The evolution of Red Supergiants at very low metallicity

2013 ◽  
Vol 60 ◽  
pp. 51-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. Groh ◽  
G. Meynet ◽  
S. Ekström ◽  
P. Eggenberger ◽  
C. Georgy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Red Supergiants ◽  
Low Metallicity

scholarly journals Theoretical investigation of the Humphreys–Davidson limit at high and low metallicity

2020 ◽  
Vol 635 ◽  
pp. A175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin R. Higgins ◽  
Jorick S. Vink
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Massive Star ◽  
Large Magellanic Cloud ◽  
Magellanic Cloud ◽  
Magellanic Clouds ◽  
Star Evolution ◽  
R Ratio ◽  
Red Supergiants ◽  
Low Metallicity ◽  
Massive Star Evolution

Context. Current massive star evolution grids are not able to simultaneously reproduce the empirical upper luminosity limit of red supergiants, the Humphrey–Davidson (HD) limit, nor the blue-to-red (B/R) supergiant ratio at high and low metallicity. Although previous studies have shown that the treatment of convection and semi-convection plays a role in the post-main-sequence (MS) evolution to blue or red supergiants (RSGs), a unified treatment for all metallicities has not been achieved so far. Aims. We focus on developing a better understanding of what drives massive star evolution to blue and red supergiant phases, with the ultimate aim of reproducing the HD limit at varied metallicities. We discuss the consequences of classifying B and R in the B/R ratio and clarify what is required to quantify a relatable theoretical B/R ratio for comparison with observations. Methods. For solar, Large Magellanic Cloud (50% solar), and Small Magellanic Cloud (20% solar) metallicities, we develop eight grids of MESA models for the mass range 20–60 M⊙ to probe the effect of semi-convection and overshooting on the core helium-burning phase. We compare rotating and non-rotating models with efficient (αsemi = 100) and inefficient semi-convection (αsemi = 0.1), with high and low amounts of core overshooting (αov of 0.1 or 0.5). The red and blue supergiant evolutionary phases are investigated by comparing the fraction of core He-burning lifetimes spent in each phase for a range of masses and metallicities. Results. We find that the extension of the convective core by overshooting αov = 0.5 has an effect on the post-MS evolution that can disable semi-convection, leading to more RSGs, but a lack of BSGs. We therefore implement αov = 0.1, which switches on semi-convective mixing, but for standard αsemi = 1 would result in an HD limit that is higher than observed at low Z (Large and Small Magellanic Clouds). Therefore, we need to implement very efficient semi-convection of αsemi = 100, which reproduces the HD limit at log L/L⊙ ∼ 5.5 for the Magellanic Clouds while simultaneously reproducing the Galactic HD limit of log L/L⊙ ∼ 5.8 naturally. The effect of semi-convection is not active at high metallicities because the envelope structure is depleted by strong mass loss such that semi-convective regions could not form. Conclusions. Metallicity-dependent mass loss plays an indirect, yet decisive role in setting the HD limit as a function of Z. For a combination of efficient semi-convection and low overshooting with standard Ṁ(Z), we find a natural HD limit at all metallicities.

Chemical abundances of four red supergiants star clusters (RSGCs) in Scutum-Crux arm

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (S351) ◽  
pp. 189-191
Author(s):  
Sang-Hyun Chun
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Spectral Properties ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Milky Way ◽  
Star Clusters ◽  
Chemical Abundances ◽  
Red Supergiants ◽  
Low Metallicity ◽  
Effective Temperatures

AbstractWe investigate the spectral properties of red supergiant stars in the four RSGCs (RSGC2, RSGC3, RSGC4, RSGC5, and Alicante 10) in the Scutum-Crux arm of the Milky Way. The high-resolution (R: 45,000) near-infrared (H and K bands) spectra for 41 red supergiants were obtained using IGRINS at Gemini South telescope. The calibration of effective temperatures and gravities are derived based on the EWTi and EWCO using supergiants in IGIRNS library. The resulted temperatures and gravities are consistent with previous results. Model spectra were synthesized using derived stellar parameters from which we estimate metallicities and chemical abundances like α-elements. In our preliminary result, we find that overall four RSGCs indeed have sub-solar metallicities as already known in previous studies. The metallicity properties of RSGCs are far off the nominal metallicity trend in this region, and this suggests recent low-metallicity gas fueling into the inner disk and bulge.

