Stellar Wind Mass Loss Research Articles

Investigating the Chemically Homogeneous Evolution Channel and Its Role in the Formation of the Enigmatic Binary Black Hole Progenitor Candidate HD 5980

Chemically homogeneous evolution (CHE) is a promising channel for forming massive binary black holes. The enigmatic, massive Wolf–Rayet binary HD 5980 A&B has been proposed to have formed through this channel. We investigate this claim by comparing its observed parameters with CHE models. Using MESA, we simulate grids of close massive binaries, then use a Bayesian approach to compare them with the stars’ observed orbital period, masses, luminosities, and hydrogen surface abundances. The most probable models, given the observational data, have initial periods ∼3 days, widening to the present-day ∼20 days orbit as a result of mass loss—correspondingly, they have very high initial stellar masses (≳150 M ⊙). We explore variations in stellar-wind mass loss and internal mixing efficiency, and find that models assuming enhanced mass loss are greatly favored to explain HD 5980, while enhanced mixing is only slightly favored over our fiducial assumptions. Our most probable models slightly underpredict the hydrogen surface abundances. Regardless of its prior history, this system is a likely binary black hole progenitor. We model its further evolution under our fiducial and enhanced wind assumptions, finding that both stars produce black holes with masses ∼19–37 M ⊙. The projected final orbit is too wide to merge within a Hubble time through gravitational waves alone. However, the system is thought to be part of a 2+2 hierarchical multiple. We speculate that secular effects with the (possible) third and fourth companions may drive the system to promptly become a gravitational-wave source.

Spectroscopic searches for evolutionary orbital period changes in WR + OB binaries: the case of CQ Cep and CX Cep

ABSTRACT We present the results of spectroscopic observations of two eclipsing WR + OB-type systems – CQ Cep and CX Cep – performed in 2020–2023 with a low-resolution slit spectrograph TDS (λλ = 3660–7410 Å, R = 1300–2500) on 2.5-m telescope of the SAI MSU Caucasian Mountain Observatory. For CQ Cep, the radial velocity curves of a WN6 star are constructed, the problem of visibility of spectroscopic traces of an OB star is discussed, and the components’ mass ratio q ∼ 0.6 is estimated. For CX Cep, the radial velocity curves are constructed for both the WN5 and O5 components enabling their masses and circular orbit elements to be refined. The comparison of the radial velocity curves of these systems obtained in different epochs allowed us to derive the orbital period change rate $\dot{P}$ by the spectroscopic method, which is found to be in good agreement with estimates obtained by comparing the moments of primary eclipse minima: $\dot{P} = -0.0151\pm 0.0013$ s yr−1 for CQ Cep and $\dot{P} = 0.054\pm 0.009$ s yr−1 for CX Cep. The prospects of applicability of the spectroscopic dynamical method for studying the orbital evolution of Galactic WR + OB binaries and related objects are considered. We also discuss the effect of finite sizes of stars with stellar wind mass-loss in close binary systems on their orbital evolution.

The winds of young Solar-type stars in the Hyades

ABSTRACT Stellar winds govern the spin-down of Solar-type stars as they age, and play an important role in determining planetary habitability, as powerful winds can lead to atmospheric erosion. We calculate 3D stellar wind models for five young Solar-type stars in the Hyades cluster, using TOUPIES survey stellar magnetograms and state-of-the-art Alfvén wave-driven wind modelling. The stars have the same 0.6 Gyr age and similar fundamental parameters, and we account for the uncertainty in and underestimation of absolute field strength inherent in Zeeman–Doppler imaging by adopting both unscaled and scaled (by a factor of five) field strengths. For the unscaled fields, the resulting stellar wind mass-loss is 2–4 times greater and the angular momentum loss 2–10 times greater than for the Sun today, with the scaled results correspondingly greater. We compare our results with a range published of wind models and for the Alfvén wave-driven modelling see evidence of mass-loss saturation at ${\sim 10} \dot{M}_{\odot }$.

