scholarly journals Magnetic fields, winds and X-rays of massive stars in the Orion nebula cluster

2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (S272) ◽  
pp. 208-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Véronique Petit ◽  
Gregg A. Wade ◽  
Evelyne Alecian ◽  
Laurent Drissen ◽  
Thierry Montmerle ◽  
...  

AbstractIn some massive stars, magnetic fields are thought to confine the outflowing radiatively-driven wind. Although theoretical models and MHD simulations are able to illustrate the dynamics of such a magnetized wind, the impact of this wind-field interaction on the observable properties of a magnetic star - X-ray emission, photometric and spectral variability - is still unclear. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between magnetism, stellar winds and X-ray emission of OB stars, by providing empirical observations and confronting theory. In conjunction with the COUP survey of the Orion Nebula Cluster, we carried out spectropolarimatric ESPaDOnS observations to determine the magnetic properties of massive OB stars of this cluster.

2008 ◽  
Vol 4 (S259) ◽  
pp. 449-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Véronique Petit ◽  
G. A. Wade ◽  
L. Drissen ◽  
T. Montmerle ◽  
E. Alecian

AbstractIn massive stars, magnetic fields are thought to confine the outflowing radiatively-driven wind, resulting in X-ray emission that is harder, more variable and more efficient than that produced by instability-generated shocks in non-magnetic winds. Although magnetic confinement of stellar winds has been shown to strongly modify the mass-loss and X-ray characteristics of massive OB stars, we lack a detailed understanding of the complex processes responsible. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between magnetism, stellar winds and X-ray emission of OB stars. In conjunction with a Chandra survey of the Orion Nebula Cluster, we carried out spectropolarimatric ESPaDOnS observations to determine the magnetic properties of massive OB stars of this cluster.


2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (S302) ◽  
pp. 330-333
Author(s):  
V. Petit ◽  
D. H. Cohen ◽  
Y. Nazé ◽  
M. Gagné ◽  
R. H. D. Townsend ◽  
...  

AbstractThe magnetic activity of solar-type and low-mass stars is a well known source of coronal X-ray emission. At the other end of the main sequence, X-rays emission is instead associated with the powerful, radiatively driven winds of massive stars. Indeed, the intrinsically unstable line-driving mechanism of OB star winds gives rise to shock-heated, soft emission (~0.5 keV) distributed throughout the wind. Recently, the latest generation of spectropolarimetric instrumentation has uncovered a population of massive OB-stars hosting strong, organized magnetic fields. The magnetic characteristics of these stars are similar to the apparently fossil magnetic fields of the chemically peculiar ApBp stars. Magnetic channeling of these OB stars' strong winds leads to the formation of large-scale shock-heated magnetospheres, which can modify UV resonance lines, create complex distributions of cooled Halpha emitting material, and radiate hard (~2-5 keV) X-rays. This presentation summarizes our coordinated observational and modelling efforts to characterize the manifestation of these magnetospheres in the X-ray domain, providing an important contrast between the emission originating in shocks associated with the large-scale fossil fields of massive stars, and the X-rays associated with the activity of complex, dynamo-generated fields in lower-mass stars.


2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (S329) ◽  
pp. 362-365
Author(s):  
Norbert S. Schulz

AbstractMost cores of very young stellar clusters contain one or more massive stars at various evolutionary stages. Observations of the Orion Nebula Cluster, Trumpler 37, NGC 2362, RCW38, NGC 3603 and many others provide the most comprehensive database to study stellar wind properties of these massive cluster stars in X-rays. In this presentation we review some of these observations and results and discuss them in the context of stellar winds and possible evolutionary implications. We argue that in very young clusters such as RCW38 and M17, shock heated remnants of a natal shell could serve as an alternate explanation to the colliding wind paradigm for the hot plasma components in the X-ray spectra.


2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (S307) ◽  
pp. 449-450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Bard ◽  
Richard Townsend

AbstractIn the subset of massive OB stars with strong global magnetic fields, X-rays arise from magnetically confined wind shocks (Babel & Montmerle 1997). However, it is not yet clear what the effect of stellar rotation and mass-loss rate is on these wind shocks and resulting X-rays. Here, we present results from a grid of Arbitrary Rigid-Field Hydrodynamic simulations (ARFHD) of a B-star centrifugal magnetosphere with an eye towards quantifying the effect of stellar rotation and mass-loss rate on the level of X-ray emission. The results are also compared to a generalized XADM model for X-rays in dynamical magnetospheres (ud-Doula et al. 2014).


2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (S272) ◽  
pp. 622-623
Author(s):  
Yael Nazé

AbstractDespite the absence of large surveys, the recent X-ray observatories provide X-ray data for hundreds of massive stars (294 OB stars detected in the 2XMM catalog, 129 OB stars detected in the Chandra Carina Complex Project). Analyzing medium-resolution spectra led to new results on the relationship between the X-ray luminosity and the bolometric luminosity, as well as on the typical properties (plasma temperature, variability) of these objects.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 2212
Author(s):  
Worawat Poltabtim ◽  
Ekachai Wimolmala ◽  
Teerasak Markpin ◽  
Narongrit Sombatsompop ◽  
Vichai Rosarpitak ◽  
...  

