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Context. Asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars are significant contributors to the metal enrichment of the interstellar medium. They have strong dust-driven winds that have their origin in regions close to the AGB star's surface, where dense dust clouds form. Aims. In this methods paper, we adapted models from advanced radiation-hydrodynamical (RHD) simulations as input for radiative transfer software to create synthetic observables. A major goal is to describe an AGB star's non-sphericity and to simulate its effects on the surrounding dusty envelope. Methods. We developed tools in Python to translate models of an AGB star and its dust-driven wind from 3D RHD simulations with CO5BOLD into the format used for radiative transfer with RADMC-3D. We preserved the asymmetric shape of the AGB star by including the star as a 'dust species' and by using temperature data computed in CO5BOLD. The circumstellar silicate dust from the 3D RHD simulation is included using Mg2SiO4 opacity data in RADMC-3D with spatially dependent grain sizes. We compared images and spectral energy distributions (SEDs) created with RADMC-3D of a model snapshot with similar output made with a spherically symmetric stellar atmosphere from the 1D program DARWIN and with a point source star in RADMC-3D. Results. Our CO5BOLD model features substantial and clumpy dust formation just above 3.4 au from the grid centre (∼1 R⋆ above the star), and large-scale structures due to giant convection cells are visible on the stellar surface. With the properties of VLTI as a basis, we have created simple synthetic observables where the dust clouds close to the star and features on the stellar surface are resolved. The flux density and the contrast to the star are high enough that optical interferometers, such as the VLTI, should be able to detect these dust clouds. We find that it is important to include asymmetric stellar models since their irregular shapes, radiation fields, and their dusty envelopes even put their marks on spatially unresolved observables and affect the flux levels and shapes of the SEDs. The effects on flux levels can mostly be linked to the clumpiness of the circumstellar dust. In contrast, the angle-dependent illumination resulting from temperature variations on the stellar surface causes shifts in the wavelengths of the flux maximum, as shown by replacing the asymmetric star with a spherical one. Conclusions. The methods presented here are an important step towards producing realistic synthetic observables and testing predictions of advanced 3D RHD models. With the model used here, we find that optical interferometers should be able to resolve thermal emission from dense clouds in the dust-formation zone close to an AGB star. Taking the angle-dependence of SEDs as a proxy for temporal variations in unresolved data, we conclude that not all variability observed in AGB stars should be interpreted as global changes in the sense of spherical models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The properties of blue supergiants are key for constraining the end of the main sequence (MS) of massive stars. Whether the observed drop in the relative number of fast-rotating stars below ≈21 kK is due to enhanced mass-loss rates at the location of the bistability jump, or the result of the end of the MS is still debated. Here, we combine newly derived estimates of photospheric and wind parameters with Gaia distances and wind terminal velocities from the literature to obtain upper limits on the mass-loss rates for a sample of 116 Galactic luminous blue supergiants. The parameter space covered by the sample ranges between 35–15 kK in Teff and 4.8–5.8 dex in log(L/L⊙). Our results show no increase in the mass-loss rates over the bistability jump. Therefore, we argue that the drop in rotational velocities cannot be explained by enhanced mass loss. Since a large jump in the mass-loss rates is commonly included in evolutionary models, we suggest an urgent revision of the default prescriptions currently in use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. We aim to measure the impact of our mass-loss recipe in the evolution of massive stars at the metallicity of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). Methods. We used the Geneva-evolution code (GENEC) to run evolutionary tracks for stellar masses ranging from 20 to 85 M⊙ at SMC metallicity (ZSMC = 0.002). We upgraded the recipe for stellar winds by replacing Vink's formula with our self-consistent m-CAK prescription, which reduces the value of the mass-loss rate, Ṁ, by a factor of between two and six depending on the mass range. Results. The impact of our new [weaker] winds is wide, and it can be divided between direct and indirect impact. For the most massive models (60 and 85 M⊙) with Ṁ ≳ 2 × 10−7M⊙ yr−1, the impact is direct because lower mass loss make stars remove less envelope, and therefore they remain more massive and less chemically enriched at their surface at the end of their main sequence (MS) phase. For the less massive models (20 and 25 M⊙) with Ṁ ≲ 2 × 10−8M⊙ yr−1, the impact is indirect because lower mass loss means the stars keep high rotational velocities for a longer period of time, thus extending the H-core burning lifetime and subsequently reaching the end of the MS with higher surface enrichment. In either case, given that the conditions at the end of the H-core burning change, the stars will lose more mass during their He-core burning stages anyway. For the case of Mzams = 20–40 M⊙, our models predict stars will evolve through the Hertzsprung gap, from O-type supergiants to blue supergiants (BSGs), and finally red supergiants (RSGs), with larger mass fractions of helium compared to old evolution models. New models also sets the minimal initial mass required for a single star to become a Wolf-Rayet (WR) at metallicity Z = 0.002 at Mzams = 85 M⊙. Conclusions. These results reinforce the importance of upgrading mass-loss prescriptions in evolution models, in particular for the earlier stages of stellar lifetime, even for Z ≪ Z⊙. New values for Ṁ need to be complemented with upgrades in additional features such as convective-core overshooting and distribution of rotational velocities, besides more detailed spectroscopical observations from projects such as XShootU, in order to provide a robust framework for the study of massive stars at low-metallicity environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Massive stars in the red supergiant (RSG) phase are known to undergo strong mass-loss through winds and observations indicate that a substantial part of this mass-loss could be driven by localized and episodic outflows. Various mechanisms have been considered to explain this type of mass-loss in RSGs, but these models often focus on single-star evolution. However, massive stars commonly evolve in binary systems, potentially interacting with their companions. Motivated by observations of the highly asymmetric circumstellar ejecta around the RSG VY CMa, we investigate a scenario where a companion on an eccentric orbit grazes the surface of an RSG at periastron. The companion ejects part of the outer RSG envelope, which radiatively cools, reaching the proper conditions for dust condensation and eventually giving rise to dust-driven winds. Using simple treatments for radiative cooling and dust-driven winds, we perform three-dimensional smoothed particle hydrodynamic simulations of this scenario with a |$20\, {\rm M}_\odot$| RSG and a |$2\, {\rm M}_\odot$| companion. We follow the evolution of the binary throughout a total of 14 orbits and observe that the orbit tightens after each interaction, in turn enhancing the mass-loss of subsequent interactions. We show that one such grazing interaction yields outflows of |$3\times 10^{-4}\, {\rm M}_\odot$|⁠ , which later results in wide asymmetric dusty ejecta, carrying a total mass of |$0.185\, {\rm M}_\odot$| by the end of simulations. We discuss the implications for the evolution of the binary, potential observational signatures, as well as future improvements of the model required to provide sensible predictions for the evolution of massive binaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. The mass loss experienced on the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) at the end of the lives of low- and intermediate-mass stars is widely accepted to rely on radiation pressure acting on newly formed dust grains. Dust formation happens in the extended atmospheres of these stars, where the density, velocity, and temperature distributions are strongly affected by convection, stellar pulsation, and heating and cooling processes. The interaction between these processes and how that affects dust formation and growth is complex. Hence, characterising the extended atmospheres empirically is paramount to advance our understanding of the dust formation and wind-driving processes. Aims. We aim to determine the density, temperature, and velocity distributions of the gas in the extended atmosphere of the AGB star R Dor. Methods. We acquired observations using ALMA towards R Dor to study the gas through molecular line absorption and emission. We modelled the observed 12CO v = 0,  J = 2 − 1, v = 1,  J = 2 − 1, and 3 − 2 and 13CO v = 0,  J = 3 − 2 lines using the 3D radiative transfer code LIME to determine the density, temperature, and velocity distributions up to a distance