Continuum Shapes of Wolf-Rayet Stars

Details Continuum Shapes of Wolf-Rayet Stars Continuum Shapes of Wolf-Rayet Stars

Jul 1984

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1984iue..prop.1817g&link_type=abstract

IUE Proposal ID #WRGCG

Other

Scientific paper

We are proposing to continue the investigation of continuum flux distributions of Wolf-Rayet stars from IUE and ground-based scanner observations. Wolf-Rayet stars make a major contribution to the overall luminosity and chemical enrichment of the galaxy', and have the largest mass loss rates of any known stars. However the mechanism driving their wind is not understood, and the variations observed in mass, luminosity and line strength within the same spectral subtypes lead one to question the evolutionary significance of these types. Initially, we hoped to derive effective temperatures and radii from the energy distribution and then sort out the other parameters. Instead, we found that reddening, possibly circumstellar, prevented this. We want to circumvent the reddening problem by observing W-R stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud, where the interstellar reddening is low, and differences from star to star may tell us primarily about circumstellar extinction and continua shapes. The brighter W-R stars in the LMC have already been observed with IUE, but the discovery by Massey and Conti that there is a three mag. spread in the absolute magnitudes of the single WN stars requires observation of some fainter stars. We also want to consider the relation between the continua and the radio mass loss. Only half of the stars with radio observations have IUE data, which is vital for providing wind terminal velocities. Additional observations of fainter W-R stars are necessary to insure that the radio mass loss rates which all lie in a very narrow range, do not suffer from a selection effect.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Continuum Shapes of Wolf-Rayet Stars 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 Continuum Shapes of Wolf-Rayet Stars, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Continuum Shapes of Wolf-Rayet Stars will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1707012