Wind-envelope interaction as the origin of the slow cyclic brightness variations of luminous blue variables

Luminous blue variables (LBVs) are hot, very luminous massive stars displaying large quasi-periodic variations in brightness, radius, and photospheric temperature on timescales of years to decades. The physical origin of this variability, called S Doradus cycle after its prototype, has remained elusive. We study the feedback of stellar wind mass-loss on the envelope structure in stars near the Eddington limit. We calculated a time-dependent hydrodynamic stellar evolution, applying a stellar wind mass-loss prescription with a temperature dependence inspired by the predicted systematic increase in mass-loss rates below 25 kK. We find that when the wind mass-loss rate crosses a well-defined threshold, a discontinuous change in the wind base conditions leads to a restructuring of the stellar envelope. The induced drastic radius and temperature changes, which occur on the thermal timescale of the inflated envelope, in turn impose mass-loss variations that reverse the initial changes, leading to a cycle that lacks a stationary equilibrium configuration. Our proof-of-concept model broadly reproduces the typical observational phenomenology of the S Doradus variability. We identify three key physical ingredients that are required to trigger the instability: inflated envelopes in close proximity to the Eddington limit, a temperature range where decreasing opacities do not lead to an accelerating outflow, and a mass-loss rate that increases with decreasing temperature, crossing a critical threshold value within this temperature range. Our scenario and model provide testable predictions, and open the door for a consistent theoretical treatment of the LBV phase in stellar evolution, with consequences for their further evolution as single stars or in binary systems.

Supernovae Ib and Ic from the explosion of helium stars

Much difficulty has so far prevented the emergence of a consistent scenario for the origin of Type Ib and Ic supernovae (SNe). Either the SN rates or the ejecta masses and composition were in tension with inferred properties from observations. Here, we follow a heuristic approach by examining the fate of helium stars in the mass range from 4 to 12 M⊙, which presumably form in interacting binaries. The helium stars were evolved using stellar wind mass loss rates that agree with observations and which reproduce the observed luminosity range of galactic Wolf-Rayet stars, leading to stellar masses at core collapse in the range from 3 to 5.5 M⊙. We then exploded these models adopting an explosion energy proportional to the ejecta mass, which is roughly consistent with theoretical predictions. We imposed a fixed 56Ni mass and strong mixing. The SN radiation from 3 to 100 d was computed self-consistently, starting from the input stellar models using the time-dependent nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium radiative-transfer code CMFGEN. By design, our fiducial models yield very similar light curves, with a rise time of about 20 d and a peak luminosity of ~1042.2 erg s−1, which is in line with representative SNe Ibc. The less massive progenitors retain a He-rich envelope and reproduce the color, line widths, and line strengths of a representative sample of SNe Ib, while stellar winds remove most of the helium in the more massive progenitors, whose spectra match typical SNe Ic in detail. The transition between the predicted Ib-like and Ic-like spectra is continuous, but it is sharp, such that the resulting models essentially form a dichotomy. Further models computed with varying explosion energy, 56Ni mass, and long-term power injection from the remnant show that a moderate variation of these parameters can reproduce much of the diversity of SNe Ibc. We conclude that massive stars stripped by a binary companion can account for the vast majority of ordinary Type Ib and Ic SNe and that stellar wind mass loss is the key to removing the helium envelope in the progenitors of SNe Ic.

