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A. A. C. Sander

Publications and source records attributed to A. A. C. Sander.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Massive stars in the SDSS-V survey: New O2 stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud

{O2 stars define the hottest end of the normal O-star sequence, but their identification requires blue-optical nitrogen diagnostics absent from many surveys.} {We reassess three luminous Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) sources with multi-epoch Sloan Digital Sky Survey V (SDSS-V) spectroscopy obtained with the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) spectrographs: \wsi, \lh, and \sk.} {We measure visit-resolved radial velocities and H, He, and N equivalent widths (EWs), compare robust combinations with LMC O2 templates at a common effective resolution, and use OSTAR2002 spectral energy distribution (SED) fits and a Gaia colour--magnitude diagram (CMD) as broad-band checks.} {The weighted $\log|{\rm EW}(\niv~\lambda4058)/{\rm EW}(\niii~\lambda4640)|$ values are $0.64\pm0.29$, $0.48\pm0.23$, and $0.34\pm0.44$ for \wsi, \lh, and \sk. The detection of \nv~$λ\lambda4604,4620$ supports the O2~If$^\ast$ and O2~V--III classifications adopted for \wsi\ and \lh, respectively. For \sk, the uncertain \niv/\niii\ ratio and non-detection of \nv\ motivate O2--3~V--III. Weak \hei~$\lambda4471$ may indicate unresolved later-type contamination in \wsi\ and \sk. The radial velocities of \sk\ show suggestive but non-significant variability. OSTAR2002 fits over 45--55~kK and the Gaia CMD place all three sources in the luminous very-early-O regime; \wsi\ shows a strong mid-infrared (MIR) excess, \lh\ is nearly photospheric, and \sk\ shows only a modest $3$--$8\,μ$m excess.} {The BOSS spectra add \wsi\ and \lh\ to the LMC very-early-O population and identify \sk\ as an additional O2--3 source. These cases show how incomplete blue coverage and ambiguous catalogue associations can conceal the hottest massive stars.}

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Distinct Population of Wolf-Rayet Stars in the Low-Metallicity Galaxy NGC 6822. Quantitative analysis of optical and UV spectra of the complete sample

Context: Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars are particularly rare in low-metallicity galaxies and remain poorly understood. Detailed studies of the presumably complete population of WR stars in the nearby Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) galaxy led to perplexing results. Aims: The nearby galaxy NGC 6822 has a similar metallicity to the SMC, and hence provides an excellent laboratory for a comparative study. We aim to derive the stellar and wind parameters of each known WR star in NGC 6822 by means of quantitative spectroscopy. The results are compared with the WR population of the SMC. Methods: New optical and UV spectroscopic observations have been obtained with the Very Large Telescope (VLT) and Hubble Space Telescope (HST). We employ the Potsdam Wolf-Rayet (PoWR) model atmosphere code for our analysis, consistently fitting synthetic spectra to the observed spectral energy distribution, and optical and UV spectra. Results: We spectroscopically confirm all four stars in our sample belong to the nitrogen sequence with early subtypes (WN3-WN6). All stars show indications of binarity. Only one star in our sample has a high fraction of hydrogen in its atmosphere, as typical for the WN population in the SMC, and two other stars in our sample are hydrogen-free. Finally, the spectrum and parameters of the fourth object closely resemble those of the qWR-type strongly magnetic merger-product star in the HD 45166 binary. Conclusions: The stellar properties of our sample are diverse. We have identified the first H-free WN-type stars at metallicities $\sim$ 1/7Z$_\odot$. According to evolutionary calculations, the WR stars in NGC 6822 stem from progenitors with initial masses below 40 M$_\odot$. We report a discovery of a low luminosity stripped qWR star in NGC 6822, and conclude that the WR star population in NGC 6822 and the SMC are distinct despite similar metallicities of their host galaxies.

