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A number of rapidly rotating B stars, not previously known as Be stars, were observed spectroscopically at H alpha. These results were then combined with existing data to show that the spectral type of a star and the minimum velocity at which it must rotate in order to become a Be star are related. The trend of this relationship is found to have a natural explanation in terms of stellar winds.
The solar wind deceleration by the interstellar medium may result in the existence of the solar wind terminal shock. In this case a certain fraction of thermal particles after being heated at the shock would obtain enough energy to be injected to the regular acceleration process. An analytical solution for the spectrum in the frame of a simplified model that includes particle acceleration at the shock front and adiabatic cooling inside the stellar wind cavity has been derived. It is shown that the acceleration of the solar wind particles at the solar wind terminal shock is capable of providing the total flux, spectrum and radial gradients of the low-energy protons close to one observed in the interplanetary space.
We present optical linear spectropolarimetry of the Luminous Blue Variable AG Carinae obtained after a recent visual brightness increase. The absence of He II lambda 4686 emission, together with the weakening of the He I spectrum and the appearance of Fe lines in the region around 5300 A, confirm that AG Car has started a new excursion across the HR diagram. The H alpha line profile exhibits very extended line wings that are polarized differently in both amount and position angle from either the continuum or the line core. The polarization changes across H alpha, together with variable continuum polarization, indicate the presence of intrinsic polarization. Coexistence of the line-wing polarization with extended flux-line wings evidences that both are formed by electron scattering in a dense wind. The position angle rotates across the line profiles, in a way that presently available models suggest is due to rotation and expansion of the scattering material. AG Car displays very large variations of its linear polarization with time, Delta P approximately 1.2%, indicating significant variations in envelope opacity. We find that the polarization varies along a preferred position angle of approximately 145 deg (with a scatter of +/- 10 deg) which we interpret as a symmetry axis of the stellar wind (with an ambiguity of 90 deg). This position angle is co-aligned with the major axis of the AG Car ring nebula and perpendicular to the AG Car jet. Our observations thus suggest that the axisymmetric geometry seen in the resolved circumstellar environment at various distances already exists within a few stellar radii of AG Car. From the H alpha polarization profile we deduce an interstellar polarization of Q = 0.31%, U = -1.15% at H alpha. The inferred interstellar polarization implies that the intrinsic polarization is not always of the same sign. This indicates either significant temporal changes in the envelope geometry, or it may arise from effects of multiple scattering in conjunction with density variations.
The most massive stars are thought to lose a significant fraction of their mass in a steady wind during the main-sequence and blue supergiant phases. This in turn sets the stage for their further evolution and eventual supernova, and preconditions the surrounding medium for all following events, with consequences for ISM energization, chemical enrichment, and dust formation. Understanding these processes requires accurate observational constraints on the mass-loss rates of the most luminous stars, which can also be used to test theories of stellar wind driving. In the past, mass-loss rates have been characterized via collisional emission processes such as optical Hα and free-free radio emission, but these so-called “density squared” diagnostics require correction in the presence of widespread clumping. Recent observational and theoretical evidence points to the likelihood of a ubiquitously high level of such clumping in hot-star winds, but quantifying its effects requires a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics of radiatively driven winds and their stochastic instabilities. Furthermore, large-scale structures initiating in surface anisotropies and propagating throughout the wind can also affect wind driving and alter mass-loss diagnostics. Time series spectroscopy of high resonance-line opacity in the UV, capable of high resolution and high signal-to-noise, are required to better understand these complex dynamics, and more accurately determine mass-loss rates. The proposed Polstar mission (Scowen et al. 2022, this volume) provides the necessary resolution at the Sobolev (∼10 km s −1 ) or sound-speed (∼20 km s −1 ) scale, for over three dozen bright galactic massive stars with signal-to noise an order of magnitude above that of the celebrated MEGA campaign (Massa et al. 1995) of the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE), via continuous observations that track propagating structures through the winds in real time. Supporting geometric constraints are provided by the polarimetric capabilities present in all the datasets of such a mission.
