Winds of Massive Stars: High-resolution X-Ray Spectra of Stars in NGC 3603
Abstract
The cluster NGC 3603 hosts some of the most massive stars in the Galaxy. With a modest 50 ks exposure with the Chandra High Energy Grating Spectrometer, we have resolved emission lines in spectra of several of the brightest cluster members, which are of WNh and O spectral types. This observation provides our first definitive high-resolution spectra of such stars in this nearby starburst region. The stars studied have broadened X-ray emission lines, some with blueshifted centroids, and are characteristic of massive stellar winds with terminal velocities around 2000-3000 {km} {{{s}}}-1. X-ray luminosities and plasma temperatures are very high for both the WNh and O-stars studied. We conclude that their X-rays are likely the result of colliding winds.
- Publication:
-
The Astronomical Journal
- Pub Date:
- January 2019
- DOI:
- 10.3847/1538-3881/aaf380
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1805.06973
- Bibcode:
- 2019AJ....157...29H
- Keywords:
-
- stars: early-type;
- stars: massive;
- stars: winds;
- outflows;
- stars: Wolf-Rayet;
- X-rays: stars;
- Astrophysics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- Accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journal