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We present results of full 3D hydrodynamical and radiative transfer simulations of the colliding stellar winds in the massive binary system η Carinae. We accomplish this by applying the SimpleX algorithm for 3D radiative transfer on an unstructured Voronoi-Delaunay grid to recent 3D smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) simulations of the binary colliding winds. We use SimpleX to obtain detailed ionization fractions of hydrogen and helium, in 3D, at the resolution of the original SPH simulations. We investigate several computational domain sizes and Luminous Blue Variable primary star mass-loss rates. We furthermore present new methods of visualizing and interacting with output from complex 3D numerical simulations, including 3D interactive graphics and 3D printing. While we initially focus on η Car, the methods employed can be applied to numerous other colliding wind (WR 140, WR 137, WR 19) and dusty `pinwheel' (WR 104, WR 98a) binary systems. Coupled with 3D hydrodynamical simulations, SimpleX simulations have the potential to help determine the regions where various observed time-variable emission and absorption lines form in these unique objects.
We present 3D numerical simulations of the NGC6888 nebula considering the proper motion and the evolution of the star, from the red supergiant (RSG) to the Wolf-Rayet (WR) phase. Our simulations reproduce the limb-brightened morphology observed in [OIII] and X-ray emission maps. The synthetic maps computed by the numerical simulations show filamentary and clumpy structures produced by instabilities triggered in the interaction between the WR wind and the RSG shell.
The main objective of this work is to investigate the evolution of massive stars, and the interplay between them and the ionized gas for a sample of local metal-poor Wolf-Rayet galaxies.
Optical integral field spectrocopy was used in combination with multi-wavelength radio data.
Combining optical and radio data, we locate Wolf-Rayet stars and supernova remnants across the Wolf-Rayet galaxies to study the spatial correlation between them. This study will shed light on the massive star formation and its feedback, and will help us to better understand
distant star-forming galaxies.
We analyse whether a stellar atmosphere model computed with the code CMFGEN provides an optimal description of the stellar observations of WR 136 and simultaneously reproduces the nebular observations of NGC 6888, such as the ionization degree, which is modelled with the pyCloudy code. All the observational material available (far and near UV and optical spectra) were used to constrain such models. We found that the stellar temperature T∗, at τ = 20, can be in a range between 70 000 and 110 000 K, but when using the nebula as an additional restriction, we found that the stellar models with T∗ ∼ 70 000 K represent the best solution for both, the star and the nebula.
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.
We present the first physical characterization of the young open cluster VVVCL041. We spectroscopically observed the cluster main-sequence stellar population and a very-massive star candidate: WR62-2. CMFGEN modelling to our near-infrared spectra indicates that WR62-2 is a very luminous (10^6.4±0.2 L⊙)and massive (∼ 80M⊙) star.
We present results from our near-infrared spectroscopy with VLT/ISAAC of four, massive eclipsing binary systems in the young, heavily reddened, massive Danks clusters. We derive accurate fundamental parameters and the distance to these massive systems, which comprise of OIf+, WR and O-type stars. Our goal is to increase the sample of well-studied WR stars and constrain their physics by comparison with evolutionary models.
Concluding Remarks
(2015)
Detection and Characterization of Wolf-Rayet stars in M81 with GTC/OSIRIS spectra and HST images
(2015)
Here we investigate a sample of young star clusters (YSCs) and other regions of recent star formation with Wolf-Rayet (W-R) features detected in the relatively nearby spiral galaxy M81 by analysing long-slit (LS) and Multi-Object Spectroscopy (MOS) spectra obtained with the OSIRIS instrument at the 10.4-m Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC). We take advantage of the synergy between GTC spectra and Hubble Space Telescope (HST) images to also reveal their spatial localization and the environments hosting these stars. We finally discuss and comment on the next steps of our study.
We discuss our most recent findings on the diffuse X-ray emission within Wolf-Rayet (WR) nebulae. The best-quality X-ray observations of these objects are those performed by XMM- Newton and Chandra towards S 308, NGC 2359, and NGC 6888. Even though these three WR nebulae might have different formation scenarios, they all share similar characteristics: i) the main plasma temperatures of the X-ray-emitting gas is found to be T =[1–2]×^K, ii) the diffuse X-ray emission is confined inside the [O iii] shell, and iii) their X-ray luminosities and electron densities in the 0.3–2.0 keV energy range are LX ≈10^33–10^34 erg s-1 and ne ≈0.1–1 cm^-3 . These properties and the nebular-like abundances of the hot gas suggest mixing and/or thermal conduction is taking an important rôle reducing the temperature of the hot bubble.