We present high- and low-resolution, H- and K-band spectra on nine compact 2.2 micrometers Galactic center sources in which we clearly detect He I 2.058 micrometers emission, including the AF source, IRS 13, IRS 1W, IRS 16NE, IRS 16NW, IRS 16C, IRS 16SW, IRS 34, and IRS 6E. We have also obtained comparison spectra of both a luminous blue variable (LBV) and a WR star (P Cygni and HD 192163, respectively). Our H- and K-band spectrum of the LBV P Cygni strongly resembles the near-infrared spectra of known WN9/Ofpe stars. Our spectra of the Galactic center sources share many characteristics in common with our spectrum of P Cygni. The spectra all show emission lines of H I and He I with large He I/H line flux ratios. Some have permitted and forbidden lines of Fe II. Brackett line widths and ratios indicate the presence of strong stellar winds. In contrast to the spectrum of the WR star, none of the Galactic center sources show evidence of He II emission lines in their spectra, suggesting that none of the Galactic center sources are WR stars. Our high-resolution H-band spectrum of the AF source differs from previously published low-resolution H-band spectra in that it is rich in emission lines. Furthermore, we find two distinct spectral components to the AF source separated in space by a few arcseconds. We identify both the emission-line component of the AF source and an exciting source of IRS 13 as an LBV or WN9/Ofpe star. Our results, when combined with the results of others, also suggest that IRS 16NE, IRS 16C, IRS 16NW, IRS 34, and a component of IRS 6E are early-type, emission-line stars. The argument for IRS 16SW, however, is less compelling. We find no evidence for a compact He I emission-line source at IRS 1W. This result contradicts previous findings, suggesting that the He I source at IRS 1W may be variable. If the He I lines in IRS 1W are truly variable, a stellar component of IRS 1W may be an LBV, because LBVs are known to have variable line emission on short timescales. The nine Galactic center wind sources appear to contribute a significant fraction of the total luminosity of the central few parsecs of the Galaxy.
O and B stars in the LMC and SMC have been observed with the IUE in order to compare their winds and mass loss rates with those of their galactic counterparts. It is found that while the wind terminal velocities are generally about 20 percent lower than in galactic stars of the same spectral type, it is not clear that the mass loss rates are significantly lower. This conclusion differs from the conclusions of other studies, and the reasons are discussed. The most important reason is that a less luminous set of stars with new spectral types determined from slit spectra is being examined. The discussion of stellar winds rests heavily on a comparison of relevant wind parameters observed in O stars using both high and low dispersion IUE spectra.
We present H-alpha and He I 6678 A line profiles for the eccentric orbit binary Iota Ori. We have applied a tomography algorithm which uses the established orbital velocity curves and intensity ratio to reconstruct the spectral line profiles for each star. The He I profiles appear as pure photospheric lines, and H-alpha shows variable emission in the line core throughout the orbit (which is typical of O giants) and in the blue wing near periastron passage. We show that the blue wing emission is consistent with an origin between the stars which probably results from a dramatic focusing of the primary's stellar wind at periastron. We also present IUE archival spectra of the UV wind lines N V 1240 A and C IV 1550 A.
Hydrodynamics of stellar coronas and winds - integration of momentum equation
The steady state solution topology for absorption line-driven flows is investigated for the condition that the Sobolev approximation is not used to compute the line force. The solution topology near the sonic point is of the nodal type with two positive slope solutions. The shallower of these slopes applies to reasonable lower boundary conditions and realistic ion thermal speed v(th) and to the Sobolev limit of zero of the usual Castor, Abbott, and Klein model. At finite v(th), this solution consists of a family of very similar solutions converging on the sonic point. It is concluded that a non-Sobolev, absorption line-driven flow with a realistic values of v(th) has no uniquely defined steady state. To the extent that a pure absorption model of the outflow of stellar winds is applicable, radiatively driven winds should be intrinsically variable.
The Very Large Array has been used at an observing wavelength of 6 cm to survey 25 supergiants of spectral types between B2 and F8. Only one of these stars (Beta Ori, or Rigel) has been detected as a radio-continuum source, with an inferred 6 cm luminosity L6 of 7 x 10 to the 16th ergs/sec per Hz. Rigel may also be an X-ray source (and, if it were, would be the only X-ray detected star out of the 12 stars in this sample that were observed by Einstein. An extended source of more than 10 mJy flux density with the same angular dimensions and location as He 1-5, the planetary nebula surrounding the peculiar supergiant FG Sge, and a weak localized source of roughly 0.1-0.2 mJy somewhat offset from the center of the extended radio emission have also been detected. The upper limits to L6 for the F Ib stars are as much as an order of magnitude below the level at which Rigel was detected. If the radio emission from Rigel is interpreted as free-free radiation from its stellar wind, the inferred ionized mass-loss rate is 2.5 x 10 th the 7th solar mass/yr. The most stringent upper limits to the ionized mass-loss rates obtained for the F and A supergiants are not greater than 10 to the -8th solar mass/yr and less than or equal to 10 to the -7th solar mass/yr, respectively.
Most current models of matter-flux in hot stars place its origin in radiation pressure, and then model the flow explicitly to produce no chromosphere-corona. Our model of the stellar atmosphere as a transition zone between stellar interior and interstellar medium places the origin of matter-flux, chromosphere-corona, and spectral 'emission classes' in subatmospheric nonthermal kinetic energy storage, equally for all stars, hot or cold. Current observations of both hot and cold stars suggest chromospheres to be a universal phenomenon, correlated with matter-fluxes, and enhanced in 'emission-class' stars. To clarify the difference between the two kinds of models above, we reformulate the wind-tunnel analogy to stellar winds, suggesting that stars satisfy an 'imperfect,' rather than 'perfect,' such model; i.e., transonic shocks occur before the throat, corresponding to an imposed outward velocity in the storage section, or subatmosphere. We then investigate the stability of an arbitrary stellar atmosphere, hot or cold, to suggest a cause for such an outward subatmospheric velocity.
