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At least 199 records · Page 11
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NASA NTRS1977

Long-term changes in ultraviolet P Cygni profiles observed with Copernicus

The incidence and nature of variability occurring on time scales of years in the ultraviolet P Cygni profiles of 15 O and B stars are investigated using spectrophotometric data obtained with the Copernicus satellite. It is found that some change in at least a few details of the P Cygni profiles is evident in almost every case, that the changes in a few stars appear to represent substantial variations in the column densities of the particular ions observed, and that the changes in other stars are minor in nature and do not result from significant alterations in the quantity of material in the stellar winds. Most of the narrow absorption features are shown to be invariant in velocity, although their strengths have apparently changed in certain cases. The nature of the changes observed in each of the program stars is briefly described, the time scale for variability in the stellar winds is considered, and two stars (Zeta Pup and Delta Ori A) are identified for which some alteration in the total amount of material in the stellar wind has taken place. It is suggested that the narrow absorption features probably represent temperature gradients or plateaus in the stellar-wind velocity fields or may be caused by flat regions in the height dependence of the wind velocity.

Snow, T. P., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Tables and intercomparisons of evolutionary sequences of models for massive stars

Tables of evolutionary sequences of models for massive stars have been prepared for a variety of physical input parameters that are normally treated as free. These parameters include the interior convective mixing scheme, the mixing length in the outer convective envelope, the rate of stellar-wind mass loss, the initial stellar mass, and the initial chemical composition. Ranges of specified initial mass and initial chemical composition are M = 10-120 solar masses, Xe = 0.602-0.739, and Ze = 0.021-0.044. The tables cover evolution of the star from the ZAMS to either the end of core H burning or the end of core He burning. Differences among the evolutionary tracks are illustrated primarily in terms of the interior mixing scheme, since the amount and timing of stellar wind mass loss are still very uncertain for initial masses above about 30 solar masses.

Chin, Chao-Wen↗
NASA NTRS1997

Ion Bombardment Experiments Suggesting an Origin for Organic Particles in Pre-Cometary and Cometary Ices

Simple molecules frozen as mantles of interstellar and circumstellar grains and incorporated into comets are subjected to ion bombardment in the form of cosmic rays, stellar flares, stellar winds, and ions accelerated in stellar wind shocks. The total expected dosage for the variety of situations range from 10 eV/molecule for interplanetary dust subjected to solar flares to 10(exp 6) eV/molecule for material in the T Tauri environment. Utilizing a Van de Graaff accelerator and a target chamber having cryogenic and mass spectrometer capabilities, we have bombarded frozen gases in the temperature range of 10 K to 30 K with 175 keV protons. After irradiation, removal of the ice by sublimation at an elevated temperature in vacuum reveals a fluffy residue. These experiments suggest that processes resulting in the formation of organic particles found in the coma of Comet Halley, "CHON", may have included ion bombardment. Also, the moderate energy (100 keV to 500 keV) shock accelerated ion environment of bipolar outflow of stars in the planetary nebula stage such as the Red Rectangle, could produce complex molecular species which emit the observed unidentified infrared bands at 3.3 micro-m, 6.2 micro-m, 7.7 micro-m, 8.6 micro-m, and 11.3 micro-m.

Wdowiak, Thomas J.↗
NASA NTRS1977

A simple physical model for X-ray burst sources

In connection with information considered by Illarianov and Sunyaev (1975) and van den Heuvel (1975), a simple physical model for an X-ray burst source in the galactic disk is proposed. The model includes an unevolved OB star with a relatively weak stellar wind and a compact object in a close binary system. For some reason, the stellar wind from the OB star is unable to accrete steadily on to the compact object. When the stellar wind is sufficiently weak, the compact object accretes irregularly, leading to X-ray bursts.

Joss, P. C.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Effects of charge exchange on the evaporative wind of HD 209458b

ABSTRACT The role of charge exchange in shaping exoplanet photoevaporation remains a topic of contention. Exchange of electrons between stellar wind protons from the exoplanet’s host star and neutral hydrogen from the planet’s wind has been proposed as a mechanism to create ‘energetic neutral atoms’ (ENAs), which could explain the high absorption line velocities observed in systems where mass-loss is occurring. In this paper, we present results from three-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations of the mass-loss of a planet similar to HD 209458b. We self-consistently launch a planetary wind by calculating the ionization and heating resulting from incident high-energy radiation, inject a stellar wind into the simulation, and allow electron exchange between the stellar and planetary winds. We predict the potential production of ENAs by the wind–wind interaction analytically, and then present the results of our simulations, which confirm the analytic limits. Within the limits of our hydrodynamic simulation, we find that charge exchange with the stellar wind properties examined here is unable to explain the absorption observed at high Doppler velocities.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS2003

Global Properties of Local Star Forming Galaxies (ADP 2000)

We performed an archival study of the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope (HUT) Astro-2 database. Nineteen spectra of star-forming regions and starburst galaxies were retrieved, reprocessed, and analyzed. The spectra cover the wavelength region 912- 1800 A, providing access to the domain of peak luminosity from a young stellar population. We created an atlas of galaxy spectra documenting the continuum and line properties with an emphasis on the relatively unexplored spectral region below 1200 A. The dust obscuration law was derived from a comparison of the HUT spectra with synthetic population models. The law is similar to the commonly adopted starburst reddening curve at longer wavelengths and approaches the Milky Way law near the Lyman break. A simple power-law parameterization is given, which allows users to express the reddening law in terms of the stellar or nebular color excess at ultraviolet or optical wavelengths. We studied the effect of time-dependent dust obscuration on synthetic ultraviolet line profiles of a young stellar population. If the youngest and most massive stars are more obscured than the older, less massive stars, the C IV 1550 and other stellar wind lines are significantly diluted with respect to a simple foreground screen model for the dust. We propose to use stellar wind lines as a probe of the dust-obscuration model instead of the previously employed nebular emission lines. Since purely stellar diagnostics are utilized, uncertain assumptions on the nebular properties are unnecessary. Photoionization models demonstrate that the C IV 1550 emission is typically dominated by stellar winds and nebular contamination is negligible. A first comparison with the galaxy sample observed with the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope favors a dust geometry affecting ionizing and nonionizing stars equally. We point out the need for higher quality data for a more rigorous comparison. The Hubble Space Telescope is capable of obtaining such data in the future.

Leitherer, Claus↗
NASA NTRS1984

The ultraviolet spectra of the O and B stars in the young galactic cluster NGC 6530

The UV spectra between 1200 and 3000 A of stars in the young galactic cluster NGC 6530 and the surrounding association are studied. From the UBV colors and empirical as well as theoretical calibrations, the T(eff) and L for those stars which follow a sequence in the H-R diagram corresponding to the main sequence are determined. From a comparison with theoretical evolutionary tracks, the age of the cluster is estimated to be 5 + or - 2 x 10 to the 6th yr, with a very small scatter for the different stars. The UV extinction is determined for the stars from a comparison of theoretical model energy distributions for the stellar T(eff)s and the observed energy distributions. The stellar wind lines are studied, and strong stellar winds are found for bolometric magnetidues less than -8.

Boehm-Vitense, E.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Can X-ray bursts be caused by substorms at a neutron star

A model for X-ray bursts from accreting neutron stars is developed by analogy with geomagnetic substorms. The essential steps in the substorm process are the nearly steady merging or reconnection of the magnetic field in the magnetosphere with the field in the stellar wind, the transport of some of the merged plasma into a magnetically controlled tail, and the explosive release of plasma from the tail into the magnetosphere. The strength of the magnetic field in the stellar wind required to drive a substorm is approximately 0.1 gauss. If the stellar wind is organized into large-scale magnetic sectors, as is the solar wind, topological dissipation will not occur, and the large-scale field will be available for merging at the magnetopause. Once the material is in the tail, the time scales for the Kruskal-Schwarzschild instability and the unidentified instability which drives terrestrial substorms may be comparable. Alternating periods of burst activity and quiescence could be caused by passage from one sector to another with opposite polarity, or be seasonal variations.

Neugebauer, M.↗
NASA NTRS1988

The formation of interstellar jets by the convergence of supersonic conical flows

The interaction of a stellar wind with a nonuniform environment leads, under the assumption of steady state, to the formation of an ovoidal cavity with acute ending tips. The stellar wind recollected by the walls of the cavity ends up being deposited at the tips. Here, it is shown that this focusing effect leads to the formation of a narrow cylindrical stream or 'jet' of reshocked stellar wind matter moving directly away from the star with a large velocity. A 'typical' T Tauri star may produce jets with densities of 1000-10,000/cu cm, velocities about 100 km/s, widths about 0.00001-0.001 pc over a length of 0.001-0.01 pc. The opening angles are 7 deg or less.

