very important. To incorporate clumping into a radiative transfer calculation, three-dimensional (3D) models are required. Various properties of the clumps may have a strong impact on the resonance line formation and, therefore, on the determination of empirical mass-loss rates. Aims. We incorporate the 3D nature of the stellar wind clumping into radiative transfer calculations and investigate how different model parameters influence the resonance line formation. Methods. We develop a full 3D Monte Carlo radiative transfer code for inhomogeneous expanding stellar winds. The number density of clumps follows the mass conservation. For the first time, we use realistic 3D models that describe the dense as well as the tenuous wind components to model the formation of resonance lines in a clumped stellar wind. At the same time, we account for non-monotonic velocity fields. Results. The 3D density and velocity wind inhomogeneities show that there is a very strong impact on the resonance line formation. The different parameters describing the clumping and the velocity field results in different line strengths and profiles. We present a set of representative models for various sets of model parameters and investigate how the resonance lines are affected. Our 3D models show that the line opacity is lower for a larger clump separation and shallower velocity gradients within the clumps. Conclusions. Our model demonstrates that to obtain empirically correct mass-loss rates from the UV resonance lines, the wind clumping and its 3D nature must be taken into account. KW - stars: winds, outflows KW - stars: mass-loss KW - stars: early-type Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201118590 SN - 0004-6361 VL - 541 PB - EDP Sciences CY - Les Ulis 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 - Hünemörder, David P. A1 - Oskinova, Lida A1 - Ignace, Richard A1 - Waldron, Wayne L. A1 - Todt, Helge Tobias A1 - Hamaguchi, Kenji A1 - Kitamoto, Shunji T1 - On the weak-wind problem in massive stars X-ray spectra reveal a massive hot wind in mu columbaea JF - The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics ; Part 2, Letters N2 - mu Columbae is a prototypical weak-wind O star for which we have obtained a high-resolution X-ray spectrum with the Chandra LETG/ACIS instrument and a low-resolution spectrum with Suzaku. This allows us, for the first time, to investigate the role of X-rays on the wind structure in a bona fide weak-wind system and to determine whether there actually is a massive hot wind. The X-ray emission measure indicates that the outflow is an order of magnitude greater than that derived from UV lines and is commensurate with the nominal wind-luminosity relationship for O stars. Therefore, the "weak-wind problem"-identified from cool wind UV/optical spectra-is largely resolved by accounting for the hot wind seen in X-rays. From X-ray line profiles, Doppler shifts, and relative strengths, we find that this weak-wind star is typical of other late O dwarfs. The X-ray spectra do not suggest a magnetically confined plasma-the spectrum is soft and lines are broadened; Suzaku spectra confirm the lack of emission above 2 keV. Nor do the relative line shifts and widths suggest any wind decoupling by ions. The He-like triplets indicate that the bulk of the X-ray emission is formed rather close to the star, within five stellar radii. Our results challenge the idea that some OB stars are "weak-wind" stars that deviate from the standard wind-luminosity relationship. The wind is not weak, but it is hot and its bulk is only detectable in X-rays. KW - stars: early-type KW - stars: individual (mu Col) KW - stars: mass-loss KW - X-rays: stars Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1088/2041-8205/756/2/L34 SN - 2041-8205 VL - 756 IS - 2 PB - IOP Publ. Ltd. CY - Bristol ER -