The single star path to Be stars

Context. Be stars are rapidly rotating B main sequence stars that show line emission due to an outflowing disc. By studying the evolution of rotating single star models, we can assess their contribution to the observed Be star populations. Aims. We identify the main effects that cause single stars to approach critical rotation as functions of initial mass and metallicity, and predict the properties of populations of rotating single stars. Methods. We perform population synthesis with single-star models of initial masses ranging between 3 and 30 M⊙ and initial equatorial rotation velocities between 0 and 600 km s−1 at compositions representing the Milky Way and the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. These models include efficient core–envelope coupling mediated by internal magnetic fields and correspond to the maximum efficiency of Be star production. We predict Be star fractions and the positions of fast-rotating stars in the colour–magnitude diagram. Results. We identify stellar wind mass-loss and the convective core mass fraction as the key parameters determining the time dependance of the stellar rotation rates. Using empirical distributions of initial rotational velocities, our single-star models can reproduce the trends observed in Be star fractions with mass and metallicity. However, they fail to produce a significant number of stars rotating very close to the critical velocity. We also find that rapidly rotating Be stars in the Magellanic Clouds should have significant surface nitrogen enrichment, which may be in conflict with abundance determinations of Be stars. Conclusions. Single-star evolution might explain the high number of Be stars if 70 to 80% of critical rotation would be sufficient to produce the Be phenomenon. However, even in this case, the unexplained presence of many Be stars far below the cluster turn-off indicates the importance of the binary channel for Be star production.

Mind the Gap: The Location of the Lower Edge of the Pair-instability Supernova Black Hole Mass Gap

Abstract Detections of gravitational waves are now starting to probe the mass distribution of stellar mass black holes (BHs). Robust predictions from stellar models are needed to interpret these. Theory predicts the existence of a gap in the BH mass distribution because of pair-instability supernovae. The maximum BH mass below the gap is the result of pulsational mass loss. We evolve massive helium stars through their late hydrodynamical phases of evolution using the open-source MESA stellar evolution code. We find that the location of the lower edge of the mass gap at 45 is remarkably robust against variations in the metallicity (≈3 ), the treatment of internal mixing (≈1 ), and stellar wind mass loss (≈4 ), making it the most robust predictor for the final stages of the evolution of massive stars. The reason is that the onset of the instability is dictated by the near-final core mass, which in turn sets the resulting BH mass. However, varying the reaction rate within its 1σ uncertainties shifts the location of the gap between 40 and 56 . We provide updated analytic fits for population synthesis simulations. Our results imply that the detection of merging BHs can provide constraints on nuclear astrophysics. Furthermore, the robustness against metallicity suggests that there is a universal maximum for the location of the lower edge of the gap, which is insensitive to the formation environment and redshift for first-generation BHs. This is promising for the possibility to use the location of the gap as a “standard siren” across the universe.

Constraining mixing in massive stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud

Context. The evolution of massive stars is strongly influenced by internal mixing processes such as semiconvection, convective core overshooting, and rotationally induced mixing. None of these processes are currently well constrained. Aims. We investigate models for massive stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), for which stellar-wind mass loss is less important than for their metal-rich counterparts. We aim to constrain the various mixing efficiencies by comparing model results to observations. Methods. For this purpose, we use the stellar-evolution code MESA to compute more than 60 grids of detailed evolutionary models for stars with initial masses of 9…100 M⊙, assuming different combinations of mixing efficiencies of the various processes in each grid. Our models evolve through core hydrogen and helium burning, such that they can be compared with the massive main sequence and supergiant population of the SMC. Results. We find that for most of the combinations of the mixing efficiencies, models in a wide mass range spend core-helium burning either only as blue supergiants, or only as red supergiants. The latter case corresponds to models that maintain a shallow slope of the hydrogen/helium (H/He) gradient separating the core and the envelope of the models. Only a small part of the mixing parameter space leads to models that produce a significant number of blue and red supergiants, which are both in abundance in the SMC. Some of our grids also predict a cut-off in the number of red supergiants above log L/L⊙ = 5…5.5. Interestingly, these models contain steep H/He gradients, as is required to understand the hot, hydrogen-rich Wolf-Rayet stars in the SMC. We find that unless it is very fast, rotation has a limited effect on the H/He profiles in our models. Conclusions. While we use specific implementations of the considered mixing processes, they comprehensively probe the two first-order structural parameters, the core mass and the H/He gradient in the core-envelope interface. Our results imply that in massive stars, mixing during the main-sequence evolution leads to a moderate increase in the helium core masses, and also that the H/He gradients above the helium cores become very steep. Our model grids can be used to further refine the various mixing efficiencies with the help of future observational surveys of the massive stars in the SMC, and thereby help to considerably reduce the uncertainties in models of massive star evolution.