Canto, J.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Stellar Winda: Observational Evidence for a Hot-cool Star Connection

Stellar wind data was collected for a total of 272 stars representing all spectral types including Wolf-Rayet stars. Two significant correlations are found relating the wind luminosity (L sub w = 1/2 MV sub infinity squared) to the bolometric luminosity and the terminal velocity of the stellar wind to the stellar effective temperature. Least-squared fits to the data suggest that the wind luminosity is approximately the bolometric luminosity squared and the terminal velocity is approximately the effective temperature to the 1.8 power. The surprising result is that all spectral types throughout the HR diagram are represented in these correlations.

Waldron, W. L.↗
NASA NTRS2018

ALMA Spectral Line and Imaging Survey of a Low and a High Mass-Loss Rate AGB Star Between 335 and 362 GHz

Context. Low and intermediate mass stars are known to power strong stellar winds when evolving through the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) phase. Initial mass, luminosity, temperature, and composition determine the pulsation characteristics of the star and the dust species formed in the pulsating photospheric layers. Radiation pressure on these grains triggers the onset of a stellar wind. However, as of today, we still cannot predict the wind mass-loss rates and wind velocities from first principles neither do we know which species are the first to condense in the upper atmospheric regions. Aims. We aim to characterise the dominant physical, dynamical, and chemical processes in the inner wind region of two archetypical oxygen-rich (C/O < 1) AGB stars, that is, the low mass-loss rate AGB star R Dor (M’ ∼ 1 × 10(exp −7) M/yr) and the high mass-loss rate AGB star IK Tau (M’ ∼ 5 × 10(exp −6) M/yr). The purpose of this study is to observe the key molecular species contributing to the formation of dust grains and to cross-link the observed line brightnesses of several species to the global and local properties of the star and its wind. Methods. A spectral line and imaging survey of IK Tau and R Dor was made with ALMA between 335 and 362 GHz (band 7) at a spatial resolution of ∼150 mas, which corresponds to the locus of the main dust formation region of both targets. Results. Some two hundred spectral features from 15 molecules (and their isotopologues) were observed, including rotational lines in both the ground and vibrationally excited states (up to v = 5 for SiO). Detected species include the gaseous precursors of dust grains such as SiO, AlO, AlOH, TiO, and TiO2. We present a spectral atlas for both stars and the parameters of all detected spectral features. A clear dichotomy for the sulphur chemistry is seen: while CS, SiS, SO, and SO2 are abundantly present in IK Tau, only SO and SO2 are detected in R Dor. Also other species such as NaCl, NS, AlO, and AlOH display a completely different behaviour. From some selected species, the minor isotopologues can be used to assess the isotopic ratios. The channel maps of many species prove that both large and small-scale inhomogeneities persist in the inner wind of both stars in the form of blobs, arcs, and/or a disk. The high sensitivity of ALMA allows us to spot the impact of these correlated density structures in the spectral line profiles. The spectral lines often display a half width at zero intensity much larger than expected from the terminal velocity, v∞, previously derived for both objects (36 km/s versus v(∞) ∼ 17.7 km/s for IK Tau and 23 km/s versus v(∞) ∼ 5.5 km/s for R Dor). Both a more complex 3D morphology and a more forceful wind acceleration of the (underlying) isotropic wind can explain this trend. The formation of fractal grains in the region beyond ∼400 mas can potentially account for the latter scenario. From the continuum map, we deduce a dust mass of ∼3.7 × 10(exp −7) Mand ∼2 × 10(exp −8) M for IK Tau and R Dor, respectively. Conclusions. The observations presented here provide important constraints on the properties of these two oxygen-dominated AGB stellar winds. In particular, the ALMA data prove that both the dynamical and chemical properties are vastly different for this high mass-loss rate (IK Tau) and low mass-loss rate (R Dor) star.

L. Decin↗
NASA NTRS2018

ALMA Spectral Line and Imaging Survey of a Low and a High Mass-Loss Rate AGB Star Between 335 and 362 GHz

