H. Todt

The Galactic WC stars Stellar parameters from spectral analyses indicate a new evolutionary sequence

[Abridged] [...] AIMS: We aim to establish the stellar parameters and mass-loss rates of the Galactic WC stars. These data provide the empirical basis of studies of (i) the role of WC stars in the evolution of massive stars, (ii) the wind-driving mechanisms, and (iii) the feedback of WC stars as input to models of the chemical and dynamical evolution of galaxies. Methods: We analyze the nearly complete sample of un-obscured Galactic WC stars, using optical spectra as well as ultraviolet spectra when available. The observations are fitted with theoretical spectra, using the Potsdam Wolf-Rayet (PoWR) model atmosphere code. A large grid of line-blanked models has been established for the range of WC subtypes WC4 - WC8, and smaller grids for the WC9 parameter domain. Both WO stars and WN/WC transit types are also analyzed using special models. Results: Stellar and atmospheric parameters are derived for more than 50 GalacticWC and two WO stars, covering almost the whole GalacticWC population as far as the stars are single, and un-obscured in the visual. In the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, theWC stars reside between the hydrogen and the helium zero-age main sequences, having luminosities L from 10^4.9 to 10^5.6 Lsun. The mass-loss rates scale very tightly with L^0.8. The two WO stars in our sample turn out to be outstandingly hot (\approx200 kK) and do not fit into the WC scheme. Conclusions: By comparing the empirical WC positions in the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram with evolutionary models, and from recent supernova statistics, we conclude that WC stars have evolved from initial masses between 20 solar masses and 45 Msun. In contrast to previous assumptions, it seems that WC stars in general do not descend from the most massive stars. Only the WO stars might stem from progenitors that have been initially more massive than 45 Msun.

Early magnetic B-type stars: X-ray emission and wind properties

We present a comprehensive study of X-ray emission and wind properties of massive magnetic early B-type stars. Dedicated XMM-Newtonobservations were obtained for three early type B-type stars, ξ 1 CMa, V2052 Oph, and ζ Cas with recently discovered magnetic fields. We report the first detection of X-ray emission from V2 052 Oph and ζ Cas. The latter is one the softest X-ray sources among early type stars, while the former is one of the Xray faintest. The observations show that the X-ray spectra of our program stars are quite soft with the bulk of X-ray emitting material having a temperature of about 1 MK. We compile the complete sample of early B-type stars with detected magnetic fields to date and existing X-ray measurements, in order to study whether the X-ray emission can be used as a general proxy for stellar magnetism. We find that the X-ray properties of ea rly massive B-type magnetic stars are diverse, and that hard and strong X-ray emission does not necessarily correlate with the presence of a magnetic field corroborating similar conclusi ons reached earlier for the classical chemically peculiar magnetic Bp-Ap stars. We analyze the UV spectra of five non-supergiant B stars with m agnetic fields ( τ Sco, β Cep, ξ 1 CMa, V2052 Oph, and ζ Cas) by means of non-LTE iron-blanketed model atmospheres. The latter are calculated with the Potsdam Wolf-Rayet (PoWR) code, which treats the photosphere as well as the the wind, and also accounts for X-rays. With the exception of τ Sco, this is the first analysis of these stars by means of stell ar wind models. Our models accurately fit the stellar photospheric spectra in the optical and the UV. The parameters of X-ray emission, temperature and flux are included in the model in ac cordance with observations. We confirm the earlier findings that the filling factors of X-ray e mitting material are very high. Our analysis reveals that the magnetic early type B stars studied here have weak winds with velocities not significantly exceeding vesc. The mass-loss rates inferred from the analysis of UV lines are significantly lower than predicted by hydrody namically consistent models. We find that, although the X-rays strongly affect the ionisatio n structure of the wind, this effect is not sufficient in reducing the total radiative accelerati on. When the X-rays are accounted for at the intensity and temperatures observed, there is sti ll sufficient radiative acceleration to drive stronger mass-loss than we empirically infer from the UV spectral lines.