scholarly journals Detection of rotational CO emission from the red-supergiants in the Large Magellanic Cloud

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (A29B) ◽  
pp. 459-459
Author(s):  
Mikako Matsuura ◽  
B. Sargent ◽  
Bruce Swinyard ◽  
J.A. Yates ◽  
P. Royer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Mass Loss Rate ◽  
Large Magellanic Cloud ◽  
Magellanic Cloud ◽  
Evolved Stars ◽  
Solar Metallicity ◽  
Red Supergiants ◽  
Low Metallicity ◽  
Co Emission ◽  
Loss Rates

AbstractIt is yet well understood how mass-loss rates from evolved stars depend on metallicities. With a half of the solar metallicity and the distance of only 50 kpc, the evolved stars of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) are an ideal target for studying mass loss at low metallicity. We have obtained spectra of red-supergiants in the LMC, using the Hershel Space Observatory, detecting CO thermal lines fro J=6–5 up to 15–14 lines. Modelling CO lines with non-LTE Radiative transfer code suggests that CO lines intensities can be well explained with high gas-to-dust ratio, with no obvious reduction in mass-loss rate at the LMC. We conclude that the luminosities of the stars are primary factors on mass-loss rates, rather than the metallicity.

scholarly journals Grids of stellar models with rotation

2019 ◽  
Vol 627 ◽  
pp. A24 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. Groh ◽  
S. Ekström ◽  
C. Georgy ◽  
G. Meynet ◽  
A. Choplin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stellar Evolution ◽  
Massive Stars ◽  
Stellar Winds ◽  
Pulsation Period ◽  
Instability Strip ◽  
Helium Burning ◽  
Red Supergiants ◽  
Low Metallicity ◽  
Effects Of Rotation ◽  
The Impact

The effects of rotation on stellar evolution are particularly important at low metallicity, when mass loss by stellar winds diminishes and the surface enrichment due to rotational mixing becomes relatively more pronounced than at high metallicities. Here we investigate the impact of rotation and metallicity on stellar evolution. Using similar physics as in our previous large grids of models at Z = 0.002 and Z = 0.014, we compute stellar evolution models with the Geneva code for rotating and nonrotating stars with initial masses (Mini) between 1.7 and 120 M⊙ and Z = 0.0004 (1/35 solar). This is comparable to the metallicities of the most metal poor galaxies observed so far, such as I Zw 18. Concerning massive stars, both rotating and nonrotating models spend most of their core-helium burning phase with an effective temperature higher than 8000 K. Stars become red supergiants only at the end of their lifetimes, and few red supergiants are expected. Our models predict very few to no classical Wolf–Rayet stars as a results of weak stellar winds at low metallicity. The most massive stars end their lifetimes as luminous blue supergiants or luminous blue variables, a feature that is not predicted by models with higher initial metallicities. Interestingly, due to the behavior of the intermediate convective zone, the mass domain of stars producing pair-instability supernovae is smaller at Z = 0.0004 than at Z = 0.002. We find that during the main sequence (MS) phase, the ratio between nitrogen and carbon abundances (N/C) remains unchanged for nonrotating models. However, N/C increases by factors of 10–20 in rotating models at the end of the MS. Cepheids coming from stars with Mini >  4 − 6 M⊙ are beyond the core helium burning phase and spend little time in the instability strip. Since they would evolve towards cooler effective temperatures, these Cepheids should show an increase of the pulsation period as a function of age.

scholarly journals NGC 3105: a young open cluster with low metallicity

2018 ◽  
Vol 616 ◽  
pp. A124 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Alonso-Santiago ◽  
A. Marco ◽  
I. Negueruela ◽  
H. M. Tabernero ◽  
N. Castro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Open Cluster ◽  
High Mass ◽  
Complete Analysis ◽  
Evolutionary Models ◽  
Chemical Abundances ◽  
Evolved Stars ◽  
Young Open Cluster ◽  
Red Supergiants ◽  
Low Metallicity ◽  
First Time

