Winds of Massive Stars: High Resolution X-ray Spectra of Stars in NGC 3603
read the original 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 blue-shifted centroids, and are characteristic of massive stellar winds with terminal velocities around 2000--3000 km/s. 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.
This paper has not been read by Pith yet.
discussion (0)
Sign in with ORCID, Apple, or X to comment. Anyone can read and Pith papers without signing in.