26/A1 Produced by Wolf-Rayet Stars and the 1.8-MEV Line Emission of the Galaxy
Abstract
The contribution to the galactic content of Al-26 by massive (50-100 solar masses) mass-losing stars is discussed and a longitudinal distribution is derived for the Al-26 gamma ray line produced by the galactic population of WR stars. The 1.8 MeV line emitted by the generation and loss of Al-26 has been monitored with the HEAO-3 and SMM spacecraft. Stellar parameters and nucleosynthetic processes which control the amount of Al-26 in the stellar interior, at the surface and in the stellar wind are examined. The total amount of Al-26 in the Galaxy is a function of the number of WR stars which have contributed to Al-26 production over the past million years and the birthrate of WR stars. The latter value considers the birthrate acceleration with decreasing galactocentric distance and the increase of the WF/Of star ratio with increasing metallicity.
- Publication:
-
Nucleosynthesis and its Implications on Nuclear and Particle Physics
- Pub Date:
- 1986
- Bibcode:
- 1986ASIC..163..339C
- Keywords:
-
- Aluminum 26;
- Gamma Ray Spectra;
- Metallicity;
- Nuclear Fusion;
- Stellar Composition;
- Wolf-Rayet Stars;
- Gamma Ray Astronomy;
- O Stars;
- Star Distribution;
- Stellar Evolution;
- Stellar Interiors;
- Stellar Mass Ejection;
- Astrophysics