Black hole spins in coalescing binary black holes

The possible formation mechanisms of massive close binary black holes (BHs) that can merge in the Hubble time to produce powerful gravitational wave bursts detected during advanced LIGO O1 and O2 science runs include the evolution from field low-metallicity massive binaries, the dynamical formation in dense stellar clusters and primordial BHs. Different formation channels produce different source distributions of total masses ${M_\mathrm{tot}}$ and effective spins $\chi_\mathrm{eff}$ of coalescing binary BHs. Using a modified \textsc{bse} code, we carry out extensive population synthesis calculations of the expected effective spin and total mass distributions from the standard field massive binary formation channel for different metallicities of BH progenitors (from zero-metal Population III stars up to solar metal abundance), different initial rotations of the binary components, stellar wind mass loss prescription, different BH formation models and a range of common envelope efficiencies. The stellar rotation is treated in two-zone (core-envelope) approximation using the effective core-envelope coupling time and with an account of the tidal synchronization of stellar envelope rotation during the binary system evolution. The results of our simulations, convolved with the metallicity-dependent star-formation history, show that the total masses and effective spins of the merging binary black holes detected during LIGO O1-O2 runs but the heaviest one (GW170729) can be simultaneously reproduced by the adopted BH formation models. Noticeable effective spin of GW170729 requires additional fallback from the rotating stellar envelope.

Very massive stars: a metallicity-dependent upper-mass limit, slow winds, and the self-enrichment of globular clusters

One of the key questions in Astrophysics concerns the issue of whether there exists an upper-mass limit to stars, and if so, what physical mechanism sets this limit? The answer to this question might also determine if the upper-mass limit is metallicity (Z) dependent. We argue that mass loss by radiation-driven winds mediated by line opacity is one of the prime candidates setting the upper-mass limit. We present mass-loss predictions (Ṁwind) from Monte Carlo radiative transfer models for relatively cool (Teff = 15 kK) very inflated massive stars (VMS) with large Eddington Γ factors in the mass range 102–103 M⊙ as a function of metallicity down to 1/100 Z∕Z⊙. We employed a hydrodynamic version of our Monte Carlo method, allowing us to predict the rate of mass loss (Ṁwind) and the terminal wind velocity (v∞) simultaneously. Interestingly, we find wind terminal velocities (v∞) that are low (100–500 km s−1) over a wide Z-range, and we propose that the slow winds from VMS are an important source of self-enrichment in globular clusters. We also find mass-loss rates (Ṁwind), exceeding the typical mass-accretion rate (Ṁaccr) of 10−3 M⊙ yr−1 during massive-star formation. We have expressed our mass-loss predictions as a function of mass and Z, finding log Ṁ = −9.13 + 2.1 log(M∕M⊙) + 0.74 log(Z∕Z⊙) (M⊙∕yr). Even if stellar winds do not directly halt & reverse mass accretion during star formation, if the most massive stars form by stellar mergers, stellar wind mass loss may dominate over the rate at which stellar growth takes place. We therefore argue that the upper-mass limit is effectively Z-dependent due to the nature of radiation-driven winds. This has dramatic consequences for the most luminous supernovae, gamma-ray bursts, and other black hole formation scenarios at different Cosmic epochs.

Does the Wolf-Rayet binary CQ Cephei undergo sporadic mass transfer events?

