scholarly journals The Wolf-Rayet Connection - Luminous Blue Variables and Evolved Supergiants

1991 ◽  
Vol 143 ◽  
pp. 485-498
Author(s):  
Roberta M. Humphreys
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Massive Stars ◽  
Physical Characteristics ◽  
High Mass ◽  
Luminous Blue Variables ◽  
Ir Stars ◽  
High Mass Loss ◽  
Stage 1 ◽  
And Behavior

The physical characteristics and behavior of evolved massive stars in three different mass ranges are reviewed with application to whether they may eventually evolve to the WR stage 1. >40-50 M⊙ as LBV's, 2. ∼30-40 M⊙ as cool hypergiant-OH/IR stars and 3. ∼10-30 M⊙ as red supergiant-OH/IR stars. I emphasize the importance of the relatively short but high mass loss phases as LBV's and as OH/IR stars in determining the fate of massive stars from 10 to 100 M⊙.

scholarly journals Luminous Blue Variables, cool hypergiants and some impostors in the H-R diagram

2003 ◽  
Vol 212 ◽  
pp. 38-46
Author(s):  
Roberta M. Humphreys
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Mass Loss ◽  
Surface Activity ◽  
Massive Star ◽  
Massive Stars ◽  
High Mass ◽  
Luminous Blue Variables ◽  
Star Evolution ◽  
High Mass Loss ◽  
Massive Star Evolution

Current observations of the S Dor/LBVs and candidates and the implications for their important role in massive star evolution are reviewed. Recent observations of the cool hypergiants are altering our ideas about their evolutionary state, their atmospheres and winds, and the possible mechanisms for their asymmetric high mass loss episodes which may involve surface activity and magnetic fields. Recent results for IRC+10420, ρ Cas and VY CMa are highlighted. S Dor/LBVs in eruption, and the cool hypergiants in their high mass loss phases with their optically thick winds are not what their apparent spectra and temperatures imply; they are then ‘impostors’ on the H-R diagram. The importance of the very most massive stars, like η Carinae and the ‘supernovae impostors’ are also discussed.

scholarly journals Red Supergiants, Yellow Hypergiants, and Post-RSG Evolution

Galaxies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael S. Gordon ◽  
Roberta M. Humphreys
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Massive Stars ◽  
Terminal State ◽  
High Mass ◽  
Luminous Blue Variables ◽  
High Mass Loss ◽  
Red Supergiants ◽  
Wind Activity ◽  
Open Question ◽  
Hr Diagram

How massive stars end their lives remains an open question in the field of star evolution. While the majority of stars above ≳9 M ⊙ will become red supergiants (RSGs), the terminal state of these massive stars can be heavily influenced by their mass-loss histories. Periods of enhanced circumstellar wind activity can drive stars off the RSG branch of the HR Diagram. This phase, known as post-RSG evolution, may well be tied to high mass-loss events or eruptions as seen in the Luminous Blue Variables (LBVs) and other massive stars. This article highlights some of the recent observational and modeling studies that seek to characterize this unique class of stars, the post-RSGs and link them to other massive objects on the HR Diagram such as LBVs, Yellow Hypergiants and dusty RSGs.

scholarly journals Observational connections between LBV’s and other stars, with emphasis on Wolf-Rayet stars

1989 ◽  
Vol 113 ◽  
pp. 229-240
Author(s):  
A. F. J. Moffat ◽  
L. Drissen ◽  
C. Robert
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Massive Stars ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
High Mass ◽  
Strong Line ◽  
Essential Step ◽  
High Mass Loss ◽  
Loss Rates ◽  
R Domain

Abstract.We suggest that the LBV mechanism is an essential step to “force” massive stars (M(ZAMS) ≥ 40M⊙) to finally enter the Wolf-Rayet (W-R) domain in the Hertzsprung-Russel diagram (HRD). Just as massive supergiants showincreasingvariability as theyapproachthe Humphreys-Davidson (H-D)instability limit (horizontally in the HRD diagram), so the W-R stars showdecreasingvariability as theyrecede fromthe H-D limit (at first horizontally into the WNL domain, then, with their high mass loss rates, plunging irreversably downwards as ever hotter, smaller and fainter, strong-line W-R stars). Among the W-R stars, the luminous WNL subtypes (especially WN8) are the most variable, probably as a consequence of blob ejection in the wind. The underlying mechanism which triggers this ejection is possibly related to wind instabilities and may thus be quite different from the source of variability in luminous supergiants or LBV’s in quiescence, where photospheric effects dominate.

scholarly journals Effects of a stochastic initial mass function on the upper main sequence band