of four times the radius of the star at sub-millimetre wavelengths. Results. The high angular resolution of the sub-millimetre maps allows for even the stellar photosphere to be spatially resolved. By analysing the absorption against the star, we infer that the innermost layer in the near-side hemisphere is mostly falling towards the star, while gas in the layer above that seems to be mostly outflowing. Interestingly, the high angular resolution of the ALMA Band 7 observations reveal that the velocity field of the gas seen against the star is not homogenous across the stellar disc. The gas temperature and density distributions have to be very steep close to the star to fit the observed emission and absorption, but they become shallower for radii larger than ∼1.6 times the stellar sub-millimetre radius. While the gas mass in the innermost region is hundreds of times larger than the mass lost on average by R Dor per pulsation cycle, the gas densities just above this region are consistent with those expected based on the mass-loss rate and expansion velocity of the large-scale outflow. Our fits to the line profiles require the velocity distribution on the far side of the envelope to be mirrored, on average, with respect to that on the near side. Using a sharp absorption feature seen in the CO v = 0,  J = 2 − 1 line, we constrained the standard deviation of the stochastic velocity distribution in the large-scale outflow to be ≲0.4 km s−1. We characterised two blobs detected in the CO v = 0,  J = 2 − 1 line and found densities substantially larger than those of the surrounding gas. The two blobs also display expansion velocities that are high relative to that of the large-scale outflow. Monitoring the evolution of these blobs will lead to a better understanding of the role of these structures in the mass-loss process of R Dor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We fit the high-resolution Chandra X-ray spectra of the O supergiant ζ Puppis using the variable boundary condition (VBC) line model to test the stability of its mass-loss rate between two epochs of observation: 2000 March and 2018 July – 2019 August. At issue is whether the observed variations are induced by global changes in the cool (unshocked) wind itself or are isolated to the local pockets of hot gas (i.e. changes in the frequency and location of the shocks). Evidence in the literature favoured the possibility of a 40 per cent increase in the mass flux of the entire stellar wind, based on X-ray reabsorption from a line-deshadowing-instability-inspired parametrization, whereas our fit parameters are consistent with a constant mass flux with a change in the velocity variations that determine the locations where shocks form. Our results suggest the shocks in the more recent data are formed at somewhat larger radii, mimicking the enhanced blueshifts and increased line fluxes interpreted in the previous analysis as being due to increases in both the X-ray generation and reabsorption from an overall stronger wind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We perform 3D hydrodynamical simulations to study recombination and ionization during the common envelope (CE) phase of binary evolution, and develop techniques to track the ionic transitions in time and space. We simulate the interaction of a |$2\, \mathrm{M_\odot }$| red giant branch primary and a |$1\, \mathrm{M_\odot }$| companion modelled as a particle. We compare a run employing a tabulated equation of state (EOS) that accounts for ionization and recombination, with a run employing an ideal gas EOS. During the first half of the simulations, ∼15 per cent more mass is unbound in the tabulated EOS run due to the release of recombination energy, but by simulation end the difference has become negligible. We explain this as being a consequence of (i) the tabulated EOS run experiences a shallower inspiral and hence smaller orbital energy release at late times because recombination energy release expands the envelope and reduces drag, and (ii) collision and mixing between expanding envelope gas, ejecta and circumstellar ambient gas assists in unbinding the envelope, but does so less efficiently in the tabulated EOS run where some of the energy transferred to bound envelope gas is used for ionization. The rate of mass unbinding is approximately constant in the last half of the simulations and the orbital separation steadily decreases at late times. A simple linear extrapolation predicts a CE phase duration of |${\sim}2\, {\rm yr}$|⁠ , after which the envelope would be unbound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate determination of mass-loss rates from massive stars is important to understand stellar and galactic evolution and enrichment of the interstellar medium. Large-scale structure and variability in stellar winds have significant effects on mass-loss rates. Time-series observations provide direct quantification of such variability. Observations of this nature are available for some Galactic early supergiant stars but not yet for stars in lower metallicity environments such as the Magellanic Clouds. We utilize ultraviolet spectra from the Hubble Space Telescope ULLYSES program to demonstrate that the presence of structure in stellar winds of supergiant stars at low metallicities may be discerned from single-epoch spectra. We find evidence that, for given stellar luminosities and mean stellar wind optical depths, structure is more prevalent at higher metallicities. We confirm, at Large Magellanic Cloud (0.5 Z ⊙), Small Magellanic Cloud (0.2 Z ⊙), and lower (0.14–0.1 Z ⊙) metallicities, earlier Galactic results that there does not appear to be correlation between the degree of structure in stellar winds of massive stars and stellar effective temperature. Similar lack of correlation is found with regard to terminal velocity of stellar winds. Additional and revised values for radial velocities of stars and terminal velocities of stellar winds are presented. Direct evidence of temporal variability, on time-scales of several days, in stellar wind at low metallicity is found. We illustrate that narrow absorption components in wind-formed profiles of Galactic OB stellar spectra remain common in early B supergiant spectra at low metallicities, providing means for better constraining hot, massive star mass-loss rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The theory of line-driven winds can explain many observed spectral features in early-type stars, though our understanding the winds of B supergiants remains incomplete. The hydrodynamic equations for slowly rotating stellar winds predict two regimes based on the line-force parameter δ: the fast and the δ- slow solution. In this paper, we aim to explore the capability of the latter to explain the observed properties of B supergiant winds. We calculate Hα line profiles, the most sensitive wind diagnostics in the optical, for both fast and δ- slow wind models. We fit them to observed data from a well-studied sample of B supergiants, by adapting the line-force parameters (k , α, and δ) of the hydrodynamic model. Unexpectedly, the observed Hα spectra can be reproduced by both hydrodynamic wind regimes with similar precision. We argue that this similarity results from the similar shape of the normalized velocity law produced by both regimes in the lower, Hα-forming wind region. Our findings raise a dichotomy, because mass-loss rates and terminal velocities (v ∞) for each solution are quite different. The δ- slow solution predicts maximum values for v ∞ that are systematically lower than those measured in the ultraviolet, whereas the v ∞ values of the fast solution are closer, and probably more appropriate. However, our results also indicate that the δ- slow solution might better describe the dense winds of B hypergiants. Multiwavelength analyses and a larger sample of stars are needed to reach a definitive conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

η Carinae is an extremely luminous and energetic colliding-wind binary. The combination of its orbit and orientation, with respect to our line of sight, enables direct investigation of the conditions and geometry of the colliding winds. We analyse optical He i 5876 and 7065 Å line profiles from the Global Jet Watch observatories covering the last 1.3 orbital periods. The sustained coverage throughout apastron reveals the distinct dynamics of the emitting versus absorbing components: the emission lines follow orbital velocities, while one of the absorption lines is detected only around apastron (0.08 < ϕ < 0.95) and exhibits velocities that deviate substantially from the orbital motion. To interpret these deviations, we conjecture that this He i absorption component is formed in the post-shock primary wind, and is only detected when our line of sight intersects with the shock cone formed by the collision of the two winds. We formulate a geometrical model for the colliding winds in terms of a hyperboloid in which the opening angle and location of its apex are parametrized in terms of the ratio of the wind momentum of the primary star to that of companion. We fit this geometrical model to the absorption velocities, finding results that are concordant with the panchromatic observations and simulations of η Carinae. The model presented here is an extremely sensitive probe of the exact geometry of the wind momentum balance of binary stars, and can be extended to probe the latitudinal dependence of