Context. NGC 3105 is a young open cluster hosting blue, yellow, and red supergiants. This rare combination makes it an excellent laboratory for constraining evolutionary models of high-mass stars. It has been poorly studied, and the fundamental parameters such as its age or distance are not well defined. Aims. We intend to characterise in an accurate way the cluster and its evolved stars, for which we derive for the first time atmospheric parameters and chemical abundances. Methods. We performed a complete analysis combining UBVR photometry with spectroscopy. We obtained spectra with classification purposes for 14 blue stars and high-resolution spectroscopy for an in-depth analysis of the six other evolved stars. Results. We identify 126 B-type likely members within a radius of 2.7 ± 0.6 arcmin, which implies an initial mass, Mcl ≈ 4100 M⊙. We find a distance of 7.2 ± 0.7 kpc for NGC 3105, placing it at RGC = 10.0 ± 1.2 kpc. Isochrone fitting supports an age of 28 ± 6 Ma, implying masses around 9.5 M⊙ for the supergiants. A high fraction of Be stars (≈25%) is found at the top of the main sequence down to spectral type b3. From the spectral analysis we estimate for the cluster an average νrad = +46.9 ± 0.9 km s−1 and a low metallicity, [Fe/H] = −0.29 ± 0.22. We also have determined, for the first time, chemical abundances for Li, O, Na, Mg, Si, Ca, Ti, Ni, Rb, Y, and Ba for the evolved stars. The chemical composition of the cluster is consistent with that of the Galactic thin disc. An overabundance of Ba is found, supporting the enhanced s-process. Conclusions. NGC 3105 has a low metallicity for its Galactocentric distance, comparable to typical LMC stars. It is a valuable spiral tracer in a very distant region of the Carina–Sagittarius spiral arm, a poorly known part of the Galaxy. As one of the few Galactic clusters containing blue, yellow, and red supergiants, it is massive enough to serve as a test bed for theoretical evolutionary models close to the boundary between intermediate- and high-mass stars.

scholarly journals Massive Star Formation and Evolution in Local Group Galaxies: Successes and Difficulties

1999 ◽  
Vol 192 ◽  
pp. 291-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Maeder
Keyword(s):  
Massive Star ◽  
Local Group ◽  
Relative Number ◽  
Be Stars ◽  
Mixing Processes ◽  
Star Evolution ◽  
Red Supergiants ◽  
Low Metallicity ◽  
Formation And Evolution ◽  
Massive Star Evolution

Local Group galaxies allow us to test some properties of massive star evolution which are inaccessible in our Galaxy, in particular the effects of different metallicities. Thus, after showing that we still do not know the exact process by which massive stars are formed, we examine the differences in the distributions of O-stars, blue and red supergiants and WR stars in the Local Group. The number ratios WR/O and WN/WC are well accounted for by stellar models in which the mass-loss rates depend on the metallicity, Z, as predicted by stellar wind theories. The number ratio of red supergiants to WR stars is growing for decreasing Z. Although this behaviour is qualitatively well explained, the models need some extra mixing to fit the observational data. The same is true for the explanation of the He- and N-excesses in O, B and A supergiants. Rotation and related mixing processes certainly play a major role in massive star evolution. The relative number of Be-stars is higher at lower Z, which suggests that rotation is faster, also with more mixing, in small, irregular low-metallicity galaxies.

Polarimetric Observations of Red Variables: A Study of Gas and Particle Interactions

1979 ◽  
Vol 46 ◽  
pp. 386-408 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. V. Coyne ◽  
I. S. McLean
Keyword(s):  
Wavelength Dependence ◽  
Stellar Atmosphere ◽  
Molecular Absorption ◽  
Absorption Bands ◽  
Absorption And Emission ◽  
Mira Variables ◽  
Stellar Photosphere ◽  
Regular Variable ◽  
Red Supergiants ◽  
Balmer Lines

AbstractIn recent years the wavelength, dependence of the polarization in a number of Mira variables, semi-regular variables and red supergiants has been measured with resolutions between 0.3 and 300 A over the range 3300 to 11000 A. Variations are seen across molecular absorption bands, especially TiO bands, and across atomic absorption and emission lines, especially the Balmer lines. In most cases one can ignore or it is possible to eliminate the effects due to interstellar polarization, so that one can study the polarization mechanisms operating in the stellar atmosphere and environment. The stars Omicron Ceti. (Mira), V CVn (semi-regular variable) and Mu Cephei (M2 la), in addition to other stars similar to them, will be discussed in some detail.Models to explain the observed polarization consider that the continuum flux is polarized either by electron, molecular and/or grain scattering or by temperature variations and/or geometrical asymmetries over the stellar photosphere. This polarized radiation is affected by atomic and molecular absorption and emission processes at various geometric depths in the stellar atmosphere and envelope. High resolution spectropolarimetry promises, therefore, to be a power-rul tool for studying stratification effects in these stars.

