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On the Properties of Wolf-Rayet Stars and Their Mass Loss

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 August 2015

N. Panagia
Affiliation:
Istituto di Radioastronomia CNR, Bologna, Italy
M. Felli
Affiliation:
Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri, Firenze, Italy

Abstract

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From consideration of the observed properties of the envelopes produced by mass loss in WR stars we find that:

  1. a) The velocity at the optical photosphere is in the range 200–800 km s

  2. b) The effective photospheric radius for the continuous radiation capable to ionize helium twice (γ < 228 A) is typically 5 to 15 times the optical photospheric radius.

  3. c) The radiation temperature in the Lyman continuum (γ < 912 Å) is around 5 × 104K. Therefore, most of the stellar radiation is emitted in the far UV and the total luminosity is considerably higher than currently estimated.

  4. d) Multiple scattering (N ≃ 20) of radiation in the interval 228–504 Å can provide most of the momentum needed to accelerate the wind up to the observed terminal velocities.

Type
SESSION 3 — MASS-LOSS FROM WR STARS: OBSERVATIONS AND THEORY
Copyright
Copyright © Reidel 1982 

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