mass-loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the analysis of spatially resolved spectroscopic observations of the born-again planetary nebula (PN) A 78 that are used to investigate the chemistry and physical properties of its three main morphological components, namely the inner knots, its eye-like structure, and the low surface-brightness outer nebula. The H-poor chemical abundances of the inner knots confirm the born-again nature of A 78, with an N/O abundances ratio consistent with the predictions of very late thermal pulses (VLTP). On the other hand, the high Ne/O is not expected in VLTP events, which prompts a possible different evolutionary path may be involving a binary system. The low N/O ratio and He/H abundances of the outer shell are indicative of a low-mass progenitor, whereas the chemical abundances of the eye-like structure, which results from the interaction between the H-poor born-again material and the outer nebula, evidence their mixture. Unlike previous works, the extinction is found to be inhomogeneous, being much higher towards the H-poor inner knots, where the presence of large amounts of C-rich dust has been previously reported. Dust-rich material seems to diffuse into outer nebular regions, resulting in zones of enhanced extinction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Massive star winds are structured both stochastically ('clumps') and often coherently (Co-rotation Interaction Regions, or CIRs). Evidence for CIRs threading the winds of Wolf–Rayet (WR) stars arises from multiple diagnostics including linear polarimetry. Some observations indicate changes in polarization position angle across optical recombination emission lines from a WR star wind but limited to blueshifted Doppler velocities. We explore a model involving a spherical wind with a single conical CIR stemming from a rotating star as qualitative proof-of-concept. To obtain a realistic distribution of limb polarization and limb darkening across the pseudo-photosphere formed in the optically thick wind of a WR star, we used Monte Carlo radiative transfer (MCRT). Results are shown for a parameter study. For line properties similar to WR 6 (EZ CMa; HD 50896), combining the MCRT results, a simple model for the CIR, and the Sobolev approximation for the line formation, we were able to reproduce variations in both polarization amplitude and position angle commensurate with observations. Characterizing CIRs in WR winds has added importance for providing stellar rotation periods since the v sin i values are unobtainable because the pseudo-photosphere forms in the wind itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a cool star evolves, it loses mass and angular momentum due to magnetized stellar winds that affect its rotational evolution. This change has consequences that range from the alteration of its activity to influences over the atmosphere of any orbiting planet. Despite their importance, observations constraining the properties of stellar winds in cool stars are extremely limited. Therefore, numerical simulations provide a valuable way to understand the structure and properties of these winds. In this work, we simulate the magnetized winds of 21 cool main-sequence stars (F-type to M-dwarfs) using a state-of-the-art 3D MHD code driven by observed large-scale magnetic field distributions. We perform a qualitative and quantitative characterization of our solutions, analysing the dependencies between the driving conditions (e.g. spectral type, rotation, and magnetic field strength) and the resulting stellar wind parameters (e.g. Alfvén surface size, mass-loss rate, angular momentum loss rate, and stellar wind speeds). We compare our models with the current observational knowledge on stellar winds in cool stars and explore the behaviour of the mass-loss rate as a function of the Rossby number. Furthermore, our 3D models encompass the entire classical Habitable Zones (HZ) of all the stars in our sample. This allows us to provide the stellar wind dynamic pressure at both edges of the HZ and analyse the variations of this parameter across spectral type and orbital inclination. The results here presented could serve to inform future studies of stellar wind-magnetosphere interactions and stellar wind erosion of planetary atmospheres via ion escape processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Very massive stars (VMS) up to 200–300 M⊙ have been found in the Local Universe. If they would lose little mass, they produce intermediate-mass black holes or pair-instability supernovae (PISNe). Until now, VMS modellers have extrapolated mass-loss versus metallicity (Z) exponents from optically thin winds, resulting in a range of PISN thresholds that might be unrealistically high in Z , as VMS develop optically thick winds. We utilize the transition mass-loss rate of Vink and Gräfener (2012) that accurately predicts mass-loss rates of Of/WNh ('slash') stars that characterize the morphological transition from absorption-dominated O-type spectra to emission-dominated WNh spectra. We develop a wind efficiency framework, where optically thin winds transition to enhanced winds, enabling us to study VMS evolution at high redshift where individual stars cannot be resolved. We present a MESA grid covering Z ⊙/2 to Z ⊙/100. VMS above the transition evolve towards lower luminosity, skipping the cool supergiant phase but directly forming pure He stars at the end of hydrogen burning. Below the transition, VMS evolve as cooler luminous blue variables (LBVs) or yellow hypergiants (YHGs), naturally approaching the Eddington limit. Strong winds in this YHG/LBV regime – combined with a degeneracy in luminosity – result in a mass-loss runaway, where a decrease in mass increases wind mass loss. Our models indicate an order-of-magnitude lower metallicity threshold for PISN than usually assumed, at Z ⊙/20 due to our mass-loss runaway. While future work on LBV mass loss could affect the PISN threshold, our framework will be critical for establishing definitive answers on the PISN threshold and galactic chemical evolution modelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. B supergiants (BSGs) are evolved stars with effective temperatures between ~10 to ~30 kK. Knowing the properties of these objects is important to understand massive star evolution. Located on the cool end of the line-driven wind regime, the study of their atmospheres can help us to understand the physics of their winds and phenomena such as the bi-stability jump. Aims. Despite being well-studied stars, key UV features of their spectra have so far not been reproduced by atmosphere models for spectral types later than B1. In this study, we aim to remedy this situation by performing quantitative spectral analyzes that account for the effects of X-rays and clumping in the wind. In addition, we also briefly investigate the evolutionary status of our sample stars based on the stellar parameters we obtained. Methods. We determined photospheric and wind parameters via quantitative spectroscopy using atmosphere models computed with CMFGEN and PoWR. These models were compared to high-resolution UV and optical spectra of four BSGs: HD206165, HD198478, HD53138, and HD164353. We further employed GENEC and MESA tracks to study the evolutionary status of our sample. Results. When including both clumping and X-rays, we obtained a good agreement between synthetic and observed spectra for our sample stars. For the first time, we reproduced key wind lines in the UV, where previous studies were unsuccessful. To model the UV spectra, we require a moderately clumped wind (fV∞ ≳ 0.5). We also infer a relative X-ray luminosity of about 10−7.5 to 10−8, which is lower than the typical ratio of 10−7. Moreover, we find a possible mismatch between evolutionary mass predictions and the derived spectroscopic masses, which deserves deeper investigation as this might relate to the mass-discrepancy problem present in other types of OB stars. Conclusions. Our results provide direct spectroscopic evidence that both X-rays and clumping need to be taken into account to describe the winds of cool BSGs. However, their winds seem to be much less structured than in earlier OB-type stars. Our findings are in line with observational X-rays and clumping constraints as well as recent hydrodynamical simulations. The evolutionary status of BSGs seems to be diverse with some objects potentially being post-red supergiants or merger products. The obtained wind parameters provide evidence for a moderate increase of the mass-loss rate around the bi-stability jump. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stellar winds of cool and pulsating asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars enrich the interstellar medium with large amounts of processed elements and various types of dust. We present the first study on the influence of gas-to-dust drift on ab initio simulations of stellar winds of M-type stars driven by radiation pressure on forsterite particles. Our study is based on our radiation hydrodynamic model code T-800 that includes frequency-dependent radiative transfer, dust extinction based on Mie scattering, grain growth and ablation, gas-to-dust drift using one mean grain size, a piston that simulates stellar pulsations, and an accurate high spatial resolution numerical scheme. To enable this study, we calculated new gas opacities based on the EXOMOL database, and we extended the model code to handle the formation of minerals that may form in M-type stars. We determine the effects of drift by comparing drift models to our new and extant non-drift models. Three out of four new drift models show high drift velocities, 87–310 km s−1. Our new drift model mass-loss rates are 1.7–13 per cent of the corresponding values of our non-drift models, but compared to the results of two extant non-drift models that use the same stellar parameters, these same values are 0.33–1.5 per cent. Meanwhile, a comparison of other properties such as the expansion velocity and grain size show similar values. Our results, which are based on single-component forsterite particles, show that the inclusion of gas-to-drift is of fundamental importance in stellar wind models driven by such transparent grains. Assuming that the drift velocity is insignificant, properties such as the mass-loss rate may be off from more realistic values by a factor of 50 or more. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