The discovery of a magnetically controlled stellar mass outflow in the helium-weak sn star HD 21699 = HR 1063 is reported. IUE observations show that the C IV resonance doublet is variable on the rotational time scale of about 2.5 days, and that there are no other observable spectrum variations in the UV. The magnetic field reverses sign on the rotational time scale. An interpretation of the observations in terms of magnetically structured jets is presented.
Stationary stellar corona energy supplied by thermal conduction from base surrounded by cold vacuum
Observations of NGC 7009, including its central star HD 200516, have been obtained with the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) satellite, providing spectra covering 905-1187 A with spectral resolution of 15 km/sec. One observation was made with the 30x30 arcsec aperture and includes the star plus the entire nebula. A second observation used the 1.25x20arcsec slit significantly reducing the nebular 'contamination' of the stellar spectrum. This poster discusses the spectrum of the central star. A strong FUV continuum, as expected for Teff=82,000K, dominates the spectrum. The most prominent spectral feature is a very strong P-Cygni profile of O VI 1032-1038. This paper presents models of the stellar spectrum and the wind features to further refine the stellar parameters and mass loss rate.
Stationary hydrodynamic expansion of spherical stellar corona, studied from integrated hydrodynamic momentum and mass conservation equations
The paper reports observations of magnetically controlled stellar mass outflows in three helium-weak sn stars: HD 21699 = HR 1063; HD 5737 = Alpha Scl; and HD 79158 = 36 Lyn. IUE observations show that the C IV resonance doublet is variable on the rotational timescale but that there are no other strong-spectrum variations in the UV. Magnetic fields, which reverse sign on the rotational timescale, are present in all three stars. This phenomenology is interpreted in terms of jetlike mass loss above the magnetic poles, and these objects are discussed in the context of a general survey of the C IV and Si IV profiles of other more typical helium-weak stars.
AG Carinae is one of the prototypes of the class of Luminous Blue Variables (LBVs). Since 1990 the star has continuously brightened in its visual continuum. We report on a multi-instrument and -wavelength observing campaign to monitor the current activity phase of AG Car. Ground-based photometry, polarimetry, spectroscopy, and space-ultraviolet spectroscopy and spectropolarimetry have been obtained. From the variability of the polarization at ultraviolet and optical wavelengths we detect significant intrinsic polarization. P(sub int) greater than or equal to 0.5% is a large value for a hot, luminous star, suggesting departure from spherical symmetry in the wind of AG Car. The intrinsic polarization is variable on a timescale of 2 months or less. The measured ultraviolet polarization (intrinsic + interstellar) dropped to 0.5% in 1992 May and returned to 1% in 1992 July. The results are interpreted in terms of a variable outflow with a density enhancement in the equatorial plane. A similar model was suggested for the related object R127 in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). This geometry is reminiscent of the large-scale morphology of the gas nebula and dust 'jet' surrounding AG Car. It is therefore likely that physical conditions close to the stellar surface are responsible for the geometry of the spatially resolved circumstellar material around AG Car. Despite the drastic change of the photospheric conditions, the mass-loss rate did not increase. We find no evidence for a positive correlation between wind density and stellar radius. This makes models that explain the radius increase by opacity effects in the outflow unlikely. The mechanism responsible for the temperature and radius variations is still unknown but most likely has its origin in subphotospheric regions.
The explosive fate of massive Wolf-Rayet stars (WRSs) is a key open question in stellar physics. An appealing option is that hydrogen- deficient WRSs are the progenitors of some hydrogen-poor supernova explosions of types IIb, Ib and Ic. A blue object, having luminosity and colours consistent with those of some WRSs, has recently been identified in pre-explosion images at the location of a supernova of type Ib, but has not yet been conclusively determined to have been the progenitor. Similar work has so far only resulted in non-detections. Comparison of early photometric observations of type Ic supernovae with theoretical models suggests that the progenitor stars had radii of less than 10(exp 12) centimetres, as expected for some WRSs. The signature of WRSs, their emission line spectra, cannot be probed by such studies. Here we report the detection of strong emission lines in a spectrum of type IIb supernova 2013cu (iPTF13ast) obtained approximately 15.5 hours after explosion (by 'flash spectroscopy', which captures the effects of the supernova explosion shock breakout flash on material surrounding the progenitor star).We identify Wolf-Rayet-like wind signatures, suggesting a progenitor of the WN(h) subclass (those WRSs with winds dominated by helium and nitrogen, with traces of hydrogen). The extent of this dense wind may indicate increased mass loss from the progenitor shortly before its explosion, consistent with recent theoretical predictions.