scholarly journals λ And: a post-main-sequence wind from a solar-mass star

2020 ◽  
Vol 500 (3) ◽  
pp. 3438-3453
Author(s):  
D Ó Fionnagáin ◽  
A A Vidotto ◽  
P Petit ◽  
C Neiner ◽  
W Manchester IV ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT We investigate the wind of λ And, a solar-mass star that has evolved off the main sequence becoming a subgiant. We present spectropolarimetric observations and use them to reconstruct the surface magnetic field of λ And. Although much older than our Sun, this star exhibits a stronger (reaching up to 83 G) large-scale magnetic field, which is dominated by the poloidal component. To investigate the wind of λ And, we use the derived magnetic map to simulate two stellar wind scenarios, namely a ‘polytropic wind’ (thermally driven) and an ‘Alfven-wave-driven wind’ with turbulent dissipation. From our 3D magnetohydrodynamics simulations, we calculate the wind thermal emission and compare it to previously published radio observations and more recent Very Large Array observations, which we present here. These observations show a basal sub-mJy quiescent flux level at ∼5 GHz and, at epochs, a much larger flux density (>37 mJy), likely due to radio flares. By comparing our model results with the radio observations of λ And, we can constrain its mass-loss rate $\dot{M}$. There are two possible conclusions. (1) Assuming the quiescent radio emission originates from the stellar wind, we conclude that λ And has $\dot{M} \simeq 3 \times 10^{-9}$ M⊙ yr −1, which agrees with the evolving mass-loss rate trend for evolved solar-mass stars. (2) Alternatively, if the quiescent emission does not originate from the wind, our models can only place an upper limit on mass-loss rates, indicating that $\dot{M} \lesssim 3 \times 10^{-9}$ M⊙ yr −1.

1988 ◽  
Vol 101 ◽  
pp. 15-18
Author(s):  
P. Lundqvist ◽  
C. Fransson

AbstractThe time dependent ionization and temperature structure of the circumstellar medium around supernovae has been calculated, in order to interpret recent supernova radio observations. For a stellar wind origin of the circumstellar medium, we relate the time of radio turn-on to the progenitor mass loss rate. We also show that large column densities for the UV resonance lines are expected. The results are applied to SN 1979c, SN 1980k and SN 1987A.


1979 ◽  
Vol 83 ◽  
pp. 281-286
Author(s):  
Yoji Kondo ◽  
George E. McCluskey ◽  
Jürgen Rahe

The far-UV spectrum of the eclipsing binary UW CMa (O7f + O-B) had earlier been utilized to derive a mass-loss rate of about 10−6 to 10−5 solar mass per year. The mass flow seems to be basically in the form of a stellar wind emanating from the O7f primary component, with radiation pressure as the controlling factor. The main characteristics that make UW CMa a possible progenitor of a Wolf-Rayet system are discussed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 500 (3) ◽  
pp. 3382-3393
Author(s):  
S Carolan ◽  
A A Vidotto ◽  
C Villarreal D’Angelo ◽  
G Hazra

ABSTRACT We use 3D hydrodynamics simulations followed by synthetic line profile calculations to examine the effect increasing the strength of the stellar wind has on observed Ly α transits of a hot Jupiter (HJ) and a warm Neptune (WN). We find that increasing the stellar wind mass-loss rate from 0 (no wind) to 100 times the solar mass-loss rate value causes reduced atmospheric escape in both planets (a reduction of 65 per cent and 40 per cent for the HJ and WN, respectively, compared to the ‘no wind’ case). For weaker stellar winds (lower ram pressure), the reduction in planetary escape rate is very small. However, as the stellar wind becomes stronger, the interaction happens deeper in the planetary atmosphere, and, once this interaction occurs below the sonic surface of the planetary outflow, further reduction in evaporation rates is seen. We classify these regimes in terms of the geometry of the planetary sonic surface. ‘Closed’ refers to scenarios where the sonic surface is undisturbed, while ‘open’ refers to those where the surface is disrupted. We find that the change in stellar wind strength affects the Ly α transit in a non-linear way (note that here we do not include charge-exchange processes). Although little change is seen in planetary escape rates (≃ 5.5 × 1011 g s−1) in the closed to partially open regimes, the Ly α absorption (sum of the blue [−300, −40 km s−1] and red [40, 300 km s−1] wings) changes from 21 to 6 per cent as the stellar wind mass-loss rate is increased in the HJ set of simulations. For the WN simulations, escape rates of ≃ 6.5 × 1010 g s−1 can cause transit absorptions that vary from 8.8 to 3.7 per cent, depending on the stellar wind strength. We conclude that the same atmospheric escape rate can produce a range of absorptions depending on the stellar wind and that neglecting this in the interpretation of Ly α transits can lead to underestimation of planetary escape rates.