1981 ◽  
Vol 59 ◽  
pp. 293-296
Author(s):  
C. Chiosi ◽  
L. Greggio
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Effective Temperature ◽  
Main Sequence ◽  
Massive Stars ◽  
Mass Function ◽  
Initial Mass Function ◽  
High Mass ◽  
Initial Mass ◽  
Sequence Band ◽  
High Mass Loss

The theoretical (Mb versus Log Te) HR diagram for the brightest galactic OB stars shows an upper boundary for the luminosity, which is characterized by a decreasing luminosity with decreasing effective temperature (Humphreys and Davidson, 1979). The existence of this limit was interpreted by Chiosi et al. (1978) as due to the effect of mass loss by stellar wind on the evolution of most massive stars in core H-burning phase. In fact, evolutionary models calculated at constant mass cover a wider and wider range in effective temperature as the initial mass increases during the main sequence phase. On the contrary, sufficiently high mass-loss rates make the evolutionary sequences of most massive stars (M 60⩾Mʘ) shrink toward the zero age main sequence whenever, due to mass loss, CNO processed material is brought to the surface (Chiosi et al., 1978; de Loore et al., 1978; Maeder, 1980).

scholarly journals First detection of X-ray line emission from Type IIn supernova 1978K with XMM-Newton’s RGS

2020 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuki Chiba ◽  
Satoru Katsuda ◽  
Takashi Yoshida ◽  
Koh Takahashi ◽  
Hideyuki Umeda
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Surface Composition ◽  
Massive Stars ◽  
Line Emission ◽  
Asymptotic Giant Branch ◽  
High Mass ◽  
Expansion Velocity ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Elemental Abundances ◽  
High Mass Loss

Abstract We report on robust measurements of elemental abundances of the Type IIn supernova SN 1978K, based on the high-resolution X-ray spectrum obtained with the Reflection Grating Spectrometer (RGS) onboard XMM-Newton. The RGS clearly resolves a number of emission lines, including N Ly$\alpha$, O Ly$\alpha$, O Ly$\beta$, Fe xvii, Fe xviii, Ne He$\alpha$, and Ne Ly$\alpha$ for the first time from SN 1978K. The X-ray spectrum can be represented by an absorbed, two-temperature thermal emission model, with temperatures of $kT \sim 0.6$ keV and 2.7 keV. The elemental abundances are obtained to be N $=$$2.36_{{-0.80}}^{{+0.88}}$, O $=$$0.20 \pm {0.05}$, Ne $=$$0.47 \pm {0.12}$, Fe $=$$0.15_{{-0.02}}^{{+0.01}}$ times the solar values. The low metal abundances except for N show that the X-ray emitting plasma originates from the circumstellar medium blown by the progenitor star. The abundances of N and O are far from the CNO-equilibrium abundances expected for the surface composition of a luminous blue variable, and resemble the H-rich envelope of less massive stars with masses of 10–25$\, M_{\odot }$. Together with other peculiar properties of SN 1978K, i.e., a low expansion velocity of 500–1000 km s$^{-1}$ and SN IIn-like optical spectra, we propose that SN 1978K is a result of either an electron-capture SN from a super asymptotic giant branch star, or a weak Fe core-collapse explosion of a relatively low-mass ($\sim \! \! 10\, M_{\odot }$) or high-mass ($\sim$20–25$\, M_{\odot }$) red supergiant star. However, these scenarios cannot naturally explain the high mass-loss rate of the order of $\dot{M} \sim 10^{-3}\, M_{\odot }\:{\rm yr^{-1}}$ over $\gtrsim$1000 yr before the explosion, which is inferred by this work as well as many other earlier studies. Further theoretical studies are required to explain the high mass-loss rates at the final evolutionary stages of massive stars.

scholarly journals Mass loss from Luminous Blue Variables

1989 ◽  
Vol 113 ◽  
pp. 135-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henny J. G. L. M. Lamers
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
High Mass ◽  
Luminous Blue Variables ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
High Mass Loss

Luminous Blue Variables (LBV’s) are losing mass at a rate which is higher than in normal stars of the same luminosity. This high mass loss is evident from the occurrence of P Cygni profiles in the visual spectrum, the large numbers of UV lines which are Doppler shifted or show P Cygni profiles and the large IR excess or radio free-free emission. Mass loss from LBV’s is strongly variable on a wide range of timescales from months to centuries and possibly even millenia. During these variations the mass loss may vary from values as low as 10-6to 10-5M⊙/yr, when the star is quiet, to outbursts of the type observed in P Cygni in AD 1600 and n Car in 1837 (for reviews see Davidson, 1987; Lamers, 1986, 1987).