scholarly journals Mid-Ir Emission of Low-Metallicity Galaxies

1998 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-114
Author(s):  
S. Plante ◽  
M. Sauvage ◽  
D. Kunth
Keyword(s):  
Stellar Content ◽  
Ionized Gas ◽  
Band Ratio ◽  
Hii Region ◽  
Stellar Photometry ◽  
North East ◽  
The North ◽  
Low Metallicity ◽  
Ir Emission ◽  
Exact Origin

NGC 595 is a giant Hɪɪ region located in the western part of the spiral galaxy M 33. It is the second in importance in this galaxy, after NGC 604. At 0.84 Mpc, HST is able to resolve its stellar content. Malumuth et al. (1996) obtained HST UV, U, B and V images of this region and derived an ionizing luminosity of 5 × 1050 phots-1 and an average reddening EB-V = 0.36±0.28 mag. The stars are mostly concentrated in the central part of the region, where little emission of gas is seen (the ionized gas lies more in a shell around the stars, figure 1a). Wilson & Scoville (1993) showed the molecular gas to be situated in the south-east part of the region, just outside of the bright knot of stars. Viallefond et al. (1986) found a reddening gradient in the north-east/south-west direction by observing the Hi gas, which was confirmed by Malumuth et al. (1996) with stellar photometry. We obtained ISO images for NGC 595 in the 5.0 to 8.5 μm range. The emission in this spectral range is dominated by the so-called PAH bands. Current interpretation of these has them originating from stochastically heated molecules. Two of these bands are located in the range observed, at 6.2 μm and 7.7 μm. Stochastic heating implies that the in-band flux is directly proportional to the number of photons absorbed by the molecules. For typical HII regions, Cohen et al. (1989) found 0.58 for the I6.2/I7.7 in-band ratio. However many processes, ionization, dehydrogenation, can modify this ratio. Furthermore, an underlying continuum is present though its exact origin is unknown.

scholarly journals The effects of different Type Ia SN yields on Milky Way chemical evolution

2021 ◽  
Vol 503 (3) ◽  
pp. 3216-3231
Author(s):  
Marco Palla
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Evolution ◽  
White Dwarf ◽  
Time Distribution ◽  
Milky Way ◽  
Massive Stars ◽  
Abundance Patterns ◽  
Type Ia ◽  
Low Metallicity ◽  
Explosion Mechanism ◽  
Chemical Evolution Model

ABSTRACT We study the effect of different Type Ia SN nucleosynthesis prescriptions on the Milky Way chemical evolution. To this aim, we run detailed one-infall and two-infall chemical evolution models, adopting a large compilation of yield sets corresponding to different white dwarf progenitors (near-Chandrasekar and sub-Chandrasekar) taken from the literature. We adopt a fixed delay time distribution function for Type Ia SNe, in order to avoid degeneracies in the analysis of the different nucleosynthesis channels. We also combine yields for different Type Ia SN progenitors in order to test the contribution to chemical evolution of different Type Ia SN channels. The results of the models are compared with recent LTE and NLTE observational data. We find that ‘classical’ W7 and WDD2 models produce Fe masses and [α/Fe] abundance patterns similar to more recent and physical near-Chandrasekar and sub-Chandrasekar models. For Fe-peak elements, we find that the results strongly depend either on the white dwarf explosion mechanism (deflagration-to-detonation, pure deflagration, double detonation) or on the initial white dwarf conditions (central density, explosion pattern). The comparison of chemical evolution model results with observations suggests that a combination of near-Chandrasekar and sub-Chandrasekar yields is necessary to reproduce the data of V, Cr, Mn and Ni, with different fractions depending on the adopted massive stars stellar yields. This comparison also suggests that NLTE and singly ionized abundances should be definitely preferred when dealing with most of Fe-peak elements at low metallicity.

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