Context. Stellar wind mass-loss in binary systems carries away angular momentum causing a monotonic increase in the orbital period, Ṗ > 0. Despite possessing a significant stellar wind, the eclipsing Wolf-Rayet (WR) binary system CQ Cep does not show the expected monotonic period increase, in fact, it is sometimes reported to display the opposite behavior.Aims. The objective of this paper is to perform a new analysis of the rate of period change Ṗ and determine the conditions under which Roche-lobe overflow (RLO) mass-transfer combined with wind mass loss can explain the discrepant behavior. Methods. The historic records of times of light curve minima were reviewed and compared with the theoretical values of Ṗ for cases in which both wind mass-loss and RLO occur simultaneously. Results. The observational data indicate that Ṗ alternates between positive and negative values on a timescale of years. The negative values (Ṗ ~ −0.6 to −8.5 s yr-1 ) are significantly larger in absolute value than the positive ones (Ṗ ~ + 0.2 to +1.2 s yr-1 ). We find that a plausible scenario for CQ Cep is one in which the O star undergoes intense but sporadic RLO events that lead to accretion onto the WR star, at which times Ṗ > 0 when the WR wind, and possibly material swept up from the O star, carries angular momentum away from the system. A scenario in which the WR star is the mass donor cannot be excluded, but requires that either the WR wind mass-loss rate undergoes large sporadic enhancements or that an additional process that removes angular momentum from the system be present.

Line-driven ablation of circumstellar discs - I. Optically thin decretion discs of classical Oe/Be stars.

The extreme luminosities of massive, hot OB stars drive strong stellar winds through line-scattering of the star's UV continuum radiation. For OB stars with an orbiting circumstellar disc, we explore here the effect of such line-scattering in driving an ablation of material from the disc's surface layers, with initial focus on the marginally optically thin decretion discs of classical Oe and Be stars. For this we apply a multidimensional radiation-hydrodynamics code that assumes simple optically thin ray tracing for the stellar continuum, but uses a multiray Sobolev treatment of the line transfer; this fully accounts for the efficient driving by non-radial rays, due to desaturation of line-absorption by velocity gradients associated with the Keplerian shear in the disc. Results show a dense, intermediate-speed surface ablation, consistent with the strong, blueshifted absorption of UV wind lines seen in Be shell stars that are observed from near the disc plane. A key overall result is that, after an initial adjustment to the introduction of the disc, the asymptotic disc destruction rate is typically just an order-unity factor times the stellar wind mass-loss rate. For optically thin Be discs, this leads to a disc destruction time of order months to years, consistent with observationally inferred disc decay times. The much stronger radiative forces of O stars reduce this time to order days, making it more difficult for decretion processes to sustain a disc in earlier spectral types, and so providing a natural explanation for the relative rarity of Oe stars in the Galaxy. Moreover, the decrease in line-driving at lower metallicity implies both a reduction in the winds that help spin-down stars from near-critical rotation, and a reduction in the ablation of any decretion disc; together these provide a natural explanation for the higher fraction of classical Be stars, as well as the presence of Oe stars, in the lower metallicity Magellanic Clouds. We conclude with a discussion of future extensions to study line-driven ablation of denser, optically thick, accretion discs of pre-main-sequence massive stars.

Two bi-stability jumps in theoretical wind models for massive stars and the implications for luminous blue variable supernovae

Luminous Blue Variables have been suggested to be the direct progenitors of supernova types IIb and IIn, with enhanced mass loss prior to explosion. However, the mechanism of this mass loss is not yet known. Here, we investigate the qualitative behaviour of theoretical stellar wind mass-loss as a function of Teff across two bi-stability jumps in blue supergiant regime and also in proximity to the Eddington limit, relevant for LBVs. To investigate the physical ingredients that play a role in the radiative acceleration we calculate blue supergiant wind models with the CMFGEN non-LTE model atmosphere code over an effective temperature range between 30000 and 8800 K. Although our aim is not to provide new mass-loss rates for BA supergiants, we study and confirm the existence of two bi-stability jumps in mass-loss rates predicted by Vink, de Koter, & Lamers (1999). However, they are found to occur at somewhat lower Teff (20000 and 9000 K, respectively) than found previously, which would imply that stars may evolve towards lower Teff before strong mass-loss is induced by the bi-stability jumps. When the combined effects of the second bi-stability jump and the proximity to Eddington limit are accounted for, we find a dramatic increase in the mass-loss rate by up to a factor of 30. Further investigation of both bi-stability jumps is expected to lead to a better understanding of discrepancies between empirical modelling and theoretical mass-loss rates reported in the literature, and to provide key inputs for the evolution of both normal AB supergiants and LBVs, as well as their subsequent supernova type II explosions.

