scholarly journals Colliding stellar wind modelling of the X-ray emission from WR 140

2020 ◽  
Vol 500 (4) ◽  
pp. 4837-4848
Author(s):  
Svetozar A Zhekov
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Effective Mass ◽  
Stellar Wind ◽  
Mass Loss Rate ◽  
Emission Measure ◽  
Strong Line ◽  
Stellar Winds ◽  
Line Profiles ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Binary Orbit

ABSTRACT We modelled the Chandra and Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer X-ray spectra of the massive binary WR 140 in the framework of the standard colliding stellar wind (CSW) picture. Models with partial electron heating at the shock fronts are a better representation of the X-ray data than those with complete temperature equalization. Emission measure of the X-ray plasma in the CSW region exhibits a considerable decrease at orbital phases near periastron. This is equivalent to variable effective mass-loss rates over the binary orbit. At orbital phases near periastron, a considerable X-ray absorption in excess to that from the stellar winds in WR 140 is present. The standard CSW model provides line profiles that in general do not match well the observed line profiles of the strong line features in the X-ray spectrum of WR 140. The variable effective mass-loss rate could be understood qualitatively in CSW picture of clumpy stellar winds where clumps are efficiently dissolved in the CSW region near apastron but not at periastron. However, future development of CSW models with non-spherically symmetric stellar winds might be needed to get a better correspondence between theory and observations.

scholarly journals Wind properties of variable B supergiants

2018 ◽  
Vol 614 ◽  
pp. A91 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Haucke ◽  
L. S. Cidale ◽  
R. O. J. Venero ◽  
M. Curé ◽  
M. Kraus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Mass Loss Rate ◽  
Empirical Relationship ◽  
Variable Stars ◽  
Stellar Winds ◽  
Radial Pulsation ◽  
Line Profiles ◽  
Stellar Radius ◽  
Wind Variability ◽  
Loss Rates

Context. Variable B supergiants (BSGs) constitute a heterogeneous group of stars with complex photometric and spectroscopic behaviours. They exhibit mass-loss variations and experience different types of oscillation modes, and there is growing evidence that variable stellar winds and photospheric pulsations are closely related. Aims. To discuss the wind properties and variability of evolved B-type stars, we derive new stellar and wind parameters for a sample of 19 Galactic BSGs by fitting theoretical line profiles of H, He, and Si to the observed ones and compare them with previous determinations. Methods. The synthetic line profiles are computed with the non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE) atmosphere code FASTWIND, with a β-law for hydrodynamics. Results. The mass-loss rate of three stars has been obtained for the first time. The global properties of stellar winds of mid/late B supergiants are well represented by a β-law with β > 2. All stars follow the known empirical wind momentum–luminosity relationships, and the late BSGs show the trend of the mid BSGs. HD 75149 and HD 99953 display significant changes in the shape and intensity of the Hα line (from a pure absorption to a P Cygni profile, and vice versa). These stars have mass-loss variations of almost a factor of 2.8. A comparison among mass-loss rates from the literature reveals discrepancies of a factor of 1 to 7. This large variation is a consequence of the uncertainties in the determination of the stellar radius. Therefore, for a reliable comparison of these values we used the invariant parameter Qr. Based on this parameter, we find an empirical relationship that associates the amplitude of mass-loss variations with photometric/spectroscopic variability on timescales of tens of days. We find that stars located on the cool side of the bi-stability jump show a decrease in the ratio V∞∕Vesc, while their corresponding mass-loss rates are similar to or lower than the values found for stars on the hot side. Particularly, for those variable stars a decrease in V∞∕Vesc is accompanied by a decrease in Ṁ. Conclusions. Our results also suggest that radial pulsation modes with periods longer than 6 days might be responsible for the wind variability in the mid/late-type. These radial modes might be identified with strange modes, which are known to facilitate (enhanced) mass loss. On the other hand, we propose that the wind behaviour of stars on the cool side of the bi-stability jump could fit with predictions of the δ−slow hydrodynamics solution for radiation-driven winds with highly variable ionization.

scholarly journals Effects of the stellar wind on the Ly α transit of close-in planets

2020 ◽  
Vol 500 (3) ◽  
pp. 3382-3393
Author(s):  
S Carolan ◽  
A A Vidotto ◽  
C Villarreal D’Angelo ◽  
G Hazra
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Stellar Wind ◽  
Loss Rate ◽  
Mass Loss Rate ◽  
Escape Rate ◽  
Stellar Winds ◽  
Solar Mass ◽  
Atmospheric Escape ◽  
Exchange Processes ◽  
Sonic Surface

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.

scholarly journals Wind inhibition by X-ray irradiation in HMXBs: the influence of clumping and the final X-ray luminosity

2018 ◽  
Vol 620 ◽  
pp. A150 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Krtička ◽  
J. Kubát ◽  
I. Krtičková
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Stellar Wind ◽  
Loss Rate ◽  
Mass Loss Rate ◽  
Terminal Velocity ◽  
High Mass ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
X Rays ◽  
X Ray ◽  
X Ray Binaries

Context. In wind-powered X-ray binaries, the radiatively driven stellar wind from the primary may be inhibited by the X-ray irradiation. This creates the feedback that limits the X-ray luminosity of the compact secondary. Wind inhibition might be weakened by the effect of small-scale wind inhomogeneities (clumping) possibly affecting the limiting X-ray luminosity. Aims. We study the influence of X-ray irradiation on the stellar wind for different radial distributions of clumping. Methods. We calculate hot star wind models with external irradiation and clumping using our global wind code. The models are calculated for different parameters of the binary. We determine the parameters for which the X-ray wind ionization is so strong that it leads to a decrease of the radiative force. This causes a decrease of the wind velocity and even of the mass-loss rate in the case of extreme X-ray irradiation. Results. Clumping weakens the effect of X-ray irradiation because it favours recombination and leads to an increase of the wind mass-loss rate. The best match between the models and observed properties of high-mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs) is derived with radially variable clumping. We describe the influence of X-ray irradiation on the terminal velocity and on the mass-loss rate in a parametric way. The X-ray luminosities predicted within the Bondi-Hoyle-Lyttleton theory agree nicely with observations when accounting for X-ray irradiation. Conclusions. The ionizing feedback regulates the accretion onto the compact companion resulting in a relatively stable X-ray source. The wind-powered accretion model can account for large luminosities in HMXBs only when introducing the ionizing feedback. There are two possible states following from the dependence of X-ray luminosity on the wind terminal velocity and mass-loss rate. One state has low X-ray luminosity and a nearly undisturbed wind, and the second state has high X-ray luminosity and exhibits a strong influence of X-rays on the flow.

scholarly journals X-ray Shaping of Planetary Nebulae

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin A Guerrero
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Stellar Wind ◽  
Essential Role ◽  
Planetary Nebulae ◽  
Stellar Winds ◽  
Physical Processes ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Hot Gas ◽  
Energy And Momentum ◽  
Central Stars

The stellar winds of the central stars of planetary nebulae play an essential role in planetary nebulae shaping. In the interacting stellar winds model, the fast stellar wind injects energy and momentum which are transfered to the nebular envelope through an X-ray-emitting hot bubble. Together with other physical processes, such as the ionization of the nebular envelope, the asymmetrical mass-loss in the AGB, and the action of collimated outflows and magnetic fields, the presurized hot gas determines the expansion and evolution of planetary nebulae. \emph{Chandra} and \emph{XMM-Newton} have provided us with detailed information of this hot gas. Here in this talk I will review our current understanding of the effects of the fast stellar wind in the shaping and evolution of planetary nebulae and give some hints of the promissing future of this research.

scholarly journals A mass-loss rate determination for ζ Puppis from the quantitative analysis of X-ray emission-line profiles

2010 ◽  
pp. no-no ◽  
Author(s):  
David H. Cohen ◽  
Maurice A. Leutenegger ◽  
Emma E. Wollman ◽  
Janos Zsargó ◽  
D. John Hillier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Analysis ◽  
Mass Loss ◽  
Emission Line ◽  
Loss Rate ◽  
Mass Loss Rate ◽  
Line Profiles ◽  
X Ray

scholarly journals Chandra grating spectroscopy of embedded wind shock X-ray emission from O stars shows low plasma temperatures and significant wind absorption

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
David H Cohen ◽  
Vanessa Vaughn Parts ◽  
Graham M Doskoch ◽  
Jiaming Wang ◽  
Véronique Petit ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Temperature Distribution ◽  
Mass Loss ◽  
Mass Loss Rate ◽  
Emission Measure ◽  
X Rays ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Hot Plasma ◽  
Similar Temperature ◽  
Grating Spectroscopy ◽  
X Ray Absorption

Abstract We present a uniform analysis of six examples of embedded wind shock (EWS) O star X-ray sources observed at high resolution with the Chandra grating spectrometers. By modeling both the hot plasma emission and the continuum absorption of the soft X-rays by the cool, partially ionized bulk of the wind we derive the temperature distribution of the shock-heated plasma and the wind mass-loss rate of each star. We find a similar temperature distribution for each star’s hot wind plasma, consistent with a power-law differential emission measure, $\frac{d\log EM}{d\log T}$, with a slope a little steeper than -2, up to temperatures of only about 107 K. The wind mass-loss rates, which are derived from the broadband X-ray absorption signatures in the spectra, are consistent with those found from other diagnostics. The most notable conclusion of this study is that wind absorption is a very important effect, especially at longer wavelengths. More than 90 per cent of the X-rays between 18 and 25 Å produced by shocks in the wind of ζ Pup are absorbed, for example. It appears that the empirical trend of X-ray hardness with spectral subtype among O stars is primarily an absorption effect.