The Wolf-Rayet stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud - A comprehensive analysis of the WN class

Context. Massive stars, although being important building blocks of galaxies, are still not fully understood. This especially holds true for Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars with their strong mass loss, whose spectral analysis requires adequate model atmospheres. Aims. Following our comprehensive studies of the WR stars in the Milky Way, we now present spectroscopic analyses of almost all known WN stars in the LMC. Methods. For the quantitative analysis of the wind-dominated emission-line spectra, we employ the Potsdam Wolf-Rayet (PoWR) model atmosphere code. By fitting synthetic spectra to the observed spectral energy distribution and the available spectra (ultraviolet and optical), we obtain the physical properties of 107 stars. Results. We present the fundamental stellar and wind parameters for an almost complete sample of WN stars in the LMC. Among those stars that are putatively single, two different groups can be clearly distinguished. While 12% of our sample are more luminous than 10(6) L-circle dot and contain a significant amount of hydrogen, 88% of the WN stars, with little or no hydrogen, populate the luminosity range between log (L/L-circle dot) = 5.3 ... 5.8. Conclusions. While the few extremely luminous stars (log (L/L-circle dot) > 6), if indeed single stars, descended directly from the main sequence at very high initial masses, the bulk of WN stars have gone through the red-supergiant phase. According to their luminosities in the range of log (L/L-circle dot) = 5.3 ... 5.8, these stars originate from initial masses between 20 and 40 M-circle dot. This mass range is similar to the one found in the Galaxy, i.e. the expected metallicity dependence of the evolution is not seen. Current stellar evolution tracks, even when accounting for rotationally induced mixing, still partly fail to reproduce the observed ranges of luminosities and initial masses. Moreover, stellar radii are generally larger and effective temperatures correspondingly lower than predicted from stellar evolution models, probably due to subphotospheric inflation.

A COORDINATED X-RAY AND OPTICAL CAMPAIGN OF THE NEAREST MASSIVE ECLIPSING BINARY, δ ORIONIS Aa. IV. A MULTIWAVELENGTH, NON-LTE SPECTROSCOPIC ANALYSIS

T.S. is grateful for financial support from the Leibniz Graduate School for Quantitative Spectroscopy in Astrophysics, a joint project of the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP) and the institute of Physics and Astronomy of the University of Potsdam. L.M.O. acknowledges support from DLR grant 50 OR 1302. M.F.C., J.S.N., and W.L.W. are grateful for support via Chandra grants GO3-14015A and GO3-14015E. A.F.J.M. acknowledges financial aid from NSERC (Canada) and FRQNT (Quebec). J.M.A. acknowledges support from (a) the Spanish Government Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (MINECO) through grants AYA2010-15 081 and AYA2010-17 631 and (b) the Consejeria de Educacion of the Junta de Andalucia through grant P08-TIC-4075. Caballero N.D.R. gratefully acknowledges his Centre du Recherche en Astrophysique du Quebec (CRAQ) fellowship. Y.N. acknowledges support from the Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique (Belgium), the Communaute Francaise de Belgique, the PRODEX XMM and Integral contracts, and the “Action de Recherche Concertee” (CFWB-Academie Wallonie Europe). J.L.H. acknowledges support from NASA award NNX13AF40G and NSF award AST-0807477. I.N. is supported by the Spanish Mineco under grant AYA2012-39364-C02-01/02, and the European Union.