2020 ◽  
Vol 635 ◽  
pp. A170 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Ahuir ◽  
A. S. Brun ◽  
A. Strugarek

Context. Stellar spin down is the result of a complex process involving rotation, dynamo, wind, and magnetism. Multiwavelength surveys of solar-like stars have revealed the likely existence of relationships between their rotation, X-ray luminosity, mass losses, and magnetism. They impose strong constraints on the corona and wind of cool stars. Aims. We aim to provide power-law prescriptions of the mass loss of stars, of their magnetic field, and of their base coronal density and temperature that are compatible with their observationally-constrained spin down. Methods. We link the magnetic field and the mass-loss rate from a wind torque formulation, which is in agreement with the distribution of stellar rotation periods in open clusters and the Skumanich law. Given a wind model and an expression of the X-ray luminosity from radiative losses, we constrained the coronal properties by assuming different physical scenarios linking closed loops to coronal holes. Results. We find that the magnetic field and the mass loss are involved in a one-to-one correspondence that is constrained from spin down considerations. We show that a magnetic field, depending on both the Rossby number and the stellar mass, is required to keep a consistent spin down model. The estimates of the magnetic field and the mass-loss rate obtained from our formalism are consistent with statistical studies as well as individual observations and they give new leads to constrain the magnetic field-rotation relation. The set of scaling-laws we derived can be broadly applied to cool stars from the pre-main sequence to the end of the main sequence (MS), and they allow for stellar wind modeling that is consistent with all of the observational constraints available to date.


1988 ◽  
Vol 108 ◽  
pp. 410-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.R. Wood ◽  
D.J. Faulkner

The evolution of a 17.5 M⊙ star, chosen to be similar to the precursor of SN1987A, has been studied using the input physics described in Wood and Faulkner (1987). The calculations: use opacities from the Astrophysical Opacity Library of Huebner et al (1977) with H, He, C, N, O and other metals in LMC ratios; treat semi-convection in the manner of Lamb, Iben and Howard (1976); and assume the mass loss rate to be the minimum of (a) α times the rate give in Waldron (1985) (this rate applied in the blue part of the HR diagram), and (b) L/(cv) (this rate applied in the red), where v is the stellar wind expansion velocity which was taken to be 12 km s−1.Typical evolutionary tracks resulting from these calculations are shown in Figure 1. The track shown as a continuous line is the one shown in Wood and Faulkner (1987) and corresponds to α = 2.5, while the track shown as a dotted line results from a slightly different treatment of semi-convection on the main-sequence and to α = 1.


2018 ◽  
Vol 614 ◽  
pp. A86 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Grassitelli ◽  
N. Langer ◽  
N. J. Grin ◽  
J. Mackey ◽  
J. M. Bestenlehner ◽  
...  