The evolution of massive stars is strongly influenced by their initial chemical composition. We have computed rapidly-rotating massive star models with low metallicity (∼1/50 Z⊙) that evolve chemically homogeneously and have optically-thin winds during the main sequence evolution. These luminous and hot stars are predicted to emit intense mid- and far-UV radiation, but without the broad emission lines that characterize WR stars with optically-thick winds. We show that such Transparent Wind UV-Intense (TWUIN) stars may be responsible for the high number of He ii ionizing photons observed in metal-poor dwarf galaxies, such as IZw 18. We find that these TWUIN stars are possible long-duration gamma-ray burst progenitors.
Carbon-rich Wolf-Rayet stars are efficient carbon dust makers. Despite the strong evidence for dust formation in these objects provided by infrared thermal emission from dust, the routes to nucleation and condensation and the physical conditions required for dust production are still poorly understood. We discuss here the potential routes to carbon dust and the possible locations conducive to dust formation in the colliding winds of WC binaries.
Massive, luminous stars reaching the Eddington limit in their interiors develop very dilute, extended envelopes. This effect is called envelope inflation. If the progenitors of Type Ib/c supernovae, which are believed to be Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars, have inflated envelopes then the shock breakout signals diffuse in them and can extend their rise times significantly. We show that our inflated, hydrogen-free, WR stellar models with a radius of ∼R⊙ can have shock breakout signals longer than ∼ 60 s. The puzzlingly long shock breakout signal observed in the Type Ib SN 2008D can be explained by an inflated progenitor envelope, and more such events might argue in favour of existence of inflated envelopes in general.
We an optically-thick, transonic, steady wind model for a H-free Wolf-Rayet star. A bifurcation is found across a critical mass loss rate Mb. Slower winds M < Mb extend by several hydrostatic stellar radii, reproduce features of envelope in ation from Petrovic et al. (2006) and Gräfener et al. (2012), and are energetically unbound. This work is of particular interest for extended envelopes and winds, radiative hydrodynamic instabilities (eg. wind stagnation, clumping, etc.), and NLTE atmospheric models.
Eta Carinae
(2015)
Since Augusto Damineli's demonstration in 1996 that Eta Carinae is a binary with a 5.52 year period, many innovative observations and increasingly advanced three-dimensional models have led to considerable insight on this massive system that ejected at least ten, possibly forty, solar masses in the nineteenth century. Here we present a review of our current understanding of this complex system and point out continuing puzzles.
Wolf-Rayet stars are important sources for the enrichment of the ISM with nuclear processed elements, UV photons and momentum. They are descendants of high-mass stars for which short lifetimes and transition times can hamper the spectral classification of the stars in their different evolutionary phases. The expanded stellar atmospheres of Wolf-Rayet stars can show spectra which seem inconsistent with the anticipated underlying evolution phase, for example in late hydrogen-burning WN stars and Of/WN transition stars. We present a sequence of synthetic spectra of the Potsdam Wolf-Rayet models based on the latest Geneva stellar evolution models. This will visualize the changes in stellar spectra over a full stellar lifetime. Direct comparison with observed stellar spectra, as well as the evolution of diagnostic line ratios will improve the connection of spectral classification and evolution phase.
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.
Luminous Blue Variables (LBVs) are stars is a transitional phase massive stars may enter while evolving from main-sequence to Wolf-Rayet stars. The to LBVs intrinsic photometric variability is based on the modulation of the stellar spectrum. Within a few years the spectrum shifts from OB to AF type and back. During their cool phase LBVs are close to the Humphreys-Davidson (equivalent to Eddington/Omega-Gamma) limit. LBVs have a rather high mass loss rate, with stellar winds that are fast in the hot and slower in the cool phase of an LBV. These alternating wind velocities lead to the formation of LBV nebulae by wind-wind interactions. A nebula can also be formed in a spontaneous giant eruption in which larger amounts of mass are ejected. LBV nebulae are generally small (< 5 pc) mainly gaseous circumstellar nebulae, with a rather large fraction of LBV nebulae being bipolar. After the LBV phase the star will turn into a Wolf-Rayet star, but note that not all WR stars need to have passed the LBV phase. Some follow from the RSG and the most massive directly from the MS phase. In general WRs have a large mass loss and really fast stellar winds. The WR wind may interact with winds of earlier phases (MS, RSG) to form WR nebulae. As for WR with LBV progenitors the scenario might be different, here no older wind is present but an LBV nebula! The nature of WR nebulae are therefore manifold and in particular the connection (or family ties) of WR to LBV nebulae is important to understand the transition between these two phases, the evolution of massive stars, their winds, wind-wind and wind-nebula interactions. Looking at the similarities and differences of LBV and WR nebula, figuring what is a genuine LBV and WR nebula are the basic question addressed in the analysis presented here.
