Wolf-Rayet stars and their nucleosynthetic signatures in meteorites

Abstract

Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars are fascinating objects that have a dramatic impact on their surroundings. Their many facets have been, and still are, the focus of much observational and theoretical efforts by a large community of astrophysicists. It is scientifically sound to examine if, in addition, they could also be of special interest in the exciting chapter of cosmochemistry dealing with isotopic anomalies found in a variety of meteoritic materials. After a brief review of some important observed features of WR stars, as well as of the commonly accepted theoretical interpretation of these observed characteristics, this contribution addresses two questions: (1) could WR stars have been the sources of presolar grains that have been preserved up to now in meteorites, and (2) could WR stars have injected into forming solar system solids some isotopically anomalous freshly produced material, and in particular short-lived radionuclides? On grounds of detailed WR models, we answer the first question by saying that n...