Nonspherical stellar envelopes and winds - Effects of structure on radiative fluxes and apparent mass loss rates

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics

Scientific paper

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Radiant Flux Density, Stellar Envelopes, Stellar Mass Ejection, Stellar Radiation, Stellar Structure, Stellar Winds, Density Distribution, Mass Flow Rate, Mass Transfer, Stellar Models, Stellar Rotation

Scientific paper

Expressions are given for the radiative flux produced by extended stellar envelopes whose stratification deviates considerably from spherical symmetry. Among the structures considered are ellipsoidal configurations of arbitrary axial ratios, polar cones, equatorial belts and radial streamer systems. A relation between flux, total mass loss rate, source geometry and inclination angle is derived for the case where the envelope is a stellar wind zone; free-free emission serves as an example.
It is shown that for the models under discussion, the spectral dependence on frequency equals that of corresponding spherical sources. In order to derive mass loss rates Mdot from observed flux densities, a geometry-dependent correction factor CFMdot has to be applied. CFMdot is normally quite insensitive to source geometry and inclination angle and only varies greatly when some ratio of structural length scales in the source exceeds about 10; in all but such extreme cases the effect on Mdot is less than a factor of ∼2. Standard estimates of mass loss rates, based on the assumption of sphericity, should therefore in general be considered quite reliable even for non-spherical envelopes, with overestimates more likely than underestimates. Major exceptions are winds composed of numerous narrow radial streamers.

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