Obtaining a complete census of massive, evolved stars in a galaxy would be a key ingredient for testing stellar evolution models. However, as the evolution of stars is also strongly dependent on their metallicity, it is inevitable to have this kind of data for a variety of galaxies with different metallicities. Between 2009 and 2011, we conducted the Magellanic Clouds Massive Stars and Feedback Survey (MSCF); a spatially complete, multi-epoch, broad- and narrow-band optical imaging survey of the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. With the inclusion of shallow images, we are able to give a complete photometric catalog of stars between B ≈ 18 and B ≈ 19 mag.
These observations were augmented with additional photometric data of similar spatial res-
olution from UV to IR (e.g. from GALEX, 2MASS and Spitzer) in order to sample a large portion of the spectral energy distribution of the brightest stars (B < 16 mag) in the Magel- lanic Clouds. Using these data, were are able to train a machine learning algorithm that gives us a good estimate of the spectral type of tens of thousands of stars.
This method can be applied to the search for Wolf-Rayet-Stars to obtain a sample of candi- dates for follow-up observations. As this approach can, in principle, be adopted for any resolved galaxy as long as sufficient photometric data is available, it can form an effective alternative method to the classical strategies (e.g. He II filter imaging).
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.
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.
The gas cloud G2 is currently being tidally disrupted by the Galactic Centre super-massive black hole, Sgr A*. The region around the black hole is populated by ∼ 30 Wolf-Rayet stars, which produce strong outflows. Here we explore the possibility that gas clumps like G2 originate from the collision of stellar winds via the non-linear thin shell instability.
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.
HD5980
(2015)
HD5980 is a multiple system containing at least 3 very massive and luminous stars. Located in the Small Magellanic Cloud, it is an ideal system for studying the massive star structure and evolutionary processes in low-metallicity environments. Intensely observed over the past few decades, HD5980 is a treasure trove of information on stellar wind structure, on wind-wind collisions and on the formation of wind-blown circumstellar structures. In addition, its characteristics suggest that the eclipsing WR+LBV stars of the system are the product of quasihomogeneous chemical evolution, thus making them candidate pair production supernovae or GRB progenitors. This paper summarizes some of the outstanding results derived from half a century of observations and recent theoretical studies.
Helium stars
(2015)
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.
Colliding Wolf-Rayet (WR) winds produce thermal X-ray emission widely observed by X-ray telescopes. In wide WR+O binaries, such as WR 140, the X-ray flux is tied to the orbital phase, and is a direct probe of the winds’ properties. In the Galactic center, ~30 WRs orbit the super massive black hole (SMBH) within ~10”, leading to a smorgasbord of wind-wind collisions. To model the X-ray emission of WR 140 and the Galactic center, we perform 3D hydrodynamic simulations to trace the complex gaseous flows, and then carry out 3D radiative transfer calculations to compute the variable X-ray spectra. The model WR 140 RXTE light curve matches the data well for all phases except the X-ray minimum associated with periastron, while the model spectra agree with the RXTE hardness ratio and the shape of the Suzaku observations throughout the orbit. The Galactic center model of the Chandra flux and spectral shape match well in the region r ≤ 3”, but the model flux falls off too rapidly beyond this radius.
Before GAIA improves the HIPPARCOS survey, direct determination of the distance via parallax is only possible for γ Vel, but the analysis of the cluster or association to which WR stars are associated can give distances with a 50% to a 10% accuracy. The list of Galactic clusters, associations and clusters/association candidates has grown significantly in the last decade with the numerous deep, high resolution surveys of the Milky Way. In this work, we revisit the fundamental parameters of known clusters with WR stars, and we present the search for new ones. All our work is based on the catalogs from the VVV (from the VISTA telescope) and the UKIDS (from the UKIRT telescope) near infrared surveys. Finally, the relations between the fundamental parameters of clusters with WR stars are explored.
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.
The evolution of massive stars in very low metallicity galaxies is less well observationally
constrained than in environments more similar to the Milky Way, M33, or the LMC. We discuss
in this contribution the current state of our program to search for and characterize Wolf-Rayet stars (and other massive emission line stars) in low metallicity galaxies in the Local Volume.