WATER ICE IN HIGH MASS-LOSS RATE OH/IR STARS

2012 ◽  
Vol 762 (2) ◽  
pp. 113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyung-Won Suh ◽  
Young-Joo Kwon
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Loss Rate ◽  
Mass Loss Rate ◽  
High Mass ◽  
Water Ice ◽  
Ir Stars ◽  
High Mass Loss

scholarly journals Luminous blue variables and the fates of very massive stars

2017 ◽  
Vol 375 (2105) ◽  
pp. 20160268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan Smith
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Binary Stars ◽  
Massive Stars ◽  
High Mass ◽  
Core Collapse ◽  
Lower Mass ◽  
Luminous Blue Variables ◽  
Separate Channel

Luminous blue variables (LBVs) had long been considered massive stars in transition to the Wolf–Rayet (WR) phase, so their identification as progenitors of some peculiar supernovae (SNe) was surprising. More recently, environment statistics of LBVs show that most of them cannot be in transition to the WR phase after all, because LBVs are more isolated than allowed in this scenario. Additionally, the high-mass H shells around luminous SNe IIn require that some very massive stars above 40  M ⊙ die without shedding their H envelopes, and the precursor outbursts are a challenge for understanding the final burning sequences leading to core collapse. Recent evidence suggests a clear continuum in pre-SN mass loss from super-luminous SNe IIn, to regular SNe IIn, to SNe II-L and II-P, whereas most stripped-envelope SNe seem to arise from a separate channel of lower-mass binary stars rather than massive WR stars. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Bridging the gap: from massive stars to supernovae’.

scholarly journals ISOCAM and DENIS Survey of 0.5 square degrees in the Bar of the LMC. Detection of the whole TP-AGB Star Population

1999 ◽  
Vol 191 ◽  
pp. 561-566
Author(s):  
C. Loup ◽  
E. Josselin ◽  
M.-R. Cioni ◽  
H.J. Habing ◽  
J.A.D.L. Blommaert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
High Mass ◽  
Evolutionary Models ◽  
Agb Stars ◽  
Complete Sample ◽  
High Mass Loss ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
The One ◽  
Good Agreement ◽  
Loss Rates

We surveyed 0.5 square degrees in the Bar of the LMC with ISOCAM at 4.5 and 12 μm, and with DENIS in the I, J, and Ks bands. Our goal was to build a complete sample of Thermally-Pulsing AGB stars. Here we present the first analysis of 0.14 square degrees. In total we find about 300 TP-AGB stars. Among these TP-AGB stars, 9% are obscured AGB stars (high mass-loss rates); 9 of them were detected by IRAS, and only 1 was previously identified. Their luminosities range from 2 500 to 14 000 L⊙, with a distribution very similar to the one of optical TP-AGB stars (i.e. those with low mass-loss rates). Such a luminosity distribution, as well as the percentage of obscured stars among TP-AGB stars, is in very good agreement with the evolutionary models of Vassiliadis & Wood (1993) if most of the TP-AGB stars that we find have initial masses smaller than 1.5 to 2 M⊙.

scholarly journals Variable Winds in Early-B Hypergiants

1999 ◽  
Vol 169 ◽  
pp. 222-229
Author(s):  
Bernhard Wolf ◽  
Thomas Rivinius
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Terminal Velocity ◽  
Spectral Lines ◽  
High Mass ◽  
High Dispersion ◽  
Echelle Spectrograph ◽  
Variability Pattern ◽  
Evolutionary Phase ◽  
High Mass Loss ◽  
Wind Velocities

AbstractEarly-B hypergiants belong to the most luminous stars in the Universe. They are characterized by high mass-loss rates (Ṁ ≈ 10−5Mʘyr−1) and low terminal wind velocities (v∞ʘ400 kms−1) implying very dense winds. They represent a short-lived evolutionary phase and are of particular interest for evolutionary theories of massive stars with mass loss. Due to their high luminosity they play a key role in connection with the “wind momentum - luminosity relation”. Among the main interesting characteristics of early-B hypergiants are the various kinds of photometric and spectroscopic variations. In several recent campaigns our group has performed extensive high dispersion spectroscopy of galactic early-B hypergiants with our fiber-fed echelle spectrograph FLASH/HEROS at the ESO-50 cm telescope. The main outcome was that their dense winds behave hydrodynamically differently to the less luminous supergiants of comparable spectral type. Outwardly accelerated propagating discrete absorption components of the P Cyg-type lines are the typical features rather than rotationally modulated line profile variations. These discrete absorptions could be traced in different spectral lines from photospheric velocities up to 75% of the terminal velocity. The stellar absorption lines show a pulsation-like radial velocity variability pattern lasting up to two weeks as the typical time scale. The radius variations connected with this pulsation-like motions are correlated with the emission height of the P Cyg-type profiles.

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