V906 Carinae was one of the best observed novae of recent times. It was a prolific dust producer and harboured shocks in the early evolving ejecta outflow. Here, we take a close look at the consequences of these early interactions through study of high-resolution Ultraviolet and Visual Echelle spectrograph spectroscopy of the nebular stage and extrapolate backwards to investigate how the final structure may have formed. A study of ejecta geometry and shaping history of the structure of the shell is undertaken following a spectral line |$\rm {\small SHAPE}$| model fit. A search for spectral tracers of shocks in the nova ejecta is undertaken and an analysis of the ionized environment. Temperature, density, and abundance analyses of the evolving nova shell are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given their strong stellar winds, Wolf–Rayet (WR) stars exhibit emission line spectra that are predominantly formed in expanding atmospheric layers. The description of the wind velocity field |$\upsilon (r)$| is therefore a crucial ingredient in the spectral analysis of WR stars, possibly influencing the determination of stellar parameters. In view of this, we perform a systematic study by simulating a sequence of WR-star spectra for different temperatures and mass-loss rates using β-type laws with 0.5 ≤ β ≤ 20. We quantify the impact of varying |$\upsilon (r)$| by analysing diagnostic lines and spectral classifications of emergent model spectra computed with the Potsdam Wolf–Rayet (PoWR) code. We additionally cross-check these models with hydrodynamically consistent – hydro – model atmospheres. Our analysis confirms that the choice of the β exponent has a strong impact on WR-star spectra, affecting line widths, line strengths, and line profiles. In some parameter regimes, the entire range of WR subtypes could be covered. Comparison with observed WR stars and hydro models revealed that values of β ≳ 8 are unlikely to be realized in nature, but a range of β values needs to be considered in spectral analysis. UV spectroscopy is crucial here to avoid an underestimation of the terminal velocity |$\upsilon _\infty$|⁠. Neither single- nor double-β descriptions yield an acceptable approximation of the inner wind when compared to hydro models. Instead, we find temperature shifts to lower T 2/3 when employing a hydro model. Additionally, there are further hints that round-lined profiles seen in several early WN stars are an effect from non-β velocity laws. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present results from new self-consistent 3D magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulations of the magnetospheres from massive stars with a dipole magnetic axis that has a non-zero obliquity angle (β) to the star's rotation axis. As an initial direct application, we compare the global structure of co-rotating discs for nearly aligned (β = 5°) versus half-oblique (β = 45°) models, both with moderately rapid rotation (∼0.5 critical). We find that accumulation surfaces broadly resemble the forms predicted by the analytical rigidly rotating magnetosphere model, but the mass buildup to near the critical level for centrifugal breakout against magnetic confinement distorts the field from the imposed initial dipole. This leads to an associated warping of the accumulation surface towards the rotational equator, with the highest density concentrated in wings centred on the intersection between the magnetic and rotational equators. These MHD models can be used to synthesize rotational modulation of photometric absorption and H α emission for a direct comparison with observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report precision ground-based broad-band optical intensity and linear-polarization light curves for the sky's brightest WN8 star, WR 40. WN8 stars are notorious for their high level of variability, stemming from stochastic clumps in their strong winds that are slower and less hot than the winds of most other Wolf–Rayet (WR) stars. We confirm previous results that many WR stars display an amplitude of variability that is an order of magnitude higher in photometry than in polarimetry. For the first time, the unique nature of near simultaneity of our photometric and polarimetric observations of WR 40 allows us to check whether the two types of variability show correlated behaviour, of which we find none. Assuming simple temporal functions for the brightness and polarization of individual clumps, a model for simulated light curves is found to reproduce the properties of the observations, specifically the absence of correlation between photometric and polarimetric variations, the ratio of standard deviations for photometric and polarimetric variability, and the ratio of the average intrinsic polarization relative to its standard deviation. Mapping the solution for time variability to a spatial coordinate suggests that the wind clumps of WR 40 are free-free emitting in addition to light scattering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spectra of Wolf–Rayet (WR) stars exhibit strong, broad emission lines that originate in the wind. These winds are radiatively driven and are susceptible to hydrodynamic instabilities that result in the formation of clumps. When modelling spectra of WR stars the volume-filling factor (VFF) approach is usually employed to treat clumpy winds. However, it is based on the assumption that the entire wind mass resides in optically thin clumps, which is not necessarily justifiable in dense winds. To test the validity of the VFF approach, we use a previously described method of treating clumping, the 'shell' approach, to study line and continuum formation in the dense wind of the WN4 star, HD 50896. Our models indicate that fully intact spherical shells are in tension with observed spectra; a persistent 'dip' in emission lines occurs at line centre. Removing this dip requires our models to use 'broken' shells – shells that are highly decoherent laterally. This insinuates that the wind of HD 50896, and by extension the winds of other WR stars, are comprised of small laterally confined and radially compressed clumps – clumps smaller than the Sobolev length. We discuss some of the conditions necessary for the VFF approach to be valid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The massive binary system formed by η Car and an unknown companion is a strong source at millimetre and submillimetre wavelengths. Close to the stars, continuum bremsstrahlung and radio recombination lines originate in the massive ionized wind of η Car and in several compact sources of high density plasma. Molecular lines are also detected at these wavelengths, some of them are seen in absorption towards the continuum emission region, many of them revealed by ALMA observations. However, because the ALMA atmospheric calibration is performed in a low spectral resolution mode, telluric lines can still be present in some high-resolution spectra of scientific products, which could lead to a false identification of molecules. In this work, we explore three different sets of ALMA archive data of η Car, including high resolution (0.065 arcsec × 0.043 arcsec) observations recently published by our group, to verify which of these absorption lines are real and discuss their origin. We conclude that some of them truly originate in clouds close to the binary system, while others are artefacts of a faulty elimination of telluric lines during ALMA calibration procedure. We found that these absorption lines are not present in the phase calibrators because they are much weaker than η Car, where the absorption line appears because the high intensity continuum enhances the small individual systematic calibration errors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most massive stars dominate the chemical enrichment, mechanical and radiative feedback, and energy budget of their host environments. Yet how massive stars initially form and how they evolve throughout their lives is ambiguous. The mass loss of the most massive stars remains a key unknown in stellar physics, with consequences for stellar feedback and populations. In this work, we compare grids of very massive star (VMS) models with masses ranging from 80 to 1000 M⊙, for a range of input physics. We include enhanced winds close to the Eddington limit as a comparison to standard O-star winds, with consequences for present-day observations of ∼50–100 M⊙ stars. We probe the relevant surface H