The metallicity dependence of envelope inflation in massive stars

Recently it has been found that models of massive stars reach the Eddington limit in their interior, which leads to dilute extended envelopes. We perform a comparative study of the envelope properties of massive stars at different metallicities, with the aim to establish the impact of the stellar metallicity on the effect of envelope inflation. We analyse published grids of core-hydrogen burning massive star models computed with metallicities appropriate for massive stars in the Milky Way, the LMC and the SMC, the very metal poor dwarf galaxy I Zwicky 18, and for metal-free chemical composition. Stellar models of all the investigated metallicities reach and exceed the Eddington limit in their interior, aided by the opacity peaks of iron, helium and hydrogen, and consequently develop inflated envelopes. Envelope inflation leads to a redward bending of the zero-age main sequence and a broadening of the main sequence band in the upper part of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram. We derive the limiting L/M-values as function of the stellar surface temperature above which inflation occurs, and find them to be larger for lower metallicity. While Galactic models show inflation above ~29 Msun, the corresponding mass limit for Population III stars is ~150 Msun. While the masses of the inflated envelopes are generally small, we find that they can reach 1-100 Msun in models with effective temperatures below ~8000 K, with higher masses reached by models of lower metallicity. Envelope inflation is expected to occur in sufficiently massive stars at all metallicities, and is expected to lead to rapidly growing pulsations, high macroturbulent velocities, and might well be related to the unexplained variability observed in Luminous Blue Variables like S Doradus and Eta Carina.Comment: 16 pages (with Appendix), accepted in A&

Near-uniform internal rotation of the main-sequence γ Doradus pulsator KIC 7661054

We used Kepler photometry to determine the internal rotation rate of KIC 7661054, a chemically normal γ Dor star on the main sequence at spectral type F2.5 V. The core rotation period of 27.25 ± 0.06 d is obtained from the rotational splittings of a series of dipole g modes. The surface rotation period is calculated from a spectroscopic projected rotation velocity and a stellar radius computed from models. Literature data, obtained without inclusion of macroturbulence as a line-broadening mechanism, imply that the surface rotates much more quickly than the core, while our detailed analysis suggests that the surface may rotate slightly more quickly than the core and that the rotation profile is uniform within the 1-σ uncertainties. We discuss the pitfalls associated with the determination of surface rotation rates of slow rotators from spectroscopy in the absence of asteroseismic constraints. A broad signal is observed at low frequency, which we show cannot be attributed to rotation, contrary to previous suggestions concerning the origin of such signals

Near-uniform internal rotation of the main-sequence γ Doradus pulsator KIC 7661054

We used Kepler photometry to determine the internal rotation rate of KIC 7661054, a chemically normal γ Dor star on the main sequence at spectral type F2.5 V. The core rotation period of 27.25 ± 0.06 d is obtained from the rotational splittings of a series of dipole g modes. The surface rotation period is calculated from a spectroscopic projected rotation velocity and a stellar radius computed from models. Literature data, obtained without inclusion of macroturbulence as a line-broadening mechanism, imply that the surface rotates much more quickly than the core, while our detailed analysis suggests that the surface may rotate slightly more quickly than the core and that the rotation profile is uniform within the 1σ uncertainties. We discuss the pitfalls associated with the determination of surface rotation rates of slow rotators from spectroscopy in the absence of asteroseismic constraints. A broad signal is observed at low frequency, which we show cannot be attributed to rotation, contrary to previous suggestions concerning the origin of such signals

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

Bringing Stellar Evolution & Feedback Together: Summary of proposals from the Lorentz Center Workshop, 2022

Stars strongly impact their environment, and shape structures on all scales throughout the universe, in a process known as ``feedback''. Due to the complexity of both stellar evolution and the physics of larger astrophysical structures, there remain many unanswered questions about how feedback operates, and what we can learn about stars by studying their imprint on the wider universe. In this white paper, we summarize discussions from the Lorentz Center meeting `Bringing Stellar Evolution and Feedback Together' in April 2022, and identify key areas where further dialogue can bring about radical changes in how we view the relationship between stars and the universe they live in.Comment: Accepted to the Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacifi

X-Shooting ULLYSES: Massive stars at low metallicity: I. Project description

Observations of individual massive stars, super-luminous supernovae, gamma-ray bursts, and gravitational wave events involving spectacular black hole mergers indicate that the low-metallicity Universe is fundamentally different from our own Galaxy. Many transient phenomena will remain enigmatic until we achieve a firm understanding of the physics and evolution of massive stars at low metallicity (Z). The Hubble Space Telescope has devoted 500 orbits to observing ∼250 massive stars at low Z in the ultraviolet (UV) with the COS and STIS spectrographs under the ULLYSES programme. The complementary X-Shooting ULLYSES (XShootU) project provides an enhanced legacy value with high-quality optical and near-infrared spectra obtained with the wide-wavelength coverage X-shooter spectrograph at ESOa's Very Large Telescope. We present an overview of the XShootU project, showing that combining ULLYSES UV and XShootU optical spectra is critical for the uniform determination of stellar parameters such as effective temperature, surface gravity, luminosity, and abundances, as well as wind properties such as mass-loss rates as a function of Z. As uncertainties in stellar and wind parameters percolate into many adjacent areas of astrophysics, the data and modelling of the XShootU project is expected to be a game changer for our physical understanding of massive stars at low Z. To be able to confidently interpret James Webb Space Telescope spectra of the first stellar generations, the individual spectra of low-Z stars need to be understood, which is exactly where XShootU can deliver

Properties of OB star−black hole systems derived from detailed binary evolution models

Context. The recent gravitational wave measurements have demonstrated the existence of stellar mass black hole binaries. It is essential for our understanding of massive star evolution to identify the contribution of binary evolution to the formation of double black holes. Aims. A promising way to progress is investigating the progenitors of double black hole systems and comparing predictions with local massive star samples, such as the population in 30 Doradus in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). Methods. With this purpose in mind, we analysed a large grid of detailed binary evolution models at LMC metallicity with initial primary masses between 10 and 40 M⊙, and identified the model systems that potentially evolve into a binary consisting of a black hole and a massive main-sequence star. We then derived the observable properties of such systems, as well as peculiarities of the OB star component. Results. We find that ∼3% of the LMC late-O and early-B stars in binaries are expected to possess a black hole companion when stars with a final helium core mass above 6.6 M⊙ are assumed to form black holes. While the vast majority of them may be X-ray quiet, our models suggest that these black holes may be identified in spectroscopic binaries, either by large amplitude radial velocity variations (≳50 km s−1) and simultaneous nitrogen surface enrichment, or through a moderate radial velocity (≳10 km s−1) and simultaneous rapid rotation of the OB star. The predicted mass ratios are such that main-sequence companions can be excluded in most cases. A comparison to the observed OB+WR binaries in the LMC, Be and X-ray binaries, and known massive black hole binaries supports our conclusion. Conclusions. We expect spectroscopic observations to be able to test key assumptions in our models, with important implications for massive star evolution in general and for the formation of double black hole mergers in particular

On the optically thick winds of Wolf-Rayet stars

Context. The classical Wolf-Rayet (WR) phase is believed to mark the end stage of the evolution of massive stars with initial masses higher than ~25M⊙. Stars in this phase expose their stripped cores with the products of H- or He-burning at their surface. They develop strong, optically thick stellar winds that are important for the mechanical and chemical feedback of massive stars, and that determine whether the most massive stars end their lives as neutron stars or black holes. The winds of WR stars are currently not well understood, and their inclusion in stellar evolution models relies on uncertain empirical mass-loss relations. Aims. We investigate theoretically the mass-loss properties of H-free WR stars of the nitrogen sequence (WN stars). Methods. We connected stellar structure models for He stars with wind models for optically thick winds and assessed the degree to which these two types of models can simultaneously fulfil their respective sonic-point conditions. Results. Fixing the outer wind law and terminal wind velocity ν∞, we obtain unique solutions for the mass-loss rates of optically thick, radiation-driven winds of WR stars in the phase of core He-burning. The resulting mass-loss relations as a function of stellar parameters agree well with previous empirical relations. Furthermore, we encounter stellar mass limits below which no continuous solutions exist. While these mass limits agree with observations of WR stars in the Galaxy, they contradict observations in the LMC. Conclusions. While our results in particular confirm the slope of often-used empirical mass-loss relations, they imply that only part of the observed WN population can be understood in the framework of the standard assumptions of a smooth transonic flow and compact stellar core. This means that alternative approaches such as a clumped and inflated wind structure or deviations from the diffusion limit at the sonic point may have to be invoked. Qualitatively, the existence of mass limits for the formation of WR-type winds may be relevant for the non-detection of low-mass WR stars in binary systems, which are believed to be progenitors of Type Ib/c supernovae. The sonic-point conditions derived in this work may provide a possibility to include optically thick winds in stellar evolution models in a more physically motivated form than in current models