Light-travel-time diagnostics in early supernova spectra: substantial mass-loss of the IIb progenitor of SN 2013cu through a superwind

The progenitors of type-IIb supernovae (SNe) are believed to have lost their H-rich envelopes almost completely in the direct pre-SN phase. Recently the first 'flash spectrum' of a SN IIb (SN2013cu) has been presented, taken early enough to study its immediate circumstellar medium (CSM). Similar to a previous study by Groh (2014) we analyse the structure and chemical composition of the optically-thick CSM using non-LTE model atmospheres. For the first time we take light-travel time (LTT) effects on the spectrum formation into account, which affect the shapes and strengths of the observable emission lines, as well as the inferred SN luminosity. Based on the new CSM parameters we estimate a lower limit of ~0.3Msun for the CSM mass, which is a factor 10-100 higher than previous estimates. The spectral fit implies a CSM in the form of a homogeneous and spherically symmetric superwind whose mass-loss rate exceeds common expectations by up to two orders of magnitude. The derived chemical composition is in agreement with a progenitor that has just left, or is just about to leave the Red-Supergiant (RSG) stage, confirming the standard picture for the origin of SNe IIb. Due to its extreme mass loss the SN progenitor will likely appear as extreme RSG, Luminous Blue Variable (LBV), or Yellow Hypergiant (YHG). The direct detection of a superwind, and the high inferred CSM mass suggest that stellar wind mass loss may play an important role in the formation of SNe IIb.

The evolution of rotating very massive stars with LMC composition

We present a dense model grid with tailored input chemical composition appropriate for the Large Magellanic Cloud. We use a one-dimensional hydrodynamic stellar evolution code, which accounts for rotation, transport of angular momentum by magnetic fields, and stellar wind mass loss to compute our detailed models. We calculate stellar evolution models with initial masses of 70-500 Msun and with initial surface rotational velocities of 0-550 km/s, covering the core-hydrogen burning phase of evolution. We find our rapid rotators to be strongly influenced by rotationally induced mixing of helium, with quasi-chemically homogeneous evolution occurring for the fastest rotating models. Above 160 Msun, homogeneous evolution is also established through mass loss, producing pure helium stars at core hydrogen exhaustion independent of the initial rotation rate. Surface nitrogen enrichment is also found for slower rotators, even for stars that lose only a small fraction of their initial mass. For models above 150 MZAMS, and for models in the whole considered mass range later on, we find a considerable envelope inflation due to the proximity of these models to their Eddington limit. This leads to a maximum zero-age main sequence surface temperature of 56000 K, at 180 Msun, and to an evolution of stars in the mass range 50-100 Msun to the regime of luminous blue variables in the HR diagram with high internal Eddington factors. Inflation also leads to decreasing surface temperatures during the chemically homogeneous evolution of stars above 180 Msun. The cool surface temperatures due to the envelope inflation in our models lead to an enhanced mass loss, which prevents stars at LMC metallicity from evolving into pair-instability supernovae. The corresponding spin-down will also prevent very massive LMC stars to produce long-duration gamma-ray bursts, which might, however, originate from lower masses.