abundances (X s) to determine the key traits of VMS evolution compared to O stars. We find fundamental differences in the behaviour of our models with the enhanced-wind prescription, with a convergence on the stellar mass at 1.6 Myr, regardless of the initial mass. It turns out that X s is an important tool in deciphering the initial mass due to the chemically homogeneous nature of VMS above a mass threshold. We use X s to break the degeneracy of the initial masses of both components of a detached binary, and a sample of WNh stars in the Tarantula Nebula. We find that for some objects, the initial masses are unrestricted and, as such, even initial masses of the order 1000 M⊙ are not excluded. Coupled with the mass turnover at 1.6 Myr, X s can be used as a 'clock' to determine the upper stellar mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We carry out a numerical experiment for ejecting winds in a massive colliding-wind binary system and quantify the accretion on to the secondary star under different primary mass-loss rates. We set a binary system comprising a luminous blue variable (LBV) as the primary and a Wolf–Rayet (WR) star as the secondary, and vary the mass-loss rate of the LBV to obtain different values of the wind momentum ratio η. Our simulations include two sets of cases: one in which the stars are stationary; and one that includes the orbital motion. As η decreases, the colliding-wind structure moves closer to the secondary. We find that for η ≲ 0.05, the accretion threshold is reached and clumps that originate from instabilities are accreted on to the secondary. For each value of η, we calculate the mass accretion rate and identify different regions in the |$\dot{M} _{\rm acc}$| – η diagram. For 0.001 ≲ η ≲ 0.05, the accretion is sub-Bondi–Hoyle–Lyttleton (BHL), and the average accretion rate satisfies the power law |$\dot{M}_{\rm acc} \propto \eta ^{-1.73}$| for static stars. The accretion is not continuous but rather changes from sporadic to a larger duty cycle as η decreases. For η ≲ 0.001, the accretion becomes continuous in time, and the accretion rate is BHL, up to a factor of 0.4–0.8. The simulations that include the orbital motion give qualitatively similar results, with the steeper power law |$\dot{M}_{\rm acc} \propto \eta ^{-1.86}$| for the sub-BHL region and lower η as an accretion threshold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Close binary evolution is widely invoked to explain the formation of axisymmetric planetary nebulae, after a brief common envelope phase. The evolution of the primary would be interrupted abruptly, its still quite massive envelope being fully ejected to form the PN, which should be more massive than a planetary nebula coming from the same star, were it single. We test this hypothesis by investigating the ionised and molecular masses of a sample consisting of 21 post-common-envelope planetary nebulae, roughly one fifth of their known total population, and comparing them to a large sample of regular planetary nebulae (not known to host close-binaries). We find that post-common-envelope planetary nebulae arising from single-degenerate systems are, on average, neither more nor less massive than regular planetary nebulae, whereas post-common-envelope planetary nebulae arising from double-degenerate systems are considerably more massive, and show substantially larger linear momenta and kinetic energy than the rest. Reconstruction of the common envelope of four objects further suggests that the mass of single-degenerate nebulae actually amounts to a very small fraction of the envelope of their progenitor stars. This leads to the uncomfortable question of where the rest of the envelope is, raising serious doubts on our understanding of these intriguing objects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a comprehensive study of the ionization structure and kinematics of the planetary nebula (PN) NGC 40 (a.k.a. the Bow-tie Nebula). A set of narrow-band images obtained with the Alhambra Faint Object Spectrograph and Camera at the Nordic Optical Telescope are used to study the turbulent distribution of gas in the main cavity, the ionization stratification and the density of this PN. High-resolution Manchester Echelle Spectrograph observations obtained at 2.1m telescope of the San Pedro Mártir Observatory are used to unveil in great detail the kinematic signatures of all morphological features in NGC 40. The images and spectra suggest that NGC 40 had multiple mass ejections in its recent formation history. We found 4 jet-like ejections not aligned with the main axis of NGC 40 (PA = 20°), some of them having pierced the main cavity along the SW–NE direction as well as the southern lobe. Using a tailor-made morpho-kinematic model of NGC 40 produced with shape , we found that the main cavity has a kinematic age of 6500 yr and the two pairs of lobes expanding towards the N and S directions have an averaged age of 4100 ± 550 yr. NGC 40 thus adds to the group of PNe with multiple ejections along different axes that challenge the models of PN formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Born-again planetary nebulae (PNe) are extremely rare cases in the evolution of solar-like stars. It is commonly accepted that their central stars (CSPN) experienced a very late thermal pulse (VLTP), ejecting H-deficient material inside the evolved H-rich PN. Given the short duration of this event and the fast subsequent evolution of the CSPN, details of the mass ejection are unknown. We present the first morphokinematic model of the H-deficient material surrounding a born-again PN, namely A 30. New San Pedro Mártir observations with the Manchester Echelle Spectrograph were recently obtained to map the inner region of A 30 which are interpreted by means of the software shape in conjunction with HST WFC3 images. The shape morphokinematic model that best reproduces the observations is composed by a disrupted disc tilted 37° with respect to the line of sight and a pair of orthogonal opposite bipolar ejections. We confirm previous suggestions that the structures closer to the CSPN present the highest expansion velocities, that is, the disrupted disc expands faster than the farther bipolar features. We propose that the current physical structure and abundance discrepancy of the H-deficient clumps around the CSPN of A 30 can be explained by a common envelope phase following the VLTP event. Our proposed scenario is also compared with other known born-again PNe (A 58, A 78, HuBi 1, and the Sakurai's Object). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Very massive stars (VMS) dominate the physics of young clusters due to their ionizing radiation and extreme stellar winds. It is these winds that determine their lifepaths until expiration. Observations in the Arches Cluster show that VMS all have similar temperatures. The VLT-FLAMES Tarantula Survey analysed VMS in the 30 Doradus (30 Dor) region of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) also finding a narrow range of temperatures, albeit at higher values – likely a metallicity effect. Using mesa , we study the main-sequence evolution of VMS with a new mass-loss recipe that switches from optically thin O-star winds to optically thick Wolf–Rayet-type winds through the model-independent transition mass-loss rate of Vink & Gräfener. We examine the temperature evolution of VMS with mass loss that scales with the luminosity-over-mass (L / M) ratio and the Eddington parameter (Γe), assessing the relevance of the surface hydrogen (H) abundance that sets the number of free electrons. We present grids of VMS models at Galactic and LMC metallicity and compare our temperature predictions with empirical results. Models with a steep Γe dependence evolve horizontally in the Hertzsprung–Russel (HR) diagram at nearly constant luminosities, requiring a delicate and unlikely balance between envelope inflation and enhanced mass loss over the entire VMS mass range. By contrast, models with a steep L / M -dependent mass loss are shown to evolve vertically in the HR diagram at nearly constant T eff, naturally reproducing the narrow range of observed temperatures, as well as the correct trend with metallicity. This distinct behaviour of a steeply dropping luminosity is a self-regulatory mechanism that keeps temperatures constant during evolution in the HR diagram. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We probe the environmental properties of X-ray supernova remnants (SNRs) at various points along their evolutionary journey, especially the S-T phase, and their conformance with theoretically derived models of SNR evolution. The remnant size is used as a proxy for the age of the remnant. Our data set includes 34 Milky Way, 59 Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), and 5 Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) SNRs. We select remnants that have been definitively typed as either core-collapse (CC) or Type Ia supernovae, with well-defined size estimates, and a thermal X-ray flux measured over the entire remnant. A catalog of SNR size and X-ray luminosity is presented and plotted, with ambient density and age estimates from the literature. Model remnants with a given density, in the Sedov-Taylor (S-T) phase, are overplotted on the diameter-versus-luminosity plot, allowing the evolutionary state and physical properties of SNRs to be compared to each other, and to theoretical models. We find that small, young remnants are predominantly Type Ia remnants or high luminosity CCs, suggesting that many CC SNRs are not detected until after they have emerged from the progenitor's wind-blown bubble. An examination of the distribution of SNR diameters in the Milky Way and LMC reveals that LMC SNRs must be evolving in an ambient medium which is 30 per cent as dense as that in the Milky Way. This is consistent with ambient density estimates for the Galaxy and LMC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nearby M dwarf WX UMa has recently been detected at radio wavelengths with LOFAR. The combination of its observed brightness temperature and circular polarization fraction suggests that the emission is generated via the electron–cyclotron maser instability. Two distinct mechanisms have been proposed to power such emission from low-mass stars: either a sub-Alfvénic interaction between the stellar magnetic field and an orbiting planet, or reconnection at the edge of the stellar magnetosphere. In this paper, we investigate the feasibility of both mechanisms, utilizing the information about the star's surrounding plasma environment obtained from modelling its stellar wind. Using this information, we show that a Neptune-sized exoplanet with a magnetic field strength of 10–100 G orbiting at ∼0.034 au can accurately reproduce the observed radio emission from the star, with a corresponding orbital period of 7.4 d. Due to the stellar inclination, a planet in an equatorial orbit is unlikely to transit the star. While such a planet could induce radial velocity semi-amplitudes from 7 to 396 m s−1, it is unlikely that this signal could be detected with current techniques due to the activity of the host star. The application of our planet-induced radio emission model here illustrates its exciting potential as a new tool for identifying planet-hosting candidates from long-term radio monitoring. We also develop a model to investigate the reconnection-powered emission scenario. While this approach produces less favourable results than the planet-induced scenario, it nevertheless serves as a potential alternative emission mechanism which is worth exploring further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Luminous blue variables (LBVs) are massive stars that show strong spectral and photometric variability. The questions of what evolutionary stages they represent and what exactly drives their instability are still open, and thus it is important to understand whether LBVs without significant ongoing activity exist, and for how long such dormant LBVs may 'sleep'. In this paper we investigate the long-term variability properties of the LBV candidate MN 112, by combining its optical and infrared spectral data covering 12 years with photometric data covering nearly a century, as acquired from both modern time-domain sky surveys and historical photographic plates. We analyse the spectra, derive the physical properties of the star by modelling its atmosphere, and use a new distance estimate from Gaia data release 3 (DR3) to determine the position of MN 112 both inside the Galaxy and in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram. The distance estimation has almost doubled in comparison with Gaia DR2. Because of this, MN 112 moved to upper part of the diagram, and according to our modelling it lies on an evolutionary track for a star with initial mass |$M_*=70~\rm M_\odot$| near the Humphreys–Davidson limit. Given the absence of any significant variability, we conclude that the star is a dormant LBV that has now been inactive for at least a century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We fit a new line shape model to Chandra X-ray spectra of the O supergiant ζ Puppis to test the robustness of mass-loss rates derived from X-ray wind line profiles against different assumed heating models. Our goal is to track the hot gas by replacing the common assumption that it is proportional to the cool gas emission measure. Instead of assuming a turn-on radius for the hot gas (as appropriate for the line-deshadowing instability internal to the wind), we parametrize the hot gas in terms of a mean-free path for accelerated low-density gas to encounter slower high-density material. This alternative model is equally successful as previous approaches at fitting X-ray spectral lines in the 5–17 Å wavelength range. We find that the characteristic radius where the hottest gas appears is inversely proportional to line-formation temperature, suggesting that stronger shocks appear generally closer to the surface. This picture is more consistent with pockets of low density, rapid acceleration at the lower boundary than with an internally generated wind instability. We also infer an overall wind mass-loss rate from the profile shapes with a technique used previously in the literature. In doing so, we find evidence that the mass-loss rate derived from X-ray wind line profiles is not robust with respect to changes in the specific heating picture used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Nearby Evolved Stars Survey (NESS) is a volume-complete sample of ∼850 Galactic evolved stars within 3 kpc at (sub-)mm wavelengths, observed in the CO J  = (2–1) and (3–2) rotational lines, and the sub-mm continuum, using the James Clark Maxwell Telescope and Atacama Pathfinder Experiment. NESS consists of five tiers, based on distances and dust-production rate (DPR). We define a new metric for estimating the distances to evolved stars and compare its results to Gaia EDR3. Replicating other studies, the most-evolved, highly enshrouded objects in the Galactic Plane dominate the dust returned by our sources, and we initially estimate a total DPR of 4.7 × 10−5 M⊙ yr−1 from our sample. Our sub-mm fluxes are systematically higher and spectral indices are typically shallower than dust models typically predict. The 450/850 |$\mu$| m spectral indices are consistent with the blackbody Rayleigh–Jeans regime, suggesting a large fraction of evolved stars have unexpectedly large envelopes of cold dust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present MUSE deep integral-field unit spectroscopy of three planetary nebulae (PNe) with high-abundance discrepancy factors (ADF > 20): NGC 6778, M 1–42, and Hf 2–2. We have constructed flux maps for more than 40 emission lines, and use them to build extinction, electron temperature (T e), electron density (n e), and ionic abundances maps of a number of ionic species. The effects of the contribution of recombination to the auroral [N  ii ] and [O  ii ] lines on T e and the abundance maps of low-ionization species are evaluated using recombination diagnostics. As a result, low T e values and a downward gradient of T e are found toward the inner zones of each PN. Spatially, this nearly coincides with the increase of abundances of heavy elements measured using recombination lines in the inner regions of PNe, and strongly supports the presence of two distinct gas phases: a cold and metal-rich and a warm one with 'normal' metal content. We have simultaneously constructed, for the first time, the ADF maps of O+ and O2+ and found that they centrally peak for all three PNe under study. We show that the main issue when trying to compute realistic abundances from either ORLs or CELs is to estimate the relative contribution of each gas component to the H  i emission, and we present a method to evaluate it. It is also found that, for the studied high-ADF PNe, the amount of oxygen in the cold and warm regions is of the same order. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite their large impact on stellar and galactic evolution, the properties of outflows from red supergiants are not well characterized. We used the Onsala 20m telescope to perform a spectral survey at 3 and 4 mm (68–116  GHz) of the red supergiant NML Cyg, alongside the yellow hypergiant IRC + 10420. Our observations of NML Cyg were combined with complementary archival data to enable a search for signatures of morphological complexity in the circumstellar environment, using emission lines from 15 molecular species. The recovered parameters imply the presence of three distinct, coherent, and persistent components, comprised of blue-shifted and red-shifted components, in addition to an underlying outflow centred at the stellar systemic velocity. Furthermore, to reproduce 12CO emission with 3D radiative transfer models required a spherical outflow with three superposed conical outflows, one towards and one away from the observer, and one in the plane of the sky. These components are higher in density than the spherical outflow by up to an order of magnitude. We hence propose that NML Cyg's circumstellar environment consists of a small number of high-density large-scale coherent outflows embedded in a spherical wind. This would make the mass-loss history similar to that of VY CMa, and distinct from μ Cep, where the outflow contains many randomly distributed smaller clumps. A possible correlation between stellar properties, outflow structures, and content is critical in understanding the evolution of massive stars and their environmental impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explore the long-term evolution of the spin period of the high-mass X-ray binary pulsar Vela X-1 over a period of 46 yr. Our analysis indicates nearly periodic variations in the spin period of the pulsar on time-scales of about 5.9 yr. There is suggestion of an overall spin-down behaviour of the pulsar