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Many Central Stars of Planetary Nebulae are very similar to massive Wolf-Rayet stars of the carbon sequence with respect to their spectra, chemical composition and wind properties. Therefore their study opens an additional way towards the understanding of the Wolf-Rayet phenomenon. While the study of Line Profile Variation will be difficult, espescially for the very compact early types, the comparision with other hydrogen-deficient Central Stars illuminates the driving mechanism of their winds. We speculate that at least two ingredients are needed. The ionization of their atmpospheres has to be stratified to enable multi-scattering processes and the amount of carbon and oxygen has to be high (more than a few percent by mass).
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.
We present time-resolved and phase-resolved variability studies of an extensive X-ray high-resolution spectral data set of the delta Ori Aa binary system. The four observations, obtained with Chandra ACIS HETGS, have a total exposure time of approximate to 479 ks and provide nearly complete binary phase coverage. Variability of the total X-ray flux in the range of 5-25 is is confirmed, with a maximum amplitude of about +/- 15% within a single approximate to 125 ks observation. Periods of 4.76 and 2.04 days are found in the total X-ray flux, as well as an apparent overall increase in the flux level throughout the nine-day observational campaign. Using 40 ks contiguous spectra derived from the original observations, we investigate the variability of emission line parameters and ratios. Several emission lines are shown to be variable, including S XV, Si XIII, and Ne IX. For the first time, variations of the X-ray emission line widths as a function of the binary phase are found in a binary system, with the smallest widths at phi = 0.0 when the secondary delta Ori Aa2 is at the inferior conjunction. Using 3D hydrodynamic modeling of the interacting winds, we relate the emission line width variability to the presence of a wind cavity created by a wind-wind collision, which is effectively void of embedded wind shocks and is carved out of the X-ray-producing primary wind, thus producing phase-locked X-ray variability.
We report on both high-precision photometry from the Microvariability and Oscillations of Stars (MOST) space telescope and ground-based spectroscopy of the triple system delta Ori A, consisting of a binary O9.5II+early-B (Aa1 and Aa2) with P = 5.7 days, and a more distant tertiary (O9 IV P > 400 years). This data was collected in concert with X-ray spectroscopy from the Chandra X-ray Observatory. Thanks to continuous coverage for three weeks, the MOST light curve reveals clear eclipses between Aa1 and Aa2 for the first time in non-phased data. From the spectroscopy, we have a well-constrained radial velocity (RV) curve of Aa1. While we are unable to recover RV variations of the secondary star, we are able to constrain several fundamental parameters of this system and determine an approximate mass of the primary using apsidal motion. We also detected second order modulations at 12 separate frequencies with spacings indicative of tidally influenced oscillations. These spacings have never been seen in a massive binary, making this system one of only a handful of such binaries that show evidence for tidally induced pulsations.
Eclipsing systems of massive stars allow one to explore the properties of their components in great detail. We perform a multi-wavelength, non-LTE analysis of the three components of the massive multiple system delta Ori A, focusing on the fundamental stellar properties, stellar winds, and X-ray characteristics of the system. The primary's distance-independent parameters turn out to be characteristic for its spectral type (O9.5 II), but usage of the Hipparcos parallax yields surprisingly low values for the mass, radius, and luminosity. Consistent values follow only if delta Ori lies at about twice the Hipparcos distance, in the vicinity of the sigma-Orionis cluster. The primary and tertiary dominate the spectrum and leave the secondary only marginally detectable. We estimate the V-band magnitude difference between primary and secondary to be Delta V approximate to 2.(m)8. The inferred parameters suggest that the secondary is an early B-type dwarf (approximate to B1 V), while the tertiary is an early B-type subgiant (approximate to B0 IV). We find evidence for rapid turbulent velocities (similar to 200 km s(-1)) and wind inhomogeneities, partially optically thick, in the primary's wind. The bulk of the X-ray emission likely emerges from the primary's stellar wind (logL(X)/L-Bol approximate to -6.85), initiating close to the stellar surface at R-0 similar to 1.1 R-*. Accounting for clumping, the mass-loss rate of the primary is found to be log (M) over dot approximate to -6.4 (M-circle dot yr(-1))., which agrees with hydrodynamic predictions, and provides a consistent picture along the X-ray, UV, optical, and radio spectral domains.
