A study of P Cygni stars
Abstract
Model envelopes of the early B-type P Cygni stars are presented. The envelope is assumed to be expanding radially with a supersonic speed, and roughly in radiative equilibrium with the photosphere of the star. The P Cygni profiles of the Balmer lines are used as diagnostic tools for the determination of the mass loss rate and velocity law. The Sobolev method is used to solve the equation of statistical equilibrium for hydrogen atoms in the envelope. Models of four selected P Cygni stars, HD 190603, Chi2 Ori, zeta1 Sco, and P Cyg, show reasonable agreement with observations in the profiles of the Balmer lines, and continuous energy distribution. The velocity laws obtained from these models show outward accelerations. The characteristic slopes of the velocity laws for these stars are found to be correlated with their mass loss rates.
- Publication:
-
Ph.D. Thesis
- Pub Date:
- May 1979
- Bibcode:
- 1979PhDT.........4L
- Keywords:
-
- B Stars;
- Stellar Envelopes;
- Stellar Models;
- Balmer Series;
- Stellar Mass;
- Velocity;
- Astronomy