Context. Low and intermediate mass stars are known to power strong stellar winds when evolving through the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) phase. Initial mass, luminosity, temperature, and composition determine the pulsation characteristics of the star and the dust species formed in the pulsating photospheric layers. Radiation pressure on these grains triggers the onset of a stellar wind. However, as of today, we still cannot predict the wind mass-loss rates and wind velocities from first principles neither do we know which species are the first to condense in the upper atmospheric regions. Aims. We aim to characterise the dominant physical, dynamical, and chemical processes in the inner wind region of two archetypical oxygen-rich (C/O<1) AGB stars, that is, the low mass-loss rate AGB star R Dor (M~ 1x10(exp 7) M☉/yr) and the high mass-loss rate AGB star IK Tau (M~5x10(exp 6) M☉/yr). The purpose of this study is to observe the key molecular species contributing to the formation of dust grains and to cross-link the observed line brightnesses of several species to the global and local properties of the star and its wind. Methods. A spectral line and imaging survey of IK Tau and R Dor was made with ALMA between 335 and 362 GHz (band 7) at a spatial resolution of ~150 mas, which corresponds to the locus of the main dust formation region of both targets. Results. Some two hundred spectral features from 15 molecules (and their isotopologues) were observed, including rotational lines in both the ground and vibrationally excited states (up to v=5 for SiO). Detected species include the gaseous precursors of dust grains such as SiO, AlO, AlOH, TiO, and TiO2.We present a spectral atlas for both stars and the parameters of all detected spectral features. A clear dichotomy for the sulphur chemistry is seen: while CS, SiS, SO, and SO2 are abundantly present in IK Tau, only SO and SO2 are detected in R Dor. Also other species such as NaCl, NS, AlO, and AlOH display a completely different behaviour. From some selected species, the minor isotopologues can be used to assess the isotopic ratios. The channel maps of many species prove that both large and small-scale inhomogeneities persist in the inner wind of both stars in the form of blobs, arcs, and/or a disk. The high sensitivity of ALMA allows us to spot the impact of these correlated density structures in the spectral line profiles. The spectral lines often display a half width at zero intensity much larger than expected from the terminal velocity, v1, previously derived for both objects (36 km/s versus v(∞)~17.7 km/s for IK Tau and 23 km/s versus v(∞)~5.5 km/s for R Dor). Both a more complex 3D morphology and a more forceful wind acceleration of the (underlying) isotropic wind can explain this trend. The formation of fractal grains in the region beyond _400 mas can potentially account for the latter scenario. From the continuum map, we deduce a dust mass of ~3.7 x 10(exp 7) M☉ and ~2 x 10(ex0 8) M☉ for IK Tau and R Dor, respectively. Conclusions. The observations presented here provide important constraints on the properties of these two oxygen-dominated AGB stellar winds. In particular, the ALMA data prove that both the dynamical and chemical properties are vastly different for this high mass-loss rate (IK Tau) and low mass-loss rate (R Dor) star.

Stars: AGB and post-AGB, Stars: mass loss, Stars: ↗
NASA NTRS1989

Formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in circumstellar envelopes

Production of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in carbon-rich circumstellar envelopes was investigated using a kinetic approach. A detailed chemical reaction mechanism of gas-phase PAH formation and growth, containing approximately 100 reactions of 40 species, was numerically solved under the physical conditions expected in cool stellar winds. The chemistry is based on studies of soot production in hydrocarbon pyrolysis and combustion. Several first-ring and second-ring cyclization processes were considered. A linear lumping algorithm was used to describe PAH growth beyond the second aromatic ring. PAH production using this mechanism was examined with respect to a grid of idealized constant velocity stellar winds as well as several published astrophysical models. The basic result is that the onset of PAH production in the interstellar envelopes is predicted to occur within the temperature interval of 1100 to 900 K. The absolute amounts of the PAHs formed, however, are very sensitive to a number of parameters, both chemical and astrophysical, whose values are not accurately known. Astrophysically meaningful quantities of PAHs require particularly dense and slow stellar winds and high initial acetylene abundance. It is suggested that most of the PAHs may be produced in a relatively small fraction of carbon-rich red giants.

Frenklach, Michael↗
NASA NTRS2003

Massive Stars and the Energy Balance of the Interstellar Medium: The Impact of an Isolated 60 M. Star - 1

We present results of numerical simulations carried out with a two-dimensional radiation hydrodynamics code in order to study the impact of massive stars on their surrounding interstellar medium. This first paper deals with the evolution of the circumstellar gas around an isolated 60 M. star. The interaction of the photo- ionized H II region with the stellar wind bubble forms a variety of interesting structures like shells, clouds, fingers, and spokes. These results demonstrate that complex structures found in H II regions are not necessarily relics from the time before the gas became ionized but may result from dynamical processes during the course of the H II region evolution. We have also analyzed the transfer and deposit of the stellar wind and radiation energy into the circumstellar medium until the star explodes as a supernova. Although the total mechanical wind energy supplied by the star is negligible compared to the accumulated energy of the Lyman continuum photons, the kinetic energy imparted to the circumstellar gas over the star s lifetime is 4 times higher than for a comparable windless simulation. Furthermore, the thermal energy of warm photoionized gas is lower by some 55%). Our results document the necessity to consider both ionizing radiation and stellar winds for an appropriate description of the interaction of OB stars with their circumstellar environment.

