X-ray Variability in the Hot Supergiant zeta Orionis

Details X-ray Variability in the Hot Supergiant zeta Orionis X-ray Variability in the Hot Supergiant zeta Orionis

Sep 1994

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1994sci...265.1689b&link_type=abstract

Science, Volume 265, Issue 5179, pp. 1689-1691

Physics

20

Scientific paper

Hot massive stars represent only a small fraction of the stellar population of the galaxy, but their enormous luminosities make them visible over large distances. Therefore, they are ideal standard candles, used to determine distances of near galaxies. Their mass loss due to supersonic winds driven by radiation pressure contributes significantly to the interstellar medium and thus to the chemical evolution of galaxies. All hot stars are soft x-ray sources; in contrast to the sun with its highly variable x-ray flux, long time scale x-ray variability is not common among hot stars. An analysis is presented here of an unusual increase in x-ray flux observed with the roentgen observatory satellite during a period of 2 days for the hot supergiant zeta Orionis, the only episode of x-ray variability that has been found in a hot star. These observations provide the most direct evidence so far for the scenario of shock-heated gas in the winds of hot stars.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

X-ray Variability in the Hot Supergiant zeta Orionis does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with X-ray Variability in the Hot Supergiant zeta Orionis, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and X-ray Variability in the Hot Supergiant zeta Orionis will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1712547