On the Weak-wind Problem in Massive Stars: X-Ray Spectra Reveal a Massive Hot Wind in μ Columbae

United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Chandra X-ray Observatory (U.S.) Award GO1-12017B)

On the consistent treatment of the quasi-hydrostatic layers in hot star atmospheres

CONTEXT: Spectroscopic analysis remains the most common method to derive masses of massive stars, the most fundamental stellar parameter. While binary orbits and stellar pulsations can provide much sharper constraints on the stellar mass, these methods are only rarely applicable to massive stars. Unfortunately, spectroscopic masses of massive stars heavily depend on the detailed physics of model atmospheres. AIMS: We demonstrate the impact of a consistent treatment of the radiative pressure on inferred gravities and spectroscopic masses of massive stars. Specifically, we investigate the contribution of line and continuum transitions to the photospheric radiative pressure. We further explore the effect of model parameters, e.g., abundances, on the deduced spectroscopic mass. Lastly, we compare our results with the plane-parallel TLUSTY code, commonly used for the analysis of massive stars with photospheric spectra. METHODS: We calculate a small set of O-star models with the Potsdam Wolf-Rayet (PoWR) code using different approaches for the quasi-hydrostatic part. These models allow us to quantify the effect of accounting for the radiative pressure consistently. We further use PoWR models to show how the Doppler widths of line profiles and abundances of elements such as iron affect the radiative pressure, and, as a consequence, the derived spectroscopic masses. RESULTS: Our study implies that errors on the order of a factor of two in the inferred spectroscopic mass are to be expected when neglecting the contribution of line and continuum transitions to the radiative acceleration in the photosphere. Usage of implausible microturbulent velocities, or the neglect of important opacity sources such as Fe, may result in errors of approximately 50% in the spectroscopic mass. A comparison with TLUSTY model atmospheres reveals a very good agreement with PoWR at the limit of low mass-loss rates.

The Quintuplet cluster II. Analysis of the WN stars

Based on K-band integral-field spectroscopy, we analyze four Wolf-Rayet stars of the nitrogen sequence (WN) found in the inner part of the Quintuplet cluster. All WN stars (WR 102d, WR 102i, WR 102hb, and WR 102ea) are of spectral subtype WN9h. One further star, LHO 110, is included in the analysis which has been classified as Of/WN? previously but turns out to be most likely a WN9h star as well. The Potsdam Wolf-Rayet (PoWR) models for expanding atmospheres are used to derive the fundamental stellar and wind parameters. The stars turn out to be very luminous, log (L/L� ) > 6.0, with relatively low stellar temperatures, T∗ ≈ 25−35 kK. Their stellar winds contain a significant fraction of hydrogen, up to XH ∼ 0.45 (by mass). We discuss the position of the Galactic center WN stars in the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram and find that they form a distinct group. In this respect, the Quintuplet WN stars are similar to late-type WN stars found in the Arches cluster and elsewhere in the Galaxy. Comparison with stellar evolutionary models reveals that the Quintuplet WN stars should have been initially more massive than 60 M� . They are about 2.4−3.6 million years old, and might still be central hydrogen burning objects. The analysis of the spectral energy distributions of the program stars results in a mean extinction of AK = 3.1 ± 0. 5m ag (AV = 27 ± 4 mag) towards the Quintuplet cluster.

Wolf-Rayet stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud - I. Analysis of the single WN stars

Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars have a severe impact on their environments owing to their strong ionizing radiation fields and powerful stellar winds. Since these winds are considered to be driven by radiation pressure, it is theoretically expected that the degree of the wind mass-loss depends on the initial metallicity of WR stars. Following our comprehensive studies of WR stars in the Milky Way, M31, and the LMC, we derive stellar parameters and mass-loss rates for all seven putatively single WN stars known in the SMC. Based on these data, we discuss the impact of a low-metallicity environment on the mass loss and evolution of WR stars. The quantitative analysis of the WN stars is performed with the Potsdam Wolf-Rayet (PoWR) model atmosphere code. The physical properties of our program stars are obtained from fitting synthetic spectra to multi-band observations. In all SMC WN stars, a considerable surface hydrogen abundance is detectable. The majority of these objects have stellar temperatures exceeding 75 kK, while their luminosities range from 10^5.5 to 10^6.1 Lsun. The WN stars in the SMC exhibit on average lower mass-loss rates and weaker winds than their counterparts in the Milky Way, M31, and the LMC. By comparing the mass-loss rates derived for WN stars in different Local Group galaxies, we conclude that a clear dependence of the wind mass-loss on the initial metallicity is evident, supporting the current paradigm that WR winds are driven by radiation. A metallicity effect on the evolution of massive stars is obvious from the HRD positions of the SMC WN stars at high temperatures and high luminosities. Standard evolution tracks are not able to reproduce these parameters and the observed surface hydrogen abundances. Homogeneous evolution might provide a better explanation for their evolutionary past.