Early X-ray emission from Type Ia supernovae originating from symbiotic progenitors or recurrent novae

One of the key observables for determining the progenitor nature of Type Ia supernovae is provided by their immediate circumstellar medium, which according to several models should be shaped by the progenitor binary system. So far, X-ray and radio observations indicate that the surroundings are very tenuous, producing severe upper-limits on the mass loss from winds of the progenitors. In this study, we perform numerical hydro-dynamical simulations of the interaction of the SN ejecta with circumstellar structures formed by possible mass outflows from the progenitor systems and we estimate numerically the expected numerical X-ray luminosity. We consider two kinds of circumstellar structures: a) A circumstellar medium formed by the donor star's stellar wind, in case of a symbiotic binary progenitor system; b) A circumstellar medium shaped by the interaction of the slow wind of the donor star with consecutive nova outbursts for the case of a symbiotic recurrent nova progenitor system. For the hydro-simulations we used well-known Type Ia supernova explosion models, as well as an approximation based on a power law model for the density structure of the outer ejecta. We confirm the strict upper limits on stellar wind mass loss, provided by simplified interpretations of X-ray upper limits of Type Ia supernovae. However, we show that supernova explosions going off in the cavities created by repeated nova explosions, provide a possible explanation for the lack of X-ray emission from supernovae originating from symbiotic binaries. Moreover, the velocity structure of circumstellar medium, shaped by a series of nova explosion matches well with the Na absorption features seen in absorption toward several Type Ia supernovae.

On the Hαbehaviour of blue supergiants: rise and fall over the bi-stability jump

The evolutionary state of blue supergiants is still unknown. Stellar wind mass loss is one of the dominant processes determining the evolution of massive stars, and it may provide clues on the evolutionary properties of blue supergiants. As the H$\alpha$ line is the most oft-used mass-loss tracer in the OB-star regime, we provide a detailed analysis of the H$\alpha$ line for OB supergiant models over an $T_{\rm eff}$ range between 30000 and 12500K. We find a maximum in the H$\alpha$ equivalent width at 22500 K - at the location of the bi-stability jump. The H$\alpha$ line-profile behaviour is characterised by two branches of $T_{\rm eff}$: (i) a "hot" branch between 30000 and 22500 K, where H$\alpha$ emission becomes stronger with decreasing $T_{\rm eff}$, and (ii) a "cool" branch between 22500 and 12500 K, where the line becomes weaker. Our models show that this non-monotonic H$\alpha$ behaviour is related to the optical depth of Ly$\alpha$, finding that at the "cool" branch the population of the 2nd level of hydrogen is enhanced in comparison to the 3rd level. This is expected to increase line absorption, leading to weaker H$\alpha$ flux when $T_{\rm eff}$ drops from 22500 K downwards. We also show that for late B supergiants (at $T_{\rm eff}$ below ~15000 K), the differences in the H$\alpha$ line between homogeneous and clumpy winds becomes insignificant. Moreover, we show that at the bi-stability jump H$\alpha$ changes its character completely, from an optically thin to an optically thick line, implying that macro-clumping should play an important role at temperatures below the bi-stability jump. This would not only have consequences for the character of observed H$\alpha$ line profiles, but also for the reported discrepancies between theoretical and empirical mass-loss rates.

Massive double compact object mergers: gravitational wave sources and r-process element production sites

With our galactic evolutionary code that contains a detailed intermediate mass and massive binary population model, we study the temporal evolution of the galactic population of double neutron star binaries, mixed systems with a neutron star and black hole component and double black hole binaries. We compute the merger rates of these relativistic binaries and we translate them into LIGO II detection rates. We demonstrate that accounting for the uncertainties in the relation 'initial mass-final mass' predicted by massive close binary evolution and due to the possible effect of large stellar wind mass loss during the luminous blue variable phase of a star with initial mass larger than 30-40 Mo and during the red supergiant phase of a star with initial mass smaller than 30-40 Mo when such a star is a binary component, the double black hole merger rate may be very small, contrary to predictions made by other groups. Hydrodynamic computations of r-process chemical yields ejected during the relativistic binary merger process have recently become available. With our galactic code that includes binaries it is then straightforward to calculate the temporal galactic evolution of the r-process elements ejected by these mergers. We conclude that except for the earliest evolutionary phase of the Galaxy (~the first 100 Myr) double compact star mergers may be the major production sites of r-process elements and it is probable that the mixed systems dominate this production over double neutron star binary mergers.

