Revised element abundances for WC-type central stars

According to previous spectral analyses of Wolf-Rayet type central stars, late [WC] subtypes show systematically higher carbon-to-helium abundance ratios than early [WC] subtypes. If this were true, it would rule out that these stars form an evolutionary sequence. However, due to the different parameter domains and diagnostic lines, one might suspect systematic errors being the source of this discrepancy. In an ongoing project we are therefore checking the [WC] analyses by means of the last generation of non-LTE models for expanding stellar atmospheres which account for line-blanketing and wind clumping. So far, the abundance discrepancy is not resolved. Further element abundances (H, N, Fe) are determined and compared with evolutionary predictions.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, in conference proceedings of "Planetary Nebulae in our Galaxy and Beyond" IAU Symposion 234, 2006, editors: Michael J. Barlow, Roberto H. M\'ende

Hydrodynamic model atmospheres for WR stars: Self-consistent modeling of a WC star wind

We present the first non-LTE atmosphere models for WR stars that incorporate a self-consistent solution of the hydrodynamic equations. The models account for iron-group line-blanketing and clumping, and compute the hydrodynamic structure of a radiatively driven wind consistently with the non-LTE radiation transport in the co-moving frame. We construct a self-consistent wind model that reproduces all observed properties of an early-type WC star (WC5). We find that the WR-type mass-loss is initiated at high optical depth by the so-called `Hot Iron Bump' opacities (Fe IX-XVI). The acceleration of the outer wind regions is performed by iron-group ions of lower excitation in combination with C and O. Consequently, the wind structure shows two acceleration regions, one close to the hydrostatic wind base in the optically thick part of the atmosphere, and another farther out in the wind. In addition to the radiative acceleration, the `Iron Bump' opacities are responsible for an intense heating of deep atmospheric layers. We find that the observed narrow OVI-emissions in the optical spectra of WC stars originate from this region. By their dependence on the clumping factor we gain important information about the location where the density inhomogeneities in WR-winds start to develop.Comment: accepted by A&

Detecting sterile neutrinos with KATRIN like experiments

A sterile neutrino with mass in the eV range, mixing with the electron antineutrino, is allowed and possibly even preferred by cosmology and oscillation experiments. If such eV-mass neutrinos exist they provide a much better target for direct detection in beta decay experiments than the active neutrinos which are expected to have sub-eV masses. Their relatively high mass would allow for an easy separation from the primary decay signal in experiments such as KATRIN.Comment: 23 pages, 7 figures. References & Figures updated. Text reviewed and revised. Accepted for publication JCA

Cosmological axion bounds

We discuss current cosmological constraints on axions, as well as future sensitivities. Bounds on axion hot dark matter are discussed first, and subsequently we discuss both current and future sensitivity to models in which axions play the role as cold dark matter, but where the Peccei-Quinn symmetry is not restored during reheating.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, To appear in the proceedings of 5th Patras Workshop on Axions, WIMPs and WISPs, Durham 13-17 July 200