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Potsdam Wolf-Rayet stellar atmosphere grids of OB-type stars: I. Spectroscopic temperature diagnostics across metallicity

Massive hot stars are among the major ionizing sources in the Universe. The ionizing flux of a star strongly depends on its temperature, which is best measured spectroscopically using lines of different ionization stages of the same element. For the quantitative spectral analysis of O-type stars, helium lines are commonly employed, and for B-type stars, lines of silicon and magnesium are used. At low metallicity, many of the diagnostic metal lines disappear. We conduct a systematic theoretical analysis of stellar atmosphere models of OB stars to study the effect of metallicity on key temperature diagnostic lines and how this impacts spectral classification. We computed large grids of state-of-the-art non-LTE stellar atmosphere models at four different metallicities, ranging from solar to 1/31 solar. We presented equivalent widths of selected diagnostic lines in the temperature-gravity plane and investigated their dependence on metallicity. Using Galactic stellar templates of O- and B-type stars, we established equivalent width ratios for spectral classification and applied them to our models. For the hottest stars in our model grids, He I lines become detectable at lower metallicity due to the reduced back-warming in the atmosphere, opening new possibilities for their classification. Metal lines used for the analysis of B-type stars are mostly absent in the spectra of stars with metallicity below that of the Small Magellanic Cloud, except Si lines, challenging current classification schemes. Our stellar atmosphere grids reveal that the decrease in metallicity causes many metal lines to disappear, leaving different sensitivities of He I lines the only temperature indicators for B-type stars in the optical. The ionizing flux of OB-type stars can be partially trapped within the stellar wind. As a result, at lower metallicity, a larger fraction of stars can emit hard ionizing radiation.

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Multiplicity of Massive Stars at Low Metallicity: Early Results from the BLOeM Campaign

Massive stars at low metallicity (Z) play a central role in shaping the high-redshift Universe, yet their multiplicity remains poorly constrained. The Binarity at Low Metallicity (BLOeM) campaign is a two-year survey of 929 stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud with the Fibre Large Array Multi Element Spectrograph (FLAMES) instrument at ESO's Very Large Telescope, providing the first large-scale spectroscopic monitoring of massive stars at low Z (1/5 solar). Analysis of the initial nine epochs reveals high intrinsic binary fractions (>70%) on the main sequence and a steep decline in evolved objects. Analysis of the full dataset will yield orbital solutions, identify black-hole companions, and allow a derivation of the initial mass function for single and binary stars at low Z.

physics.gen-ph↗

Hidden massive eclipsing binaries in red supergiant systems: The hierarchical triple system KQ Puppis and other candidates

The majority of massive stars are part of binary systems that may interact during their evolution. However, not many RSGs are known binaries, and only a few have constrained orbital parameters. We search the available TESS photometry for eclipsing companions of RSGs. We focus on the best candidate, VV Cephei type binary KQ Pup, which is made up of a RSG, KQ Pup A, and a B-type companion, KQ Pup B (orbital period of 26 yr). We use photometry, spectroscopy, and newly taken interferometric data with VLTI-GRAVITY. Using TESS, we discovered eclipses with a period of $17.2596 \: \rm d$, associated with KQ Pup B, making it a Ba+Bb binary. The detection of the hydrogen Br$γ$ line with VLTI-GRAVITY enabled us to track the orbital motion of the Ba+Bb pair relative to A and determine the astrometric orbit of A+B. The dynamical masses agree with independent estimates from asteroseismology and evolutionary models. The results give a mass of $ \sim 10 \: \rm M_{\odot} $ for the RSG KQ Pup A and $ \sim 14 \: \rm M_{\odot} $ for the sum of the hot components Ba+Bb. We determined an orbital parallax of $π= 1.24^{+0.05}_{-0.04}\, \rm mas $, which is the first such parallax measurement for a RSG. KQ Pup represents a unique demonstration of mass transfer mechanism in wide eccentric RSG systems. The variability of Balmer emission lines and the detection of Br$γ$ are a strong signature of accretion to Ba+Bb near periastron. With the RSG filling its Roche lobe only by $\sim 70\%$ at periastron, the mass transfer is instead driven by accretion from its extended atmosphere via the Wind Roche Lobe Overflow. The accretion disk dissipates by apastron. Overall, we discovered that several previously assumed RSG binaries host eclipsing inner systems, corresponding to $\sim 10 \%$ of all known Galactic RSG binaries. This suggests that many of the other RSG binaries may also be hierarchical triples.

