arXiv subjects

Jiri Kubat

Publications and source records attributed to Jiri Kubat.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2008

From B[e] to A[e]. On the peculiar variations of the SMC supergiant LHA 115-S 23 (AzV 172)

Optical observations from 1989 of the SMC B[e] supergiant star S23 revealed the presence of photospheric HeI absorption lines. In our high-resolution optical spectra from 2000, however, we could not identify any HeI line. The observed changes in spectral behaviour of S23 lead to different spectral classifications at different observing epochs. The aim of this research is, therefore, to find and discuss possible scenarios that might cause a disappearance of the photospheric HeI absorption lines within a period of only 11 years. From our high-resolution optical spectra, we perform a detailed investigation of the different spectral appearances of S23. We further determine the projected rotational velocities of S23 in the two epochs of observations. Based on its spectral appearance in 2000, we classify S23 as A1Ib star with an effective temperature of about 9000 K. Further, an interstellar extinction value of E(B-V) = 0.03 is derived. This is considerably lower than the previously published value, which means that, if the circumstellar extinction due to the stellar wind is neglected, the interstellar extinction, and hence the luminosity of the star, are overestimated. We derive a rotation velocity of v sin i = 150km/s, which means that S23 is rotating with about 75% of its critical speed. The object S23 is thus the fourth B[e] supergiant with confirmed high projected rotational velocity. The most striking result is the apparent cooling of S23 by more than 1500 K with a simultaneous increase of its rotation speed by about 35% within only 11 years. Since such a behaviour is excluded by stellar evolution theories, we discuss possible scenarios for the observed peculiar variations in S23.

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arXiv2008

On the importance of the wind emission to the optical continuum of OB supergiants

Thermal wind emission in the form of free-free and free-bound emission is known to show up in the infrared and radio continuum of hot and massive stars. For OB supergiants with moderate mass loss rates and a wind velocity distribution with β= 0.8...1.0, no influence of the wind to the optical continuum, i.e. for λ< 1 micron, is expected. Investigations of stellar and wind parameters of OB supergiants over the last few years suggest, however, that for many objects βis much higher than 1.0, reaching values up to 3.5. We investigate the influence of the free-free and free-bound emission on the emerging radiation, especially at optical wavelengths, from OB supergiants having wind velocity distributions with β> 1. For the case of a spherically symmetric, isothermal wind in local thermodynamical equilibrium (LTE) we calculate the free-free and free-bound processes and the emerging wind and total continuum spectra. We localize the generation region of the optical wind continuum and especially focus on the influence of a β-type wind velocity distribution with β> 1 on the formation of the wind continuum at optical wavelengths. The optical wind continuum is found to be generated within about 2 R_* which is exactly the wind region where βstrongly influences the density distribution. We find that for β> 1, the continuum of a typical OB supergiant can indeed be contaminated with thermal wind emission, even at optical wavelengths. The strong increase in the optical wind emission is dominantly produced by free-bound processes.

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arXiv2007

The influence of clumping on predicted O star wind parameters

We study the influence of clumping on the predicted wind structure of O-type stars. For this purpose we artificially include clumping into our stationary wind models. When the clumps are assumed to be optically thin, the radiative line force increases compared to corresponding unclumped models, with a similar effect on either the mass-loss rate or the terminal velocity (depending on the onset of clumping). Optically thick clumps, alternatively, might be able to decrease the radiative force.

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arXiv2007

Wind emission of OB supergiants and the influence of clumping

The influence of the wind to the total continuum of OB supergiants is discussed. For wind velocity distributions with β> 1.0, the wind can have strong influence to the total continuum emission, even at optical wavelengths. Comparing the continuum emission of clumped and unclumped winds, especially for stars with high βvalues, delivers flux differences of up to 30% with maximum in the near-IR. Continuum observations at these wavelengths are therefore an ideal tool to discriminate between clumped and unclumped winds of OB supergiants.

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arXiv2007

Hot star wind models with new solar abundances

We compare the hot star wind models calculated assuming older solar abundance determination with models calculated using the recently published values derived from 3D hydrodynamical model atmospheres. We show that the use of new abundances with lower metallicity improves the agreement between wind observation and theory in several aspects: (1) The predicted wind mass-loss rates are lower by a factor of 0.76. This leads to a better agreement with mass-loss rate determinations derived from observations with account of clumping. (2) As a result of the lowering of mass-loss rates, there is a better agreement between predicted modified wind momentum-luminosity relationship and that derived from observations with account of clumping. (3) Both the lower mass fraction of heavier elements and lower mass-loss rates lead to a decrease of the opacity in the X-ray region. This has influence on the prediction of the X-ray line profile shapes. (4) There is a better agreement between predicted PV ionization fractions and those derived from observations.

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arXiv2006

Influence of the frictional heating on the wind line-profiles of SMC stars

We study the influence of the frictional heating on the wind line-profiles of SMC stars. For this purpose we use our NLTE wind code to obtain consistent occupation numbers of studied levels and our radiative transfer code to solve the radiative transfer equation in moving media. We compare predicted wind line profiles calculated with and without frictional heating for a low-luminosity SMC star with a weak wind and discuss the relevance of frictional heating as a solution of a "weak-wind problem" for this star.

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arXiv2006

The Influence of X-ray Emission on the Stellar Wind of O Stars

We study the influence of X-ray radiation on the wind parameters of O stars. For this purpose we use our own NLTE wind code. The X-ray emission (assumed to be generated in wind shocks) is treated as an input quantity. We study its influence on the mass-loss rate, terminal velocity and ionization state of the stellar wind of Galactic O stars.

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arXiv2006

Multicomponent radiatively driven stellar winds IV. On the helium decoupling in the wind of sigma Ori E

We study the possibility of the helium decoupling in the stellar wind of sigma Ori E. To obtain reliable wind parameters for this star we first calculate an NLTE wind model and derive wind mass-loss rate and terminal velocity. Using corresponding force multipliers we study the possibility of helium decoupling. We find that helium decoupling is not possible for realistic values of helium charge (calculated from NLTE wind models). Helium decoupling seems only possible for a very low helium charge. The reason for this behaviour is the strong coupling between helium and hydrogen. We also find that frictional heating becomes important in the outer parts of the wind of sigma Ori E due to the collisions between some heavier elements and the passive components -- hydrogen and helium. For a metallicity ten times lower than the solar one both hydrogen and helium decouple from the metals and may fall back onto the stellar surface. However, this does not explain the observed chemical peculiarity since both these components decouple together from the absorbing ions. Although we do not include the effects of the magnetic field into our models, we argue that the presence of a magnetic field will likely not significantly modify the derived results because in such case model equations describe the motion parallel to the magnetic field.

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arXiv2005

Radiatively Driven Winds of OB Stars -- from Micro to Macro

We review basic physics of line-driven stellar winds of OB stars. We discuss elementary processes due to which stellar winds are accelerated on a microscopic level. We show how these microscopic processes may enable the outflow and how they determine wind properties on a macroscopic level. We discuss shortcomings of present wind theories and future wind model improvements.

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arXiv2004

Standard model atmospheres for A-type stars and non-LTE effects

The current status of NLTE model atmosphere calculations of A type stars is reviewed. During the last decade the research has concentrated on solving the restricted NLTE line formation problem for trace elements assuming LTE model atmospheres. There is a general lack of calculated NLTE line blanketed model atmospheres for A type stars, despite the availability of powerful methods and computer codes that are able to solve this task. Some directions for future model atmosphere research are suggested.

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arXiv2004

Mass-loss and multicomponent flow from central stars of planetary nebulae

We calculate multicomponent radiatively driven stellar wind models suitable for central stars of planetary nebulae. Some of these stellar winds may be adequately modelled using one-component models, however for some of them multicomponent models are necessary. We obtain a range of stellar parameters for different types of mass-loss.

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arXiv2004

NLTE models of line-driven stellar winds I. Method of calculation and first results for O stars

New numerical models of line-driven stellar winds of late O stars are presented. Statistical equilibrium (NLTE) equations of the most abundant elements are solved. Properly obtained occupation numbers are used to calculate consistent radiative force and radiative heating terms. Wind density, velocity and temperature are calculated as a solution of model hydrodynamical equations. Contrary to other published models we account for a multicomponent wind nature and do not simplify the calculation of the radiative force (e.g. using force multipliers). We discuss the convergence behaviour of our models. The ability of our models to predict correct values of mass-loss rates and terminal velocities of selected late O stars (mainly giants and supergiants) is demonstrated. The systematic difference between predicted and observed terminal velocities reported in the literature has been removed. Moreover, we found good agreement between the theoretical wind momentum-luminosity relationship and the observed one for Cyg OB2 supergiants.

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arXiv2003

Multicomponent stellar winds of He chemically peculiar stars

We calculate multicomponent stellar wind models with inclusion of a helium component applicable to He-rich and He-poor stars. We show that helium does not decouple from the stellar wind of He-rich stars due to its coupling to hydrogen and its ionized state. For He-poor stars helium may decouple from the stellar wind, however this effect is not able to explain the chemical peculiarity of these stars. We conclude that the explanation of chemical peculiarity of these stars based purely on helium or hydrogen decoupling from the stellar wind is unlikely.

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arXiv2002

Multicomponent radiatively driven stellar winds III. Radiative-acoustic waves in a two-component wind

We study stability of isothermal two-component radiatively driven stellar winds against one-dimensional perturbations larger than the Sobolev length, and radiative-acoustic waves in such stellar winds. We perform linear perturbation analysis in comoving fluid-frames of individual components and obtain dispersion relation in the common fluid-frame. For high density winds the velocity difference between velocities of both components is relatively small and the wind is stable for radiative-acoustic waves discovered originally by Abbott, in accordance with the previous studies of the one-component wind. However, for such high density winds we found new types of waves including a special case of "frozen-in" wavy patterns. On the other hand, if the velocity difference between wind components is sufficiently large (for low density winds) then the multicomponent stellar wind is unstable even for large scale perturbations and ion runaway occurs. Thus, isothermal two-component stationary solutions of the radiatively line driven stellar wind with an abrupt lowering of the velocity gradient are unstable.

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arXiv2001

Multicomponent radiatively driven stellar winds II. Gayley-Owocki heating in multitemperature winds of OB stars

We show that the so-called Gayley-Owocki (Doppler) heating is important for the temperature structure of the wind of main sequence stars cooler than the spectral type O6. The formula for Gayley-Owocki heating is derived directly from the Boltzmann equation as a direct consequence of the dependence of the driving force on the velocity gradient. Since Gayley-Owocki heating deposits heat directly to the absorbing ions, we also investigated the possibility that individual components of the radiatively driven stellar wind have different temperatures. This effect is negligible in the wind of O stars, whereas a significant temperature difference takes place in the winds of main sequence B stars for stars cooler than B2. Typical temperature difference between absorbing ions and other flow components for such stars is of the order 10^3 K. However, in the case when passive component falls back onto the star the absorbing component reaches temperatures of order 10^6 K, which allows for emission of X-rays. Moreover, we compare our computed terminal velocities with the observed ones. We found quite good agreement between predicted and observed terminal velocities. The systematic difference coming from the using of the so called "cooking formula" has been removed.

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