The potential utilization of wood/polyvinyl chloride (WPVC) composites containing an X-ray protective filler, namely bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) particles, was investigated as novel, safe, and environmentally friendly X-ray shielding materials. The wood and Bi2O3 contents used in this work varied from 20 to 40 parts per hundred parts of PVC by weight (pph) and from 0 to 25, 50, 75, and 100 pph, respectively. The study considered X-ray shielding, mechanical, density, water absorption, and morphological properties. The results showed that the overall X-ray shielding parameters, namely the linear attenuation coefficient (µ), mass attenuation coefficient (µm), and lead equivalent thickness (Pbeq), of the WPVC composites increased with increasing Bi2O3 contents but slightly decreased at higher wood contents (40 pph). Furthermore, comparative Pbeq values between the wood/PVC composites and similar commercial X-ray shielding boards indicated that the recommended Bi2O3 contents for the 20 pph (40 ph) wood/PVC composites were 35, 85, and 40 pph (40, 100, and 45 pph) for the attenuation of 60, 100, and 150-kV X-rays, respectively. In addition, the increased Bi2O3 contents in the WPVC composites enhanced the Izod impact strength, hardness (Shore D), and density, but reduced water absorption. On the other hand, the increased wood contents increased the impact strength, hardness (Shore D), and water absorption but lowered the density of the composites. The overall results suggested that the developed WPVC composites had great potential to be used as effective X-ray shielding materials with Bi2O3 acting as a suitable X-ray protective filler.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Constantinos G. Broustas ◽  
Axel J. Duval ◽  
Sally A. Amundson

AbstractAs a radiation biodosimetry tool, gene expression profiling is being developed using mouse and human peripheral blood models. The impact of dose, dose-rate, and radiation quality has been studied with the goal of predicting radiological tissue injury. In this study, we determined the impact of aging on the gene expression profile of blood from mice exposed to radiation. Young (2 mo) and old (21 mo) male mice were irradiated with 4 Gy x-rays, total RNA was isolated from whole blood 24 h later, and subjected to whole genome microarray analysis. Pathway analysis of differentially expressed genes revealed young mice responded to x-ray exposure by significantly upregulating pathways involved in apoptosis and phagocytosis, a process that eliminates apoptotic cells and preserves tissue homeostasis. In contrast, the functional annotation of senescence was overrepresented among differentially expressed genes from irradiated old mice without enrichment of phagocytosis pathways. Pathways associated with hematologic malignancies were enriched in irradiated old mice compared with irradiated young mice. The fibroblast growth factor signaling pathway was underrepresented in older mice under basal conditions. Similarly, brain-related functions were underrepresented in unirradiated old mice. Thus, age-dependent gene expression differences should be considered when developing gene signatures for use in radiation biodosimetry.


2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (S329) ◽  
pp. 369-372
Author(s):  
C. L. Fletcher ◽  
V. Petit ◽  
Y. Nazé ◽  
G. A. Wade ◽  
R. H. Townsend ◽  
...  

AbstractRecent spectropolarimetric surveys of bright, hot stars have found that ~10% of OB-type stars contain strong (mostly dipolar) surface magnetic fields (~kG). The prominent paradigm describing the interaction between the stellar winds and the surface magnetic field is the magnetically confined wind shock (MCWS) model. In this model, the stellar wind plasma is forced to move along the closed field loops of the magnetic field, colliding at the magnetic equator, and creating a shock. As the shocked material cools radiatively it will emit X-rays. Therefore, X-ray spectroscopy is a key tool in detecting and characterizing the hot wind material confined by the magnetic fields of these stars. Some B-type stars are found to have very short rotational periods. The effects of the rapid rotation on the X-ray production within the magnetosphere have yet to be explored in detail. The added centrifugal force due to rapid rotation is predicted to cause faster wind outflows along the field lines, leading to higher shock temperatures and harder X-rays. However, this is not observed in all rapidly rotating magnetic B-type stars. In order to address this from a theoretical point of view, we use the X-ray Analytical Dynamical Magnetosphere (XADM) model, originally developed for slow rotators, with an implementation of new rapid rotational physics. Using X-ray spectroscopy from ESA’s XMM-Newton space telescope, we observed 5 rapidly rotating B-types stars to add to the previous list of observations. Comparing the observed X-ray luminosity and hardness ratio to that predicted by the XADM allows us to determine the role the added centrifugal force plays in the magnetospheric X-ray emission of these stars.


2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (S250) ◽  
pp. 89-96
Author(s):  
D. John Hillier

AbstractThe standard theory of radiation driven winds has provided a useful framework to understand stellar winds arising from massive stars (O stars, Wolf-Rayet stars, and luminous blue variables). However, with new diagnostics, and advances in spectral modeling, deficiencies in our understanding of stellar winds have been thrust to the forefront of our research efforts. Spectroscopic observations and analyses have shown the importance of inhomogeneities in stellar winds, and revealed that there are fundamental discrepancies between predicted and theoretical mass-loss rates. For late O stars, spectroscopic analyses derive mass-loss rates significantly lower than predicted. For all O stars, observed X-ray fluxes are difficult to reproduce using standard shock theory, while observed X-ray profiles indicate lower mass-loss rates, the potential importance of porosity effects, and an origin surprisingly close to the stellar photosphere. In O stars with weak winds, X-rays play a crucial role in determining the ionization balance, and must be taken into account.


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