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Building a Roadmap for Hubble science into the 2030s: Crucial UV spectroscopy of Oe stars in nearby galaxies

Hubble's unique COS G130M+G160M and STIS E140M UV spectral capabilities are essential for characterizing and understanding fundamental properties of main-sequence O-type emission-line (Oe) stars. These are fast rotators, and some are believed to be spun up in binaries. UV medium resolution observations of these stars are crucial for understanding massive binaries and their role in galaxy evolution. Oe stars are more prevalent at low metallicity, where they are highly under-studied, but UV spectra of these stars at all metallicities are needed. Observations of these stars in the 2030's with Hubble are particularly important in the era of ultra wide-field IFU optical and transient astronomy surveys. Ultimately, these observations will inform future UV observations with the Habitable Worlds Observatory.

astro-ph.IM↗

Multi-Dimensional MHD simulations of young Core-Collapse Supernova Remnants

Supernova remnants (SNRs) play a central role in shaping the interstellar medium. Core-Collapse Supernova (CCSN) progenitors are massive stars, which produce a dense circumstellar medium (CSM) through intense mass loss in post-main sequence evolution. The subsequent CCSN produces a strong shock which expands into a highly structured, complex magnetised environment. Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) consideration of pre- and post-CCSN evolution in multi-D are desirable to further our understanding of non-thermal aspects. We aim to determine how detailed stellar evolution treatment influences the shock propagation, focusing on Red Supergiants (RSGs) and Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars. We use the PION code to perform 3D MHD simulations of these CCSN progenitors. We use a detailed stellar evolution prescription to accurately and self-consistently model the pre-SN CSM and initialise CCSN explosions to investigate the surrounding environment. Our 2D and 3D treatment, inclusion of radiative cooling and assumption of full photoionization produces CSM features not identified in previous work. In the WR model we produce a coherent set of fast reflected shocks. In both cases we find faster forward shocks than predicted by analytic theory due to additional wind acceleration from photoionization for the RSG case, and accounting for the CSM expansion in the WR case. Model predictions of slowly rotating RSG and WR stars results in weakly magnetised wind bubbles, limiting potential for their SNRs to become PeV particle accelerators. Detailed multi-D MHD treatment of the CSM is needed to account for SNR evolution beyond the wind termination shock, where dynamic instabilities can be important. Including self-consistent stellar evolution is important for determining the CSM density and magnetic field structure close to the star, which govern the shock properties and SNR evolution for the first few hundred yr. (Abridged)

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X-Shooting ULLYSES: Massive stars at low metallicity XV. On the metallicity dependence of B-supergiant mass-loss rates

Context. For stellar evolution models we rely on mass-loss rate prescriptions that show features that lack empirical confirmation, such as the bi-stability jump. This jump is an increase in mass loss in the decreasing temperature regime Teff 28-21 kK. Although papers compared empirical results to prescriptions,a large observational sample of B stars for which the wind has been scrutinised over different metallicities is still lacking. Aims. By modelling of both ultraviolet (ULLYSES) and optical (XShootU) spectra, we determined the stellar and wind parameters, of 24 SMC B stars ranging in Teff from 13 to 29 kK. By combining this sample with LMC studies, we compared the wind behaviour of B stars in two different metallicity regimes. We compared our results to common mass-loss rate prescriptions to test features present in these models and their metallicity dependence. Methods. We have used the model atmosphere code fastwind and the genetic algorithm code Kiwi-GA to fit the UV and optical spectra simultaneously. This allows us to determine wind properties including clumping behaviour. Results. The metallicity trends present in the mass-loss prescriptions (Z^(0.41-1.4)) explored here overestimate the empirical metallicity dependence in the B-star regime, which appears very weak. We do not find an increase in mass-loss rate at approximately spectral type B1. We show that on average 40% of the wind mass is located in the wind medium between the clumps. We compiled a sample of 80+ O and B stars in the SMC and LMC. From a comparison we find a clear difference in O- and B-type metallicity dependence. Conclusions. The lack of a bi-stability jump in the B-star regime and a weak metallicity dependence for the same stars offers new empirical constraints to models of line-driven winds. As differences between these models are large (reaching orders of magnitude) such constraints are much needed.

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EWOCS-V: Is Wd1-72 a recent post-interaction WR+O binary?