AGES OF YOUNG STAR CLUSTERS, MASSIVE BLUE STRAGGLERS, AND THE UPPER MASS LIMIT OF STARS: ANALYZING AGE-DEPENDENT STELLAR MASS FUNCTIONS

Massive stars rapidly change their masses through strong stellar winds and mass transfer in binary systems. We show that such mass changes leave characteristic signatures in stellar mass functions of young star clusters which can be used to infer their ages and to identify products of binary evolution. We model the observed present day mass functions of the young Galactic Arches and Quintuplet star clusters using our rapid binary evolution code. We find that shaping of the mass function by stellar wind mass loss allows us to determine the cluster ages to 3.5$\pm$0.7 Myr and 4.8$\pm$1.1 Myr, respectively. Exploiting the effects of binary mass exchange on the cluster mass function, we find that the most massive stars in both clusters are rejuvenated products of binary mass transfer, i.e. the massive counterpart of classical blue straggler stars. This resolves the problem of an apparent age spread among the most luminous stars exceeding the expected duration of star formation in these clusters. We perform Monte Carlo simulations to probe stochastic sampling, which support the idea of the most massive stars being rejuvenated binary products. We find that the most massive star is expected to be a binary product after 1.0$\pm$0.7 Myr in Arches and after 1.7$\pm$1.0 Myr in Quintuplet. Today, the most massive 9$\pm$3 stars in Arches and 8$\pm$3 in Quintuplet are expected to be such objects. Our findings have strong implications for the stellar upper mass limit and solve the discrepancy between the claimed 150 $\mathrm{M}_\odot$ limit and observations of fours stars with initial masses of 165-320 $\mathrm{M}_\odot$ in R136 and of SN 2007bi, which is thought to be a pair-instability supernova from an initial 250 $\mathrm{M}_\odot$ star. Using the stellar population of R136, we revise the upper mass limit to values in the range 200-500 $\mathrm{M}_\odot$.

MODELING THE REDSHIFT EVOLUTION OF THE NORMAL GALAXY X-RAY LUMINOSITY FUNCTION

Emission from X-ray binaries (XRBs) is a major component of the total X-ray luminosity of normal galaxies, so X-ray studies of high redshift galaxies allow us to probe the formation and evolution of X-ray binaries on very long timescales. In this paper, we present results from large-scale population synthesis models of binary populations in galaxies from z = 0 to 20. We use as input into our modeling the Millennium II Cosmological Simulation and the updated semi-analytic galaxy catalog by Guo et al. (2011) to self-consistently account for the star formation history (SFH) and metallicity evolution of each galaxy. We run a grid of 192 models, varying all the parameters known from previous studies to affect the evolution of XRBs. We use our models and observationally derived prescriptions for hot gas emission to create theoretical galaxy X-ray luminosity functions (XLFs) for several redshift bins. Models with low CE efficiencies, a 50% twins mass ratio distribution, a steeper IMF exponent, and high stellar wind mass loss rates best match observational results from Tzanavaris & Georgantopoulos (2008), though they significantly underproduce bright early-type and very bright (Lx > 10d41) late-type galaxies. These discrepancies are likely caused by uncertainties in hot gas emission and SFHs, AGN contamination, and a lack of dynamically formed Low-mass XRBs. In our highest likelihood models, we find that hot gas emission dominates the emission for most bright galaxies. We also find that the evolution of the normal galaxy X-ray luminosity density out to z = 4 is driven largely by XRBs in galaxies with X-ray luminosities between 10d40 and 10d41 erg/s.