Using polarization to study the winds of massive stars

dc.creatorDavies, Ben
dc.creatorVink, Jorick S.
dc.creatorOudmaijer, Rene D.
dc.date2006-09-13
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-07T07:23:12Z
dc.date.available2026-07-07T07:23:12Z
dc.descriptionThe topic of wind-clumping has been the subject of much activity in recent years, due to the impact that it can have on derived mass-loss rates. Here we present an alternative method of investigating wind-clumping, that of polarimetry. We present simulations of the polarization produced by a clumpy wind, and argue that the observations may be reproduced just by statistical deviations from spherical symmetry when the outflow is only slightly fragmented. Here, the polarization scales with $\dot{M}$, which is consistent with observations of LBVs, WRs and O supergiants. Finally, we find clumping factors in the inner 2$R_{\star}$ of $\sim 2-3$, and speculate as to the clumping stratification of hot stars.
dc.description8 pages, 6 figs, to appear in proceedings of 'Mass loss from stars and the evolution of stellar clusters'
dc.identifierhttps://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0609368
dc.identifierhttp://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0609368
dc.identifier.urihttp://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/115896
dc.subjectAstrophysics
dc.titleUsing polarization to study the winds of massive stars
dc.typetext

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