The evolutionary origin of Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars at Solar metallicity is unclear. Single-star evolution from massive O stars, possibly via a Luminous Blue Variable phase, is challenged by binary period distributions of different WR subtypes. Wd1-72 is a WN7b+O binary embedded in the collective wind of the Galactic young massive cluster Westerlund 1 (Wd 1). It is surrounded by highly structured nebulosity, with cometary tails pointing away from Wd 1 and quasi-spherical droplets towards it. In this letter, we demonstrate that this morphology can be qualitatively reproduced by a hydrodynamic simulation of non-conservative Roche Lobe Overflow (RLOF) mass-loss into a cluster wind. Our model is based on a detailed binary evolution track consistent with key known properties of Wd1-72. Our work suggests Wd1-72 could be only ~10 kyr post-RLOF, and the hydrogen-free nature of Wd1-72 favours this being a second or subsequent RLOF episode. Follow-up observations could make Wd1-72 a valuable benchmark for probing mass-loss and mass-transfer in forming gravitational-wave binary-progenitor systems.

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X-Shooting ULLYSES: Massive stars at low metallicity XIV. Properties of SMC late-O and B supergiants reveal the metallicity dependence of winds in the Magellanic Clouds

Considering the physics of radiation-driven winds of massive stars, the wind properties should depend on the metal content of the stellar atmosphere. Therefore, studying the winds of massive stars in different metallicities provides a sanity check on prescriptions that are widely used in evolutionary calculations. We obtained the stellar and wind properties of a sample of 20 late-O and B supergiants in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) from a quantitative combined UV and optical spectroscopic analysis using CMFGEN. By comparing these properties with those of a Large Magellanic Cloud counterpart study, which has a similar sample and data, and employed the same modelling techniques used in this study, We derived a metallicity-dependent recipe for wind momentum, which is applicable for $5.4 \leq \log{L_{\rm bol}/L_{\odot}} \leq6.1$ and $14 \leq T_{\rm eff}/{\rm kK} \leq 32$. We find a significant dependence of the wind momentum on the metallicity, which is largely due to the mass-loss rates. We do not find any evidence of a discontinuity in either the mass-loss rate or the ratio of the terminal wind velocity to the escape velocity between $25$ and $21$~kK, which could be attributed to the bi-stability jump. Stellar parameters are consistent across different methods and radiative transfer codes, whereas mass-loss rates differ significantly, with our values being generally lower. We find a discrepancy between the evolutionary and spectroscopic masses in $40\%$ of our sample, with the evolutionary mass usually being systematically higher. The mass-loss rates of blue supergiants are far too low to strip the stellar envelope and the subsequent formation of classical Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars, leading to the conclusion that luminous blue variable eruptions or binary interactions are necessary to explain the characteristics of the WR population in the SMC.

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Binarity at LOw Metallicity (BLOeM): Projected rotational velocities

The Binarity at LOw Metallicity (BLOeM) survey is an ESO large programme designed to obtain multi-epoch spectroscopy for 929 massive stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). It will provide binary fractions and orbital configurations of binary systems, and search for dormant black-hole binary candidates (OB+BH). Here we present projected rotational velocities (vsini) of all sources and, using the multiplicity properties presented in previous papers, we derive the vsini distributions of apparent single stars, single lined spectroscopic (SB1) binaries, and SB2 systems. We identify a locus in the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram where rotational velocities decrease significantly; we interpret this feature as broadly corresponding to the terminal-age main sequence. The main sequence cohort is distinguished by a broad range of vsini values, but with a strong peak in the distribution in the range 30-60 km/s, close to the resolution limit of 30 km/s. Sources in this low vsini peak are distributed throughout the main sequence, and are also present in the SB1 sample, though less prominent than in the single star distribution. A preliminary analysis of the lowest vsini cohort, that includes SB1 systems, implies that roughly one third may be nitrogen rich and we speculate that this cohort is a mix of pristine single stars, long period binaries, and merger products. The SB2 systems appear to be mostly short period binaries in synchronous rotation and have vsini estimates distributed around a mean value of approximately 140 km/s . Higher vsini sources are also present in the single and SB1 systems, all of which have tail to higher vsini values, consistent with tidal and mass-transfer effects. The supergiants, with a few exceptions, have low vsini, the bulk of these systems being essentially unresolved at current spectral resolution.