On Helium-Dominated Stellar Evolution: The Mysterious Role of the O(He)-Type Stars

Context. About a quarter of all post-asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars are hydrogen-deficient. Stellar evolutionary models explain the carbon-dominated H-deficient stars by a (very) late thermal pulse scenario where the hydrogen-rich envelope is mixed with the helium-rich intershell layer. Depending on the particular time at which the final flash occurs, the entire hydrogen envelope may be burned. In contrast, helium-dominated post-AGB stars and their evolution are not yet understood. Aims. A small group of very hot, helium-dominated stars is formed by O(He)-type stars. A precise analysis of their photospheric abundances will establish constraints to their evolution. Methods. We performed a detailed spectral analysis of ultraviolet and optical spectra of four O(He) stars by means of state-of-the-art non-LTE model-atmosphere techniques. Results. We determined effective temperatures, surface gravities, and the abundances of H, He, C, N, O, F, Ne, Si, P, S, Ar, and Fe. By deriving upper limits for the mass-loss rates of the O(He) stars, we found that they do not exhibit enhanced mass-loss. The comparison with evolutionary models shows that the status of the O(He) stars remains uncertain. Their abundances match predictions of a double helium white dwarf (WD) merger scenario, suggesting that they might be the progeny of the compact and of the luminous helium-rich sdO-type stars. The existence of planetary nebulae that do not show helium enrichment around every other O(He) star precludes a merger origin for these stars. These stars must have formed in a different way, for instance via enhanced mass-loss during their post-AGB evolution or a merger within a common-envelope (CE) of a CO-WD and a red giant or AGB star. Conclusions. A helium-dominated stellar evolutionary sequence exists that may be fed by different types of mergers or CE scenarios. It appears likely that all these pass through the O(He) phase just before they become WDs.

The central star of the planetary nebula PB 8: a Wolf-Rayet-type wind of an unusual WN/WC chemical composition

A considerable fraction of the central stars of planetary nebulae (CSPNe) are hydrogen-deficient. As a rule, these CSPNe exhibit a chemical composition of helium, carbon, and oxygen with the majority showing Wolf-Rayet-like emission line spectra. These stars are classified as CSPNe of a spectral type [WC]. We perform a spectral analysis of CSPN PB 8 with the Potsdam Wolf-Rayet (PoWR) models for expanding atmospheres. The source PB 8 displays wind-broadened emission lines from strong mass loss. Most strikingly, we find that its surface composition is hydrogen-deficient, but not carbon-rich. With mass fractions of 55% helium, 40% hydrogen, 1.3% carbon, 2% nitrogen, and 1.3% oxygen, it differs greatly from the 30–50% of carbon which are typically seen in [WC]-type central stars. The atmospheric mixture in PB 8 has an analogy in the WN/WC transition type among the massive Wolf-Rayet stars. Therefore we suggest to introduce a new spectral type [WN/WC] for CSPNe, with PB 8 as its first member. The central star of PB 8 has a relatively low temperature of T∗ = 52 kK, as expected for central stars in their early evolutionary stages. Its surrounding nebula is less than 3000 years old, i.e. relatively young. Existing calculations for the post-AGB evolution can produce hydrogen-deficient stars of the [WC] type, but do not predict the composition found in PB 8. We discuss various scenarios that might explain the origin of this unique object.