Mass loss by stellar wind is a key agent in the evolution and spectroscopic appearance of massive main sequence and post-main sequence stars. In Wolf–Rayet stars the winds can be so dense and so optically thick that the photosphere appears in the highly supersonic part of the outflow, veiling the underlying subsonic part of the star, and leaving the initial acceleration of the wind inaccessible to observations. Here we investigate the conditions and the structure of the subsonic part of the outflow of Galactic Wolf–Rayet stars, in particular of the WNE subclass; our focus is on the conditions at the sonic point of their winds. We compute 1D hydrodynamic stellar structure models for massive helium stars adopting outer boundaries at the sonic point. We find that the outflows of our models are accelerated to supersonic velocities by the radiative force from opacity bumps either at temperatures of the order of 200 kK by the iron opacity bump or of the order of 50 kK by the helium-II opacity bump. For a given mass-loss rate, the diffusion approximation for radiative energy transport allows us to define the temperature gradient based purely on the local thermodynamic conditions. For a given mass-loss rate, this implies that the conditions in the subsonic part of the outflow are independent from the detailed physical conditions in the supersonic part. Stellar atmosphere calculations can therefore adopt our hydrodynamic models as ab initio input for the subsonic structure. The close proximity to the Eddington limit at the sonic point allows us to construct a sonic HR diagram, relating the sonic point temperature to the luminosity-to-mass ratio and the stellar mass-loss rate, thereby constraining the sonic point conditions, the subsonic structure, and the stellar wind mass-loss rates of WNE stars from observations. The minimum stellar wind mass-loss rate necessary to have the flow accelerated to supersonic velocities by the iron opacity bump is derived. A comparison of the observed parameters of Galactic WNE stars to this minimum mass-loss rate indicates that these stars have their winds launched to supersonic velocities by the radiation pressure arising from the iron opacity bump. Conversely, stellar models which do not show transonic flows from the iron opacity bump form low-density extended envelopes. We derive an analytic criterion for the appearance of envelope inflation and of a density inversion in the outer sub-photospheric layers.


1981 ◽  
Vol 59 ◽  
pp. 265-270
Author(s):  
L.R. Yungelson ◽  
A.G. Massevitch ◽  
A.V. Tutukov

It is shown that mass loss by stellar wind with rates observed in O, B-stars cannot change qualitatively their evolution in the core hydrogen-burning stage. The effects, that are usually attributed to the mass loss, can be explained by other causes: e.g., duplicity or enlarged chemically homogeneous stellar cores.The significance of mass loss by stellar wind for the evolution of massive stars was studied extensively by numerous authors (see e.g. Chiosi et al. (1979) and references therein). However, the problem is unclear as yet. There does not exist any satisfactory theory of mass loss by stars. Therefore one is usually forced to assume that mass loss rate depends on some input parameters.


1981 ◽  
Vol 59 ◽  
pp. 61-64
Author(s):  
B. Wolf ◽  
O. Stahl ◽  
W.J. Altenhoff

From the free-free excess at 10μ. Barlow and Cohen (1977) (hereafter referred to as BC) derived a mass loss rate of 6.9 10-7 M⊙ yr-1 for α Cyg. They predicted a 10 GHz radio flux of 2.2 mJy. On the other hand Praderie et al. (1980) derived a considerable lower mass loss rate of 1.1 10 -8 ≤Ṁ ≤ 7 10-8 M ⊙ yr-1 from a curve of growth analysis of the envelope ultraviolet Fell-lines of α Cyg. Radio observations are desirable to make a decision about these discrepant results. Therefore we observed α Cyg at 15 GHz with the 100 m telescope of the MPIfR at Effelsberg. The observations are discussed together with recent VLA data of Abbott et al. (1980).


2020 ◽  
Vol 494 (4) ◽  
pp. 5230-5238
Author(s):  
Roni Anna Gofman ◽  
Naomi Gluck ◽  
Noam Soker

ABSTRACT We evolve stellar models with zero-age main-sequence (ZAMS) mass of MZAMS ≳ 18 M⊙ under the assumption that they experience an enhanced mass-loss rate when crossing the instability strip at high luminosities and conclude that most of them end as type Ibc supernovae (SNe Ibc) or dust-obscured SNe II. We explore what level of enhanced mass-loss rate during the instability strip would be necessary to explain the ‘red supergiant problem’. This problem refers to the dearth of observed core-collapse supernovae progenitors with MZAMS ≳ 18 M⊙. Namely, we examine what enhanced mass-loss rate could make it possible for all these stars actually to explode as core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe). We find that the mass-loss rate should increase by a factor of at least about 10. We reach this conclusion by analysing the hydrogen mass in the stellar envelope and the optical depth of the dusty wind at the explosion, and crudely estimate that under our assumptions only about a fifth of these stars explode as unobscured SNe II and SNe IIb. About 10–15 per cent end as obscured SNe II that are infrared-bright but visibly very faint, and the rest, about 65–70 per cent, end as SNe Ibc. However, the statistical uncertainties are still too significant to decide whether many stars with MZAMS ≳ 18 M⊙ do not explode as expected in the neutrino driven explosion mechanism, or whether all of them explode as CCSNe, as expected by the jittering jets explosion mechanism.


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