scholarly journals Radio Supernovae as Direct Evidence of Stellar Evolution in Real Time

1998 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 367-367
Author(s):  
S.D. Van Dyk ◽  
M.J. Montes ◽  
K.W. Weiler ◽  
R.A. Sramek ◽  
N. Panagia
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Stellar Evolution ◽  
Loss Rate ◽  
Direct Evidence ◽  
Mass Loss Rate ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Stringent Constraint ◽  
Clear Change ◽  
Late Stages ◽  
Circumstellar Environment

The radio emission from supernovae provides a direct probe of a supernova’s circumstellar environment, which presumably was established by mass-loss episodes in the late stages of the progenitor’s presupernova evolution. The observed synchrotron emission is generated by the SN shock interacting with the relatively high-density circumstellar medium which has been fully ionized and heated by the initial UV/X-ray flash. The study of radio supernovae therefore provides many clues to and constraints on stellar evolution. We will present the recent results on several cases, including SN 1980K, whose recent abrupt decline provides us with a stringent constraint on the progenitor’s initial mass; SN 1993J, for which the profile of the wind matter supports the picture of the progenitor’s evolution in an interacting binary system; and SN 1979C, where a clear change in presupernova mass-loss rate occurred about 104 years before explosion. Other examples, such as SNe 19941 and 1996cb, will also be discussed.

scholarly journals Measuring mass-loss rates and constraining shock physics using X-ray line profiles of O stars from the Chandra archive

2014 ◽  
Vol 439 (1) ◽  
pp. 908-923 ◽  
Author(s):  
David H. Cohen ◽  
Emma E. Wollman ◽  
Maurice A. Leutenegger ◽  
Jon O. Sundqvist ◽  
Alex W. Fullerton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Line Profiles ◽  
Shock Physics ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Loss Rates

scholarly journals What Do We Really Know About the Winds of Massive Stars?

2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (S250) ◽  
pp. 89-96
Author(s):  
D. John Hillier
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Massive Stars ◽  
Standard Theory ◽  
Stellar Winds ◽  
X Rays ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Stellar Photosphere ◽  
Weak Winds ◽  
Ionization Balance ◽  
Loss Rates

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.

scholarly journals Variability in X-ray line ratios in helium-like ions of massive stars: the wind-driven case

2019 ◽  
Vol 625 ◽  
pp. A86 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Ignace ◽  
Z. Damrau ◽  
K. T. Hole
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Massive Stars ◽  
Mass Loss Rate ◽  
Variable Mass ◽  
Line Ratio ◽  
High Spectral Resolution ◽  
X Rays ◽  
Wind Integration ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Wind Variability

Context. High spectral resolution and long exposure times are providing unprecedented levels of data quality of massive stars at X-ray wavelengths. Aims. A key diagnostic of the X-ray emitting plasma are the fir lines for He-like triplets. In particular, owing to radiative pumping effects, the forbidden-to-intercombination line luminosity ratio, R = f∕i, can be used to determine the proximity of the hot plasma to the UV-bright photospheres of massive stars. Moreover, the era of large observing programs additionally allows for investigation of line variability. Methods. This contribution is the second to explore how variability in the line ratio can provide new diagnostic information about distributed X-rays in a massive star wind. We focus on wind integration for total line luminosities, taking account of radiative pumping and stellar occultation. While the case of a variable stellar radiation field was explored in the first paper, the effects of wind variability are emphasized in this work. Results. We formulate an expression for the ratio of line luminosities f∕i that closely resembles the classic expression for the on-the-spot result. While there are many ways to drive variability in the line ratio, we use variable mass loss as an illustrative example for wind integration, particularly since this produces no variability for the on-the-spot case. The f∕i ratio can be significantly modulated owing to evolving wind properties. The extent of the variation depends on how the timescale for the wind flow compares to the timescale over which the line emissivities change. Conclusions. While a variety of factors can ellicit variable line ratios, a time-varying mass-loss rate serves to demonstrate the range of amplitude and phased-dependent behavior in f∕i line ratios. Importantly, we evaluate how variable mass loss might bias measures of f∕i. For observational exposures that are less than the timescale of variable mass loss, biased measures (relative to the time-averaged wind) can result; if exposures are long, the f∕i ratio is reflective of the time-averaged spherical wind.

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