The planetary nebula N66 in the Large Magellanic Cloud is an extraordinary object, as it is the only confirmed PN where the central star is a Wolf-Rayet star of the nitrogen sequence, i.e. of type [WN]. Moreover, the star showed a dramatic brightness outburst in 1993-1994. In a previous paper (Hamann et al. 2003) we analyzed the changing stellar spectra and found evidence that the central star is most likely a binary system where a white dwarf presently accretes matter from a non-degenerate companion at a high rate. Thus the object is a candidate for a future type Ia supernova in our cosmic neighborhood. In the present paper we analyze the morphology and kinematics of the nebula, using images and high-resolution spectra obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and the Very Large Telescope (ESO-VLT). The object presents a complex multipolar structure, dominated by very bright lobes located at both sides of the central star and separated by a narrow waist. In addition there is a pair of very extended and twisted loops, also pointing in opposite directions; their symmetry axis and collimation angle differs from those of the bright lobes. High resolution spectroscopy reveals two main velocity components, "approaching" material at an average heliocentric radial velocity Of V-rad = 248 30 km s(-1) and similarly bright "receding" material at V-rad = 331 +/- 25 km s(-1). A systemic velocity of about 300 km s(-1) is derived. Opposite lobes and loops possess opposite velocities. Furthermore there are knots and filaments of complex structure and kinematics. Close to the central star, nebular gas is found, receding at very high velocity (125 km s(-1) relative to the system). The morphology and kinematics of LMC-N66 can be explained as the result of episodic bipolar ejections with changing axis. The bipolar structures could have been produced by collimated streams ejected from a precessing central source. We suggest that the precession could have been produced by an external torque, possibly due to a binary companion. Young, fast-moving nebular knots close to the star appear slightly He- and N-richer than the main body of the nebula, but are still hydrogen-rich in contrast to the helium-dominated atmosphere of the [WN]- type central star. In the binary scenario, this nebular matter must have been accreted from the non-degenerate companion and re-ejected before it was fully burnt
We report the discovery of a new Wolf-Rayet star in Aquila via detection of its circumstellar nebula (reminiscent of ring nebulae associated with late WN stars) using the Spitzer Space Telescope archival data. Our spectroscopic follow-up of the central point source associated with the nebula showed that it is a WN7h star (we named it WR121b). We analysed the spectrum of WR 121b by using the Potsdam Wolf-Rayet model atmospheres, obtaining a stellar temperature of similar or equal to 50 kK. The stellar wind composition is dominated by helium with similar to 20 per cent of hydrogen. The stellar spectrum is highly reddened [E(B - V) = 2.85 mag]. Adopting an absolute magnitude of M-v = 5.7, the star has a luminosity of log L/L-circle dot = 5.75 and a mass-loss rate of 10(-4.7)M(circle dot)yr(-1), and resides at a distance of 6.3 kpc. We searched for a possible parent cluster of WR 121b and found that this star is located at similar or equal to 1 degrees from the young star cluster embedded in the giant HII region W43 (containing a WN7+a/OB? star - WR121a). We also discovered a bow shock around the O9.5III star ALS 9956, located at similar or equal to 0 degrees.5 from the cluster. We discuss the possibility that WR121b and ALS 9956 are runaway stars ejected from the cluster in W43.
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.
A considerable fraction of the central stars of planetary nebulae (CSPNe) are hydrogen-deficient. Almost all of these H-deficient central stars (CSs) display spectra with strong carbon and helium lines. Most of them exhibit emission-line spectra resembling those of massive WC stars. Therefore these stars are classed as CSPNe of spectral type [WC]. Recently, quantitative spectral analysis of two emission-line CSs, PB 8 and IC 4663, revealed that these stars do not belong to the [WC] class. Instead PB 8 has been classified as [WN/WC] type and IC 4663 as [WN] type. In this work we report the spectroscopic identification of another rare [WN] star, the CS of Abell 48. We performed a spectral analysis of Abell 48 with the Potsdam Wolf-Rayet (PoWR) models for expanding atmospheres. We find that the expanding atmosphere of Abell 48 is mainly composed of helium (85 per cent by mass), hydrogen (10 per cent) and nitrogen (5 per cent). The residual hydrogen and the enhanced nitrogen abundance make this object different from the other [WN] star IC 4663. We discuss the possible origin of this atmospheric composition.