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Sailing to the next safe harbour in our trip to the early Universe: The massive star population of metal-poor galaxies

Very metal-poor massive stars in the Local Group are our best proxies for the Universe's first stars, making them essential for modeling reionization and early galactic chemical evolution. Studying such stars in our Local Universe is key to extrapolating our knowledge to more distant regions, where individual massive stars cannot be resolved but are dynamically and chemically shaping their environments. The MUSE integral field spectrograph has transformed massive star studies in the Milky Way and Magellanic Clouds, but resolving star-forming galaxies containing very metal-poor stars is at the limit of the current field of view and sensitivity. Therefore, only small dedicated efforts of selected regions are studied, providing us with snapshots of low-metallicity massive stars rather than a comprehensive picture. This scarcity is a major bottleneck for understanding and sufficiently modelling the evolution and feedback of massive stars across cosmic time. We therefore envision a new generation of panoramic integral-field spectrographs and high multiplex multi-object spectrographs mounted on dedicated large optical telescopes. Such facilities will not only allow to resolve very-metal-pool galaxies, but further enable the systematic exploration of the massive stellar content across the entire Local Group, thereby reaching a new era in massive star studies and understanding.

astro-ph.IM↗

SDSS-V LVM: Resolving Physical Conditions in the Trifid Nebula

The chemical abundance of the interstellar medium sets the initial conditions for star formation and provides a probe of chemical galaxy evolution models. However, unresolved inhomogeneities in the electron temperature can lead to a systematic underestimation of the abundances. We aim to directly test this effect. We use the SDSS-V Local Volume Mapper to spatially map the physical conditions of the Trifid Nebula (M 20), a Galactic H II region ionized by a single mid-type O star, at 0.24 pc resolution. We exploit various emission lines (e.g., Hydrogen recombination lines and collisionally excited lines, including also faint auroral lines) and compute spatially resolved maps of [O II] and [S II] electron densities; [N II], [O II], [S II], [S III] electron temperatures; and the ionic oxygen abundances. We find internal variations of electron density that result from the ionization front, along with a negative radial gradient. However, we do not find strong gradients or structures in the electron temperature and the total oxygen abundance, making the Trifid Nebula a relatively homogeneous H II region at the observed spatial scale. We compare these spatially resolved properties with equivalent integrated measurements of the Trifid Nebula and find no significant variations between integrated and spatially resolved conditions. This isolated H II region, ionized by a single O-star, represents a test case of an ideal Strömgren sphere. The physical conditions in the Trifid Nebula behave as expected, with no significant differences between integrated and resolved measurements.

astro-ph.GA↗

Interferometry of Massive Stars: Multiplicity, Magnetism, and Stellar Winds

After decades of efforts, optical long-baseline interferometry has become a mainstream observational technique in terms of operation robustness and user friendliness. Interferometry has opened a new observational window, enabling (sub)au-scale resolution of massive stars and direct measurements of orbital parameters, wind structures, and magnetic phenomena. This paper reviews recent advances in interferometric studies of massive stars, focusing on multiplicity, magnetism, and stellar winds.

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Can Wolf-Rayet stars be the missing ingredient to explain high-z He II ionizing radiation?

Classical Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars are hot, massive stars with depleted hydrogen. At low metallicities (Z), WN3-type WR stars have relatively thin winds and are major sources of ionizing flux. The detection of high-ionization emission lines in high-redshift ($z$) galaxies as well as nearby low-Z dwarf galaxies raises questions about the origin of He II ionizing radiation and its role in galaxy evolution, as stellar population models fail to reproduce the required fluxes. Low-Z WN3 stars may provide the missing contribution but are easily hidden in integrated light. Using the Local Volume Mapper, we compare resolved optical spectra of SMC WN3 stars with integrated regions, focusing on the broad He II $\lambda4686\,Å$ line. We find stellar emission diluted within nebular regions, becoming undetectable when integrating over areas larger than 24 pc. Nonetheless, these stars emit enough ionizing photons to explain observed He II nebular emission, being strong candidates for the He II ionizing sources in low-Z and high-$z$ galaxies.

astro-ph.GA↗

SDSS-V LVM: Detectability of Wolf-Rayet stars and their He II ionizing flux in low-metallicity environments I. The weak-lined, early-type WN3 stars in the SMC

The Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) is the nearest low-metallicity dwarf galaxy. Its proximity and low reddening has enabled us to detect its Wolf-Rayet (WR) star population with 12 known objects. Quantitative spectroscopy of the stars revealed half of these WR stars to be strong sources of He ii ionizing flux, but the average metallicity of the SMC is below where WR bumps are usually detected in integrated galaxy spectra showing nebular He ii emission. Utilizing the Local Volume Mapper (LVM), we investigate regions around the six SMC WN3h stars, whose winds are thin enough to avoid He recombination and allow photons with > 54 eV to escape. Focusing on He ii 4686 Å, we show that the broad stellar wind component, the strongest optical diagnostic of the WN3h stars, is diluted within 24 pc in the integrated light from LVM, making the WR stars hard to detect in low-metallicity integrated regions. In addition, we compare the He ii ionizing flux from LVM with the values inferred from the stellar atmosphere code PoWR and find that the nebular emission around them only in some cases reflects the high amounts emitted by the stars. We conclude that early-type WN stars with comparably weak winds are viable sources to produce the observed He ii ionizing flux in low-metallicity galaxies. The easy dilution of the stellar signatures can explain the rareness of WR bump detections at 12 + log O/H < 8.0, while at the same time providing major candidates for the observed excess of nebular He ii emission. This constitutes a challenge for population synthesis models across all redshifts as the evolutionary path towards this observed WR population at low metallicity remains enigmatic.

astro-ph.GA↗

Binarity at LOw Metallicity (BLOeM): a spectroscopic VLT monitoring survey of massive stars in the SMC

Surveys in the Milky Way and Large Magellanic Cloud revealed that the majority of massive stars will interact with companions during their lives. However, knowledge of the binary properties of massive stars at low metallicity, which approaches the conditions of the Early Universe, remains sparse. We present the Binarity at LOw Metallicity (BLOeM) campaign - an ESO large programme designed to obtain 25 epochs of spectroscopy for 929 massive stars in the SMC - the lowest metallicity conditions in which multiplicity is probed to date (Z = 0.2 Zsun). BLOeM will provide (i) the binary fraction, (ii) the orbital configurations of systems with periods P < 3 yr, (iii) dormant OB+BH binaries, and (iv) a legacy database of physical parameters of massive stars at low metallicity. The stars are observed with the LR02 setup of the giraffe instrument of the Very Large Telescope (3960-4570A, resolving power R=6200; typical signal-to-noise ratio S/N=70-100). This paper utilises the first 9 epochs obtained over a three-month time. We describe the survey and data reduction, perform a spectral classification of the stacked spectra, and construct a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram of the sample via spectral-type and photometric calibrations. The sample covers spectral types from O4 to F5, spanning the effective temperature and luminosity ranges 6.5<Teff/kK<45 and 3.7<log L/Lsun<6.1 and initial masses 8<Mini/Msun<80. It comprises 159 O-type stars, 331 early B-type (B0-3) dwarfs and giants (luminosity classes V-III), 303 early B-type supergiants (II-I), and 136 late-type supergiants. At least 82 stars are Oe/Be stars: 20 O-type and 62 B-type (13% and 11% of the respective samples). In addition, it includes 4 high-mass X-ray binaries, 3 stars resembling luminous blue variables, 2 bloated stripped-star candidates, 2 candidate magnetic stars, and 74 eclipsing binaries.

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Investigating dusty Red Supergiant outflows in Westerlund 1 with 3D Hydrodynamic simulations

Recent JWST observations towards Westerlund 1 revealed extensive nebular emission associated with the cluster. Given the age of the region and proximity of that material to massive stars it cannot be primordial star forming gas and the origin is uncertain. We aim to determine whether the nebular emission in Westerlund 1 could be due to ablation flows from Red Supergiant (RSG) stars embedded in the cluster wind driven by the Wolf-Rayet stars in the cluster core. We also aim to explore the efficiency of mass-loading for the RSG wind in this scenario. We use 3D hydrodynamic simulations with the \textsc{pion} code to study the interaction between the cluster and RSG winds. We compare with the JWST observations by generating synthetic dust-emission maps. We find that the ablation flow morphology is consistent with the observations towards Westerlund 1, with clumps and instabilities. Synthetic observations at 11 $μ$m predict fluxes in the ablation flow of $\sim1000-6000$ MJy ster$^{-1}$ which is consistent with the unsaturated components of the JWST F1130W observations in the vicinity of the red supergiants in the region. This good agreement is achieved without any consideration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which have a known 11.3 $μ$m feature that appears in the F1130W band. This suggests that the ablation flow is PAH depleted. Ablation of RSG winds can explain the observed nebulosity in Westerlund 1, at least in the vicinity of the RSGs. Further observations are encouraged to enable detailed studies of these interactions.

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