Magnetic fields, non-thermal radiation and particle acceleration in colliding winds of WR-O stars
(2015)
Non-thermal emission has been detected in WR-stars for many years at long wavelengths spectral range, in general attributed to synchrotron emission. Two key ingredients are needed to explain such emissions, namely magnetic fields and relativistic particles. Particles can be accelerated to relativistic speeds by Fermi processes at strong shocks. Therefore, strong synchrotron emission is usually attributed to WR binarity. The magnetic field may also be amplified at shocks, however the actual picture of the magnetic field geometry, intensity, and its role on the acceleration of particles at WR binary systems is still unclear. In this work we discuss the recent developments in MHD modelling of wind-wind collision regions by means of numerical simulations, and the coupled particle acceleration processes related.
We study the interaction of line-driven winds from massive stars with the magnetic field rooted in these stars by carrying out numerical simulations using the Nirvana MHD code in 2D in spherical polar coordinates. The code's adaptive mesh refinement feature allows high spatial resolution across the whole simulation box. We study both O and Wolf-Rayet stars for a range of magnetic field strengths from weak to strong as measured by the confinement parameter. For weak fields our simulations show that the initially dipolar field opens up far away from the star and a thin disk-like structure forms in the equatorial plane of the magnetic field. For stronger fields the disk is disrupted close to the stellar surface and closed field lines persist at low latitudes. For very strong fields a pronounced magnetosphere forms where the gas is forced to move along the field lines and eventually falls back to the stellar surface.
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.
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.
I address uncertainties on the spatial distribution and mass of the dust formed in η Carinae's Homunculus nebula with data being combined from several space- and ground-based facilities spanning near-infrared to sub-mm wavelengths, in terms of observational constraints and modeling. Until these aspects are better understood, the mass loss history and mechanisms responsible for η Car's enormous eruption(s) remain poorly constrained.
We present results of investigation of spectral variability of one of the most interesting massive stars, Romano's star (M33/V532 or GR290), located in the M33 galaxy. Brightness of the star changes together with its spectral class, which varies from WN11 to WN8. Using CMFGEN code we estimated parameters of stellar atmosphere and found that during last ten years bolometric luminosity of the star changed synchronously with stellar magnitude. Our calculations argue in favor of the hypothesis of a post-LBV status of GR290.
We look at how the dynamics of colliding wind binaries (CWB) can be investigated in 2D, and how several parameters influence the dynamics of the small scale structures inside the colliding wind and the shocked regions, as well as in how the dynamics influence the shape of the collision region at large distances. The parameters we adopt are based on the binary system WR98a, one of the few Wolf-Rayet (WR) dusty pinwheels known.
We present the results of the new photometric observations of the famous hypergiant PCygni. New observations were obtained in 2014 using the 48 cm Cassegrain telescope of the Abastumani Astrophysical Observatory, Georgia. We reveal some interesting behaviors of the B,V,R,I light curves, and also report new results on the periodicity of PCygni's variation. The latter result is based on the analysis of the photometric data (U,B,V filters) collected at the Abastumani Observatory between 1937 and 1983.
We found original observations of PCygni by E. Kharadze and N. Magalashvili in the archives of the Abastumani Observatory. These observations were carried out in the period 1951–1983. Initially they used 29 Cygni as a comparison star, and all observations of PCygni were processed using this star. On the basis of their calculations, the authors decided that PCygni may be a WUMa type binary with an orbital period of 0.500565 d, but this hypothesis was not confirmed. The only observations that have been published in the Bulletin of the Abastumani Astrophysical Observatory were those of of 1951–1955. There are whole sets of observational data not only for PCygni and 29 Cygni, but in the majority of cases also for 36 Cygni in the archives. We recalculated all data (where it was possible) using 36 Cygni as a comparison star. We are presenting UBV light curves of the variable, and also observations made by V. Nikonov in Abastumani in the period 1935–1937
The Westerlund 1 (Wd1) cluster hosts a rich and varied collection of massive stars. Its dynamical youth and the absence of ongoing star formation indicate a coeval population. As such, the simultaneous presence of both late-type supergiants and Wolf-Rayet stars has defied explanation in the context of single-star evolution. Observational evidence points to a high binary fraction, hence this stellar population offers a robust test for stellar models accounting for both single-star and binary evolution. We present an optical to near-IR (VLT & NTT) spectroscopic analysis of 22 WR stars in Wd 1, delivering physical properties for the WR stars.
We discuss how these differ from the Galactic field population, and how they may be reconciled with the predictions of single and binary evolutionary models.
Key physical ingredients governing the evolution of massive stars are mass losses, convection and mixing in radiative zones. These effects are important both in the frame of single and close binary evolution. The present paper addresses two points: 1) the differences between two families of rotating models, i.e. the family of models computed with and without an efficient transport of angular momentum in radiative zones; 2) The impact of the mass losses in single and in close binary models.