though it is noticed that the source appears to stay near its equilibrium period 283.4 s since MJD 51000, with rather erratic spin-up/spin-down episodes around this value. Our study suggests nearly cyclic turnover in the spin behaviour of the pulsar from spin-up to spin-down regimes on time-scales of about 17–19 yr. To our knowledge, this is the first report of periodic variation in the spin behaviour of a wind-fed accreting pulsar. We also observe erratic episodes of spin-up and spin-down behaviour on relatively shorter time-scales that is a well-known archetype of this wind-fed X-ray pulsar. We investigate whether nearly periodic long-term spin period changes in the pulsar can be explained by using known mechanisms of torque reversals in the accretion powered neutron stars. It appears that changes in the accretion environment of the pulsar using current ideas can probably lead to long-term spin period changes in this X-ray pulsar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stellar winds are one of several ways that massive stars can affect the star formation process on local and galactic scales. In this paper, we investigate the numerical resolution needed to inflate an energy-driven stellar wind bubble in an external medium. We find that the radius of the wind injection region, r inj, must be below a maximum value, r inj,max, in order for a bubble to be produced, but must be significantly below this value if the bubble properties are to closely agree with analytical predictions. The final bubble momentum is within 25 per cent of the value from a higher resolution reference model if χ = r inj/ r inj,max = 0.1. Our work has significance for the amount of radial momentum that a wind-blown bubble can impart to the ambient medium in simulations, and thus on the relative importance of stellar wind feedback. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the first instalment of a deep imaging catalogue containing 58 True, Likely, and Possible extended PNe detected with the Isaac Newton Telescope Photometric H α Survey (IPHAS). The three narrow-band filters in the emission lines of H α, [N  ii ] λ6584 Å, and [O  iii ] λ5007 Å used for this purpose allowed us to improve our description of the morphology and dimensions of the nebulae. In some cases even the nature of the source has been reassessed. We were then able to unveil new macro- and micro-structures, which will without a doubt contribute to a more accurate analysis of these PNe. It has been also possible to perform a primary classification of the targets based on their ionization level. A Deep Learning classification tool has also been tested. We expect that all the PNe from the IPHAS catalogue of new extended planetary nebulae will ultimately be part of this deep H α, [N  ii ], and [O  iii ] imaging catalogue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate mass-loss rates and terminal velocities from massive stars winds are essential to obtain synthetic spectra from radiative transfer calculations and to determine the evolutionary path of massive stars. From a theoretical point of view, analytical expressions for the wind parameters and velocity profile would have many advantages over numerical calculations that solve the complex non-linear set of hydrodynamic equations. In a previous work, we obtained an analytical description for the fast wind regime. Now, we propose an approximate expression for the line-force in terms of new parameters and obtain a velocity profile closed-form solution (in terms of the Lambert W function) for the δ-slow regime. Using this analytical velocity profile, we were able to obtain the mass-loss rates based on the m-CAK theory. Moreover, we established a relation between this new set of line-force parameters with the known stellar and m-CAK line-force parameters. To this purpose, we calculated a grid of numerical hydrodynamical models and performed a multivariate multiple regression. The numerical and our descriptions lead to good agreement between their values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mass-loss rates and terminal wind velocities are key parameters that determine the kinetic wind energy and momenta of massive stars. Furthermore, accurate mass-loss rates determine the mass and rotational velocity evolution of mass stars, and their fates as neutron stars and black holes in function of metallicity (Z). Here, we update our Monte Carlo mass-loss Recipe with new dynamically consistent computations of the terminal wind velocity – as a function of Z. These predictions are particularly timely as the Hubble Space Telescope Ultraviolet Legacy Library of Young Stars as Essential Standards (ULLYSES) project will observe ultraviolet spectra with blue-shifted P Cygni lines of hundreds of massive stars in the low- Z Large and Small Magellanic Clouds (SMC), as well as sub-SMC metallicity hosts. Around 35 000 K, we uncover a weak-wind 'dip' and we present diagnostics to investigate its physics with ULLYSES and X-Shooter data. We discuss how the dip may provide important information on wind-driving physics, and how this is of key relevance towards finding a new gold-standard for OB star mass-loss rates. For B supergiants below the Fe  iv to  iii bi-stability jump, the terminal velocity is found to be independent of Z and M , while the mass-loss rate still varies as |$\dot{M} \propto Z^{0.85}$|⁠. For O-type stars above the bi-stability jump we, find a terminal-velocity dependence of |$\mbox{$v _{\infty }$}\propto Z^{0.19}$| and the Z -dependence of the mass-loss rate is found to be as shallow as |$\dot{M} \propto Z^{0.42}$|⁠ , implying that to reproduce the 'heavy' black holes from LIGO/Virgo, the 'low Z ' requirement becomes even more stringent than was previously anticipated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the end of its life, a very massive star is expected to collapse into a black hole (BH). The recent detection of an 85  M⊙ BH from the gravitational wave event GW 190521 appears to present a fundamental problem as to how such heavy BHs exist above the approximately 50  M⊙ pair-instability (PI) limit where stars are expected to be blown to pieces with no remnant left. Using mesa , we show that for stellar models with non-extreme assumptions, 90–100  M⊙ stars at reduced metallicity (⁠|$Z/\mbox{ $\mathrm{Z}_{\odot }$}\le 0.1$|⁠) can produce blue supergiant progenitors with core masses sufficiently small to remain below the fundamental PI limit, yet at the same time lose an amount of mass via stellar winds that is small enough to end up in the range of an 'impossible' 85  M⊙ BH. The two key points are the proper consideration of core overshooting and stellar wind physics with an improved scaling of mass-loss with iron (Fe) contents characteristic for the host galaxy metallicity. Our modelling provides a robust scenario that not only doubles the maximum BH mass set by PI, but also allows us to probe the maximum stellar BH mass as a function of metallicity and cosmic time in a physically sound framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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 modelling 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, |$\frac{{\rm d}\log EM}{{\rm d}\log T}$|⁠ , 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerical modelling of an isothermal wind from a fast rotating star is performed. Excitation of hydrodynamical turbulence and deviation of the shape of the stellar surface from a sphere are taken into account. Rotation and turbulence result in a dramatic increase of the mass flow rate from the star in comparison with a non-rotating one. The outflow occurs predominantly from a region on the stellar surface located at the equator. This flow expands rapidly due to thermal pressure. However, a disc-like flow at the equator is formed. The flow is more complicated near the pole. At large distances from the star a radially expanding wind is formed while close to the star some fraction of the outflow from the equatorial region falls down on to the stellar surface, producing a huge vortex. The dependence of the mass loss rate on the parameters of the star is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New long Chandra grating observations of the O supergiant ζ Pup show not only a brightening of the X-ray emission line flux of 13 per cent in the 18 yr since Chandra 's first observing cycle, but also clear evidence – at more than 4σ significance – of increased wind absorption signatures in its Doppler-broadened line profiles. We demonstrate this with non-parametric analysis of the profiles as well as Gaussian fitting and then use line-profile model fitting to derive a mass-loss rate of 2.47 ± 0.09 × 10−6 |${\mathrm{M_{\odot }~{\mathrm{y}r^{-1}}}}$|⁠ , which is a 40 per cent increase over the value obtained from the cycle 1 data. The increase in the individual emission line fluxes is greater for short-wavelength lines than long-wavelength lines, as would be expected if a uniform increase in line emission is accompanied by an increase in the wavelength-dependent absorption by the cold wind in which the shock-heated plasma is embedded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present images of η Carinae in the recombination lines H30α and He30α and the underlying continuum with 50 mas resolution (110 au), obtained with ALMA. For the first time, the 230 GHz continuum image is resolved into a compact core, coincident with the binary system position, and a weaker