Detection of WR stars in the metal-poor starburst galaxy IZw 18

Details Detection of WR stars in the metal-poor starburst galaxy IZw 18 Detection of WR stars in the metal-poor starburst galaxy IZw 18

1997-07-25

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/9707279v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

4 pages, 2 postscript figures A&A in press

Scientific paper

Wolf-Rayet stars (WR) have been detected in the NW region of the metal-poor starburst galaxy IZw 18. The integrated luminosity and FWHM of the bumps at 4650 A and 5808 A are consistent with the presence of a few individual stars of WC4 or WC5 type. Evolutionary synthesis models predict few WRs in this galaxy, but only of WN type. The presence of WC stars at such low metallicity could however be explained by high mass loss rates, which would constrain the IMF upper mass cut-off in IZw 18 to be higher than 80 Msol or alternatively favor a binary channel for WR formation. WC stars could also explain the strong and narrow HeII 4686 A emission line which peaks co-spatially with the WR bump emission, as suggested by Schaerer (1996). This detection shows that WR stars, even of WC type, are formed at metallicities below 1/40th solar.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Detection of WR stars in the metal-poor starburst galaxy IZw 18 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 Detection of WR stars in the metal-poor starburst galaxy IZw 18, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Detection of WR stars in the metal-poor starburst galaxy IZw 18 will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-505103