Two types of X-ray sources are mostly found in planetary nebulae (PNe): point sources at their central stars and diffuse emission inside hot bubbles. Here we describe these two types of sources based on the most recent observations obtained in the framework of the Chandra Planetary Nebula Survey, ChanPlaNS, an X-ray survey targeting a volume-limited sample of PNe. Diffuse X-ray emission is found preferentially in young PNe with sharp, closed inner
shells. Point sources of X-ray emission at the central stars reveal magnetically active binary companions and shock-in stellar winds.
PopIII-star siblings in IZw18 and metal-poor WR galaxies unveiled from integral field spectroscopy
(2015)
Here, we highlight our recent results from the IFS study of Mrk178, the closest metal-poor WR galaxy, and of IZw18, the most metal-poor star-forming galaxy known in the local Universe. The IFS data of Mrk178 show the importance of aperture effects on the search for WR features, and the extent to which physical variations in the ISM properties can be detected. Our IFS data of IZw18 reveal its entire nebular HeIIλ4686-emitting region, and indicate for the very first time that peculiar, hot (nearly) metal-free ionizing stars (called here PopIII-star siblings) might hold the key to the HeII-ionization in IZw18.
Nearly 50 post-common-envelope (post-CE) close binary central stars of planetary nebulae (CSPNe) are now known. Most contain either main sequence or white dwarf (WD) companions that orbit the WD primary in around 0.1–1.0 days. Only PN G222.8–04.2 and NGC 5189 have post-CE CSPNe with a Wolf-Rayet star primary (denoted [WR]), the low-mass analogues of massive Wolf-Rayet stars. It is not well understood how H-deficient [WR] CSPNe form, even though they are relatively common, appearing in over 100 PNe. The discovery and characterisation of post-CE [WR] CSPNe is essential to determine whether proposed binary formation scenarios are feasible to explain this enigmatic class of stars. The existence of post-CE [WR] binaries alone suggests binary mergers are not necessarily a pathway to form [WR] stars. Here we give an overview of the initial results of a radial velocity monitoring programme of [WR] CSPNe to search for new binaries. We discuss the motivation for the survey and the associated strong selection effects. The mass functions determined for PN G222.8–04.2 and NGC 5189, together with literature photometric variability data of other [WR] CSPNe, suggest that of the post-CE [WR] CSPNe yet to be found, most will have WD or subdwarf O/B-type companions in wider orbits than typical post-CE CSPNe (several days or months c.f. less than a day).
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.
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.
Ring Nebulae
(2015)
Preliminary results are presented from spectroscopic data in the optical range of the Galactic ring nebulae NGC 6888, G2:4+1:4, RCW 58 and Sh2-308. Deep observations with long exposure times were carried out at the 6.5m Clay Telescope and at the 10.4m Gran Telescopio Canarias. In NGC 6888, recombination lines of C ii, O ii and N ii are detected with signal-to-noise ratios higher than 8. The chemical content of NGC 6888 is discussed within the chemical enrichment predicted by evolution models of massive stars. For all nebulae, a forthcoming work will content in-depth details about observations, analysis and final results (Esteban et al. 2015, in prep.).
Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars lose copious amounts of mass and momentum through dense stellar winds. The interaction of these outflows with their surroundings results in highly structured and complex circumstellar environments, often featuring knots, arcs, shells and spirals. Recent improvements in computational power and techniques have led to the development of detailed, multi-dimensional simulations that have given new insight into the origin of these structures, and better understanding of the physical mechanisms driving their formation. We review three of the main mechanisms that shape the outflows of WR stars:
• interaction with the interstellar medium (ISM), i.e., wind-ISM interactions;
• interaction with a stellar wind, either from a previous phase of evolution or the wind from a companion star, i.e., wind-wind interactions;
• and interaction with a companion star that has a weak or insignificant outflow (e.g., a compact companion such as a neutron star or black hole), i.e.,wind-companion interactions.
We also highlight the broader implications and impact of these circumstellar structures for related phenomena, e.g., for X-ray binaries and Gamma-ray bursts.
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.
We highlight the basic physics that allows fundamental parameters, such as the effective
temperature, luminosity, abundances, and mass-loss rate, of Wolf-Rayet (W-R) stars to be
determined. Since the temperature deduced from the spectrum of a W-R star is an ionization
temperature, a detailed discussion of the ionization structure of W-R winds, and how it is set, is given. We also provide an overview of line and continuum formation in W-R stars. Mechanisms that contribute to the strength of different emission lines, such as collisional excitation, radiative recombination, dielectronic recombination, and continuum uorescence, are discussed.