extended structure to the NW of the compact source. Iso-velocity images of the H30α recombination line show at least 16 unresolved sources with velocities between −30 and −65 km s−1 distributed within the continuum source. A NLTE model, with density and temperature of the order of 107 cm−3 and 104 K, reproduce both the observed H30α line profiles and their underlying continuum flux densities. Three of these sources are identified with Weigelt blobs D, C, and B; estimating their proper motions, we derive ejection times (in years) of 1952.6, 1957.1, and 1967.6, respectively, all of which are close to periastron passage. Weaker H30α line emission is detected at higher positive and negative velocities, extending in the direction of the Homunculus axis. The He30α recombination line is also detected with the same velocity of the narrow H30α line. Finally, the close resemblance of the H30α image with that of an emission line that was reported in the literature as HCO+(4–3) led us to identify this line as H40δ instead, an identification that is further supported by modelling results. Future observations will enable to determine the proper motions of all the compact sources discovered in the new high angular resolution data of η Carinae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mass-loss rates of massive helium stars are one of the major uncertainties in modern astrophysics. Regardless of whether they were stripped by a binary companion or managed to peel off their outer layers by themselves, the influence and final fate of helium stars – in particular the resulting black hole mass – highly depends on their wind mass-loss as stripped-envelope objects. While empirical mass-loss constraints for massive helium stars have improved over the last decades, the resulting recipes are limited to metallicities with the observational ability to sufficiently resolve individual stars. Yet, theoretical efforts have been hampered by the complexity of Wolf–Rayet (WR) winds arising from the more massive helium stars. In an unprecedented effort, we calculate next-generation stellar atmosphere models resembling massive helium main-sequence stars with Fe-bump driven winds up to |$500\, \mathrm{M}_\odot$| over a wide metallicity range between 2.0 and |$0.02\, \mathrm{Z}_\odot$|⁠. We uncover a complex Γe-dependency of WR-type winds and their metallicity-dependent breakdown. The latter can be related to the onset of multiple scattering, requiring higher L / M -ratios at lower metallicity. Based on our findings, we derive the first ever theoretically motivated mass-loss recipe for massive helium stars. We also provide estimates for Lyman continuum and |$\rm{He\,{\small II}}$|  ionizing fluxes, finding stripped helium stars to contribute considerably at low metallicity. In sharp contrast to OB-star winds, the mass-loss for helium stars scales with the terminal velocity. While limited to the helium main sequence, our study marks a major step towards a better theoretical understanding of helium star evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Common envelope (CE) evolution is a critical but still poorly understood progenitor phase of many high-energy astrophysical phenomena. Although 3D global hydrodynamic CE simulations have become more common in recent years, those involving an asymptotic giant branch (AGB) primary are scarce, due to the high computational cost from the larger dynamical range compared to red giant branch (RGB) primaries. But CE evolution with AGB progenitors is desirable to simulate because such events are the likely progenitors of most bi-polar planetary nebulae (PNe), and prominent observational testing grounds for CE physics. Here we present a high-resolution global simulation of CE evolution involving an AGB primary and 1- |$\mathrm{M_\odot }$| secondary, evolved for 20 orbital revolutions. During the last 16 of these orbits, the envelope unbinds at an almost constant rate of about 0.1– |$0.2\, \mathrm{M_\odot \, yr^{-1}}$|⁠. If this rate were maintained, the envelope would be unbound in less than |$10\, {\rm yr}$|⁠. The dominant source of this unbinding is consistent with inspiral; we assess the influence of the ambient medium to be subdominant. We compare this run with a previous run that used an RGB phase primary evolved from the same 2- |$\mathrm{M_\odot }$| main-sequence star to assess the influence of the evolutionary state of the primary. When scaled appropriately, the two runs are quite similar, but with some important differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evolve stellar models with zero-age main-sequence (ZAMS) mass of M ZAMS ≳ 18 M⊙ under the assumption that they experience an enhanced mass-loss rate when crossing the instability strip at high luminosities and conclude that most of them end as type Ibc supernovae (SNe Ibc) or dust-obscured SNe II. We explore what level of enhanced mass-loss rate during the instability strip would be necessary to explain the 'red supergiant problem'. This problem refers to the dearth of observed core-collapse supernovae progenitors with M ZAMS ≳ 18 M⊙. Namely, we examine what enhanced mass-loss rate could make it possible for all these stars actually to explode as core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe). We find that the mass-loss rate should increase by a factor of at least about 10. We reach this conclusion by analysing the hydrogen mass in the stellar envelope and the optical depth of the dusty wind at the explosion, and crudely estimate that under our assumptions only about a fifth of these stars explode as unobscured SNe II and SNe IIb. About 10–15 per cent end as obscured SNe II that are infrared-bright but visibly very faint, and the rest, about 65–70 per cent, end as SNe Ibc. However, the statistical uncertainties are still too significant to decide whether many stars with M ZAMS ≳ 18 M⊙ do not explode as expected in the neutrino driven explosion mechanism, or whether all of them explode as CCSNe, as expected by the jittering jets explosion mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

M dwarf stars are currently the main targets in searches for potentially habitable planets. However, their winds have been suggested to be harmful to planetary atmospheres. Here, in order to better understand the winds of M dwarfs and also infer their physical properties, we perform a one-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic parametric study of winds of M dwarfs that are heated by current biases in planet dissipation of Alfvén waves. These waves are triggered by sub-surface convective motions and propagate along magnetic field lines. Here, we vary the magnetic field strength B 0 and density ρ 0 at the wind base (chromosphere), while keeping the same relative wave amplitude (0.1 B 0) and dissipation length-scale. Our simulations thus range from low plasma- β to high plasma- β (0.005–3.7). We find that our winds very quickly reach isothermal temperatures with mass-loss rates |$\skew{2}\dot{M} \propto \rho _0^2$|⁠. We compare our results with Parker wind (PW) models and find that, in the high- β regime, both models agree. However, in the low- β regime, the PW underestimates the terminal velocity by around one order of magnitude and |$\skew{2}\dot{M}$| by several orders of magnitude. We also find that M dwarfs could have chromospheres extending to 18 to 180 per cent of the stellar radius. We apply our model to the planet-hosting star GJ 436 and find, from X-ray observational constraints, |$\skew{2}\dot{M}\lt 7.6\times 10^{-15}\, {\rm M}_{\odot }~\text{yr}^{-1}$|⁠. This is in agreement with values derived from the Lyman- α transit of GJ 436b, indicating that spectroscopic planetary transits could be used as a way to study stellar wind properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mass loss through stellar winds plays a dominant role in the evolution of massive stars. In particular, the mass-loss rates of very massive stars (⁠|$\gt 100\, M_{\odot}$|⁠) are highly uncertain. Such stars display Wolf–Rayet spectral morphologies (WNh), whilst on the main sequence. Metal-poor very massive stars are progenitors of gamma-ray bursts and pair instability supernovae. In this study, we extended the widely used stellar wind theory by Castor, Abbott & Klein from the optically thin (O star) to the optically thick main-sequence (WNh) wind regime. In particular, we modify the mass-loss rate formula in a way that we are able to explain the empirical mass-loss dependence on the Eddington parameter (Γe). The new mass-loss recipe is suitable for incorporation into current stellar evolution models for massive and very massive stars. It makes verifiable predictions, namely how the mass-loss rate scales with metallicity and at which Eddington parameter the transition from optically thin O star to optically thick WNh star winds occurs. In the case of the star cluster R136 in the Large Magellanic Cloud we find in the optically thin wind regime |$\dot{M} \propto \Gamma _{\rm e}^{3}$|⁠ , while in the optically thick wind regime |$\dot{M} \propto 1/ (1 - \Gamma _{\rm e})^{3.5}$|⁠. The transition from optically thin to optically thick winds occurs at Γe, trans ≈ 0.47. The transition mass-loss rate is |$\log \dot{M}~(\mathrm{M}_{\odot } \, \mathrm{yr}^{-1}) \approx -4.76 \pm 0.18$|⁠ , which is in line with the prediction by Vink & Gräfener assuming a volume filling factor of |$f_{\rm V} = 0.23_{-0.15}^{+0.40}$|⁠. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]