Freyer, Tim↗
NASA NTRS1988

Line-driven winds from accretion disks. I - Effects of the ionization structure

The basic characteristics of line-driven winds from UV accretion disks were investigated analytically and numerically. Stellar winds have been compared with the outflow from a disk surrounding a supermassive black hole. It is found that in the approximation of vertically streaming radiation close to the disk photosphere, the existence of steady disk winds depends crucially on their ionization structure, a basic difference when compared to the stellar winds. The necessary criteria for the line radiation force to support the disk wind are presented and discussed.

Vitello, Peter A. J.↗
NASA NTRS1991

On winds and X-rays of O-type stars

The dependence between stellar wind parameters and their X-ray fluxes is studied. Bolometric corrections are examined as a function of temperature, and a bolometric luminosity scale is proposed for the O-type stars. New mass-loss rates and terminal velocities of 40 well-known, bright single stars or binaries are measured, and the Lyman-alpha profile is modeled for the stars to determine the amount of X-ray-absorbing hydrogen. The mass-loss rates found for the latest O-type stars are significantly smaller than expected from the power-law dependences known for brighter, hot stars. The mass-loss rates for binary system do not differ significantly from those of single stars. A dependence is found between the wind energy of the single stars and the X-ray luminosity, and it is suggested that this dependence is at least partially responsible for the proportionality between L(x) and L(bol). The X-ray fluxes from the close binaries behave in qualitative agreement with predictions from simple theories of colliding stellar winds.

Chlebowski, Tomasz↗
NASA NTRS1988

Theoretical studies of mass loss and shock phenomena in cool star envelopes

To show the difficulty of producing the blue-shifted emission of (O I) and (S II) from T Tauri stars directly in the stellar wind, an element of gas in a radially expanding stellar wind was followed as it cooled and recombined. Results indicate that T Tauri winds must be heated at large distances from the star to produce the (S II) emission. A shock between the wind and the disk is an attractive mechanism to produce this heating. When the theory is applied to a simple disk model, a number of predictions and implications are evident, for example, that some T Tauri stars eject mass near the equatorial plane. In a second study, spectral energy distributions of T Tauri stars were analyzed to place limits on the amount of accretion which might occur during the early phase of stellar evolution. The best match to H-alpha line profiles is for models in which the turbulent velocity dominates close to the star, while expansion dominates farther out. Such a model predicts, for instance, that a mass loss rate of 1/10,000,000 solar masses per year is required to account for the blue-shifted Na I absorption of some objects.

Hartmann, Lee↗
NASA NTRS1994

The dust in the hydrogen-poor ejecta of Abell 30

We present new optical and near-infrared images of the hydrogen-poor planetary nebula Abell 30 and produce detailed models that account for the major observed morphological and IR properties. By imaging the nebula in the K band, we confirm the presence of hot dust in an expanding equatorial ring of H-poor gas. No emission was detected from the H-poor polar knots, suggesting a dust deficiency htere relative to the equatorial ring. The near-IR emission is attributed to small carbonaceous dust grains which are stochastically heated by stellar ultraviolet photons. Using an adaptive version of a matrix method devised by Guhathakurta & Draine (1989) to model stochastic heating, we find that the near-IR spectrum observed by Dinerstein & Lester (1984) requires the presence of dust grains down to approximately 0.0007 microns in radius. This minimum grain radius is in excellent agreement with our calculations of the grain destruction by energetic stellar UV photons: we find that carbon clusters with less than approximately 140 atoms (0.0007 microns in radius) are destroyed by stellar UV photons in approximately 1000 yr, the kinematic age of H-poor ejecta. Modeling of the far-IR dust emission implies that the bulk of the dust mass in A30 must reside at distances several times greater than the distance of the equatorial ring from the central star. This spatial dust distribution is attributed to the interaction of the stellar wind with the inhomogeneous H-poor ejecta. Most of the H-poor gas and dust has been apparently carried outward by the stellar wind, leaving behing dense, H-poor knots with prominent wind-blown tails in the equatorial ring and in the polar knots. This picture is supported by the presence of a stellar wind-blown bubble within the H-rich envelope in our optical images.

Borkowski, Kazimierz J.↗