The Onfp Class in the Magellanic Clouds Walborn, Nolan R; Howarth, Ian D; Evans, Christopher J ...
The Astronomical journal,
03/2010, Letnik:
139, Številka:
3
Journal Article
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The Onfp class of rotationally broadened, hot spectra was defined some time ago in the Galaxy, where its membership to date numbers only eight. The principal defining characteristic is a broad, ...centrally reversed He II Delta *l 4686 emission profile; other emission and absorption lines are also rotationally broadened. Recent surveys in the Magellanic Clouds (MCs) have brought the class membership there, including some related spectra, to 28. We present a survey of the spectral morphology and rotational velocities, as a first step toward elucidating the nature of this class. Evolved, rapidly rotating hot stars are not expected theoretically, because the stellar winds should brake the rotation. Luminosity classification of these spectra is not possible, because the principal criterion (He II Delta *l4686) is peculiar; however, the MCs provide reliable absolute magnitudes, which show that they span the entire range from dwarfs to supergiants. The Onfp line-broadening distribution is distinct and shifted toward larger values from those of normal O dwarfs and supergiants with >99.99% confidence. All cases with multiple observations show line-profile variations, which even remove some objects from the class temporarily. Some of them are spectroscopic binaries; it is possible that the peculiar profiles may have multiple causes among different objects. The origin and future of these stars are intriguing; for instance, they could be stellar mergers and/or gamma-ray-burst progenitors.
Optical and near-infrared photometry and optical spectroscopy are reported for SN 2003bg, starting a few days after explosion and extending for a period of more than 300 days. Our early-time spectra ...reveal the presence of broad, high-velocity Balmer lines. The nebular-phase spectra, on the other hand, show a remarkable resemblance to those of Type Ib/c supernovae, without clear evidence for hydrogen. Near maximum brightness SN 2003bg displayed a bolometric luminosity comparable to that of other Type I hypernovae unrelated to gamma-ray bursts, implying a rather normal amount of 56Ni production (0.1-0.2 M ) compared with other such objects. The bolometric light curve of SN 2003bg, on the other hand, is remarkably broad, thus suggesting a relatively large progenitor mass at the moment of explosion. These observations, together with the large value of the kinetic energy of expansion established in the accompanying paper, suggest that SN 2003bg can be regarded as a Type IIb hypernova.
ABSTRACT Extremely broad emission wings at Hβ and H have been found in VLT-FLAMES Tarantula Survey data for five very luminous BA supergiants in or near 30 Doradus in the Large Magellanic Cloud. The ...profiles of both lines are extremely asymmetrical, which we have found to be caused by very broad diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) in the longward wing of Hβ and the shortward wing of H . These DIBs are well known to interstellar but not to many stellar specialists, so that the asymmetries may be mistaken for intrinsic features. The broad emission wings are generally ascribed to electron scattering, although we note difficulties for that interpretation in some objects. Such profiles are known in some Galactic hyper/supergiants and are also seen in both active and quiescent Luminous Blue Variables (LBVs). No prior or current LBV activity is known in these 30 Dor stars, although a generic relationship to LBVs is not excluded; subject to further observational and theoretical investigation, it is possible that these very luminous supergiants are approaching the LBV stage for the first time. Their locations in the HRD and presumed evolutionary tracks are consistent with that possibility. The available evidence for spectroscopic variations of these objects is reviewed, while recent photometric monitoring does not reveal variability. A search for circumstellar nebulae has been conducted, with an indeterminate result for one of them.
With new data from the Galactic O-Star Spectroscopic Survey, we confirm and expand the ONn category of late-O, nitrogen-enriched (N), rapidly rotating (n) giants. In particular, we have discovered ...two 'clones' (HD 102415 and HD 117490) of one of the most rapidly rotating O stars previously known (HD 191423, 'Howarth's Star'). We compare the locations of these objects in the theoretical H-R diagram to those of slowly rotating ON dwarfs and supergiants. All ON giants known to date are rapid rotators, whereas no ON dwarf or supergiant is, but all ON stars are small fractions of their respective spectral-type/luminosity-class/rotational subcategories. The ONn giants, displaying both substantial processed material and high rotation at an intermediate evolutionary stage, may provide significant information about the development of these properties. They may have preserved high initial rotational velocities or may have been spun up by terminal-age main-sequence core contraction; alternatively, and perhaps more likely, they may be products of binary mass transfer. At least some of them are also runaway stars.
The Evolutionary Status of WN3/O3 Wolf-Rayet Stars Neugent, Kathryn F.; Massey, Phil; Hillier, D. John ...
Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union,
11/2016, Letnik:
12, Številka:
S329
Journal Article
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As part of a multi-year survey for Wolf-Rayet stars in the Magellanic Clouds, we have discovered a new type of Wolf-Rayet star with both strong emission and absorption. While one might initially ...classify these stars as WN3+O3V binaries based on their spectra, such a pairing is unlikely given their faint visual magnitudes. Spectral modeling suggests effective temperatures and bolometric luminosities similar to those of other early-type LMC WNs but with mass-loss rates that are three to five times lower than expected. They additionally retain a significant amount of hydrogen, with nitrogen at its CNO-equilibrium value (10× enhanced). Their evolutionary status remains an open question. Here we discuss why these stars did not evolve through quasi-homogeneous evolution. Instead we suggest that based on a link with long-duration gamma ray bursts, they may form in lower metallicity environments. A new survey in M33, which has a large metallicity gradient, is underway.
Aims. The Fe II emission lines formed in the circumstellar envelopes (CE) of classical Be stars are studied in order to determine whether they are optically thin or optically thick. We also aim at ...deriving both average Fe II line excitation temperatures and the extent of their formation region in the CE. Methods. We simultaneously observed several series of Fe II emission lines in the \lambda\lambda4230{-}7712 Aa wavelength interval and the first members of the hydrogen Balmer series of 18 southern classical Be stars. The optical depth regime that controls the formation of the observed Fe II lines and the physical parameters of their CE formation region were studied using the empirical self-aborption-curve (SAC) method. Results. Our calculations give an average value of \tau_{\rm o}=2.4\pm0.9 for the optical depth of the studied Fe II lines, which implies that these lines are optically thick in the CE of Be stars. Qualitative indications that Fe II emission lines should be formed in circumstellar regions close to the central star are inferred from the correlations between Fe II emission line widths and V\sin i. The application of the SAC method to Fe II emission lines confirms this result, which gives R_{\rm e}=2.0R_*\pm0.8 for the extension of the line-forming region. The proximity of the line-forming region to the central star is also supported by the behavior of the source function of Fe II lines, which rapidly decreases with radii. This prevents the lines from being formed over extended regions and/or far from the star. Finally, the correlations of the central depression in the Balmer emission lines with V\sin i are consistent with the flattened geometrical shapes of CEs.
We present a spectroscopic study of the N159/N160 massive star-forming region south of 30 Doradus in the Large Magellanic Cloud, classifying a total of 189 stars in the field of the complex. Most of ...them belong to O and early B spectral classes; we have also found some uncommon and very interesting spectra, including members of the Onfp class, a Be P Cygni star, and some possible multiple systems. Using spectral types as broad indicators of evolutionary stages, we considered the evolutionary status of the region as a whole. We infer that massive stars at different evolutionary stages are present throughout the region, favoring the idea of a common time for the origin of recent star formation in the N159/N160 complex as a whole, while sequential star formation at different rates is probably present in several subregions.
The Carnegie Supernova Project (CSP) has performed, during the period 2004-2009, the optical and NIR follow up of 253 supernovae (SNe) of all types. Among those, 124 were core collapse events, ...comprising 93 SNe of type II and 31 of types Ib/Ic/IIb. Our follow up consisted of photometric observations suitable to build detailed light curves and a considerable amount of optical spectroscopy. The bulk of our observations is carried out at Las Campanas Observatory, while access to other facilities is also provided thanks to our strong collaboration with the Millennium Center for Supernova Studies (MCSS). Our spectroscopic observations were primarily aimed at typing possible new SNe, and follow-up the evolution of CSP targets. One of the goals of the follow-up of type II SNe is the application of independent distance indicators such as the Standard Candle (SCM) and the Expanding Photosphere (EPM) methods. Moreover, through the study of the spectroscopic evolution of these objects, from as early as possible after explosion to the nebular phases, we hope to contribute to their further understanding. Specific analysis of particular objects is underway by members of the CSP and an extended collaboration.
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