No Arabic abstract
We present a dust spectral energy distribution (SED) and binary stellar population analysis revisiting the dust production rates (DPRs) in the winds of carbon-rich Wolf-Rayet (WC) binaries and their impact on galactic dust budgets. DustEM SED models of 19 Galactic WC ``dustars reveal DPRs of $dot{M}_dsim10^{-10}-10^{-6}$ M$_odot$ yr$^{-1}$ and carbon dust condensation fractions, $chi_C$, between $0.002 - 40%$. A large ($0.1 - 1.0$ $mu$m) dust grain size composition is favored for efficient dustars where $chi_Cgtrsim1%$. Results for dustars with known orbital periods verify a power-law relation between $chi_C$, orbital period, WC mass-loss rate, and wind velocity consistent with predictions from theoretical models of dust formation in colliding-wind binaries. We incorporated dust production into Binary Population and Spectral Synthesis (BPASS) models to analyze dust production rates from WC dustars, asymptotic giant branch stars (AGBs), red supergiants (RSGs), and core-collapse supernovae (SNe). BPASS models assuming constant star formation (SF) and a co-eval $10^6$ M$_odot$ stellar population were performed at low, Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC)-like, and solar metallicities (Z = 0.001, 0.008, and 0.020). Both constant SF and co-eval models show that SNe are net dust destroyers at all metallicities. Constant SF models at LMC-like metallicities show that AGB stars slightly outproduce WC binaries and RSGs by factors of $2-3$, whereas at solar metallicites WC binaries are the dominant source of dust for $sim60$ Myr until the onset of AGBs, which match the dust input of WC binaries. Co-eval population models show that for bursty SF, AGB stars dominate dust production at late times ($tgtrsim 70$ Myr).
We present Spitzer/IRAC observations of dust formation from six extragalactic carbon-rich Wolf-Rayet (WC) binary candidates in low-metallicity (Z $lesssim0.65$ Z$_odot$) environments using multi-epoch mid-infrared (IR) imaging data from the SPitzer InfraRed Intensive Transients Survey (SPIRITS). Optical follow-up spectroscopy of SPIRITS~16ln, 19q, 16df, 18hb, and 14apu reveals emission features from C IV $lambda5801text{-}12$~and/or the C III-IV $lambda4650$ He II $lambda4686$~blend that are consistent with early-type WC stars. We identify SPIRITS~16ln as the variable mid-IR counterpart of the recently discovered colliding-wind WC4+O binary candidate, N604-WRXc, located in the sub-solar metallicity NGC 604 H II~region in M33. We interpret the mid-IR variability from SPIRITS~16ln as a dust-formation episode in an eccentric colliding-wind WC binary. SPIRITS~19q, 16df, 14apu, and 18hb exhibit absolute [3.6] magnitudes exceeding one of most IR-luminous dust-forming WC systems known, WR~104 (M$_mathrm{[3.6]}lesssim-12.3$). An analysis of dust formation in the mid-IR outburst from SPIRITS~19q reveals a high dust production rate of $dot{M}_dgtrsim2times10^{-6}$ M$_odot$ yr$^{-1}$, which may therefore exceed that of the most efficient dust-forming WC systems known. We demonstrate that efficient dust-formation is feasible from early-type WC binaries in the theoretical framework of colliding-wind binary dust formation if the systems host an O-type companion with a high mass-loss rate ($dot{M}gtrsim1.6times10^{-6}$ M$_odot$ yr$^{-1}$). This efficient dust-formation from early-type WC binaries highlights their potential role as significant sources of dust in low-metallicity environments.
The Wolf-Rayet nebula M1-67 around WR124 is located above the Galactic plane in a region mostly empty of interstellar medium, which makes it the perfect target to study the mass-loss episodes associated with the late stages of massive star evolution. Archive photometric observations from WISE, Spitzer (MIPS) and Herschel (PACS and SPIRE) are used to construct the spectral energy distribution (SED) of the nebula in the wavelength range of 12-500$mu$m. The infrared (photometric and spectroscopic) data and nebular optical data from the literature are modeled simultaneously using the spectral synthesis code Cloudy, where the free parameters are the gas density distribution and the dust grain size distribution. The infrared SED can be reproduced by dust grains with two size distributions: a MRN power-law distribution with grain sizes between 0.005 and 0.05$mu$m and a population of large grains with representative size 0.9$ mu$m. The latter points towards an eruptive origin for the formation of M1-67. The model predicts a nebular ionized gas mass of $M_mathrm{ion} = 9.2^{+1.6}_{-1.5}~mathrm{M}_odot$ and the estimated mass-loss rate during the dust-formation period is $dot{M} approx 6 times 10^{-4} mathrm{M}_odot$yr$^{-1}$. We discuss the implications of our results in the context of single and binary stellar evolution and propose that M1-67 represents the best candidate for a post-common envelope scenario in massive stars.
WR 112 is a dust-forming carbon-rich Wolf-Rayet (WC) binary with a dusty circumstellar nebula that exhibits a complex asymmetric morphology, which traces the orbital motion and dust formation in the colliding winds of the central binary. Unraveling the complicated circumstellar dust emission around WR 112 therefore provides an opportunity to understand the dust formation process in colliding-wind WC binaries. In this work, we present a multi-epoch analysis of the circumstellar dust around WR 112 using seven high spatial resolution (FWHM $sim0.3-0.4$) N-band ($lambda sim12$ $mu$m) imaging observations spanning almost 20 years and includes newly obtained images from Subaru/COMICS in Oct 2019. In contrast to previous interpretations of a face-on spiral morphology, we observe clear evidence of proper motion of the circumstellar dust around WR 112 consistent with a nearly edge-on spiral with a $theta_s=55^circ$ half-opening angle and a $sim20$-yr period. The revised near edge-on geometry of WR 112 reconciles previous observations of highly variable non-thermal radio emission that was inconsistent with a face-on geometry. We estimate a revised distance to WR 112 of $d = 3.39^{+0.89}_{-0.84}$ kpc based on the observed dust expansion rate and a spectroscopically derived WC terminal wind velocity of $v_infty= 1230pm260$ km s$^{-1}$. With the newly derived WR 112 parameters we fit optically-thin dust spectral energy distribution models and determine a dust production rate of $dot{M}_d=2.7^{+1.0}_{-1.3}times10^{-6}$ M$_odot$ yr$^{-1}$, which demonstrates that WR 112 is one of the most prolific dust-making WC systems known.
The Wolf-Rayet (WR) phenomenon is widespread in astronomy. It involves classical WRs, very massive stars (VMS), WR central stars of planetary nebula CSPN [WRs], and supernovae (SNe). But what is the root cause for a certain type of object to turn into an emission-line star? In this contribution, I discuss the basic aspects of radiation-driven winds that might reveal the ultimate difference between WR stars and canonical O-type stars. I discuss the aspects of (i) self-enrichment via CNO elements, (ii) high effective temperatures Teff, (iii) an increase in the helium abundance Y, and finally (iv) the Eddington factor Gamma. Over the last couple of years, we have made a breakthrough in our understanding of Gamma-dependent mass loss, which will have far-reaching consequences for the evolution and fate of the most massive stars in the Universe. Finally, I discuss the prospects for studies of the WR phenomenon in the highest redshift Ly-alpha and He II emitting galaxies.
We report the detection of oxygen-rich circumstellar envelopes in stars of the nearby (700 kpc) starburst galaxy IC 10. The star formation history and the chemical environment of this galaxy makes it an ideal target to observe dust production by high-mass stars in a low-metallicity environment. The goal of this study is to identify oxygen-rich stars in IC 10 and to constrain their nature between asymptotic giant branch stars (AGBs), red supergiants (RSGs), and other infrared bright sources. We examine the mass-loss rate of the stars and compare to results obtained for the Magellanic Clouds. Our objectives are to (1) assess whether RSGs can be significant dust producers in IC 10, and (2), solve the discrepancy between the star formation history of IC 10 and the relatively low number of RSGs detected in the optical. We search for silicate dust in emission by using the spectral map observed with the Infrared Spectrograph on board the Spitzer Space Telescope. The optical (UBVRI) and infrared (JHK, Spitzer/IRAC and Spitzer/MIPS) photometry is used to assert the membership of the stars to IC 10 and disentangle between AGBs and RSGs. Radiative models are used to infer mass-loss rates and stellar luminosities. The luminosity and colors of at least 9 silicate emission sources are consistent with stars within IC 10. Furthermore, the photometry of 2 of these sources is consistent with RSGs. We derive dust mass-loss rates similar to the values found in the Magellanic Clouds. Accounting for the sample completeness, RSGs are not important contributors to the dust mass budget in IC 10.