Red Supergiants, Luminous Blue Variables and Wolf-Rayet stars: the single massive star perspective

Meynet, G; Georgy, C; Hirschi, R; Maeder, A; Massey, P; Przybilla, N; Nieva, M-F

Abstract

We discuss, in the context of the single star scenario, the nature of the progenitors of Red Supergiants (RSG), of Luminous Blue Variables (LBV) and of Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars. These three different populations correspond to evolved phases of Main Sequence (MS) OB stars. Axial rotation and mass loss have a great influence on massive star evolution in general and more specifically on the durations of these different phases. Moderate rotation and mass loss, during the MS phase, favor the evolution towards the RSG stage. Fast rotation and strong mass loss during the MS phase, in contrast, prevent the star from becoming a RSG and allow the star to pass directly from the OB star phase into the WR phase. Mass loss during the RSG stage may make the star evolve back in the blue part of the HR diagram. We argue that such an evolution may be more common than presently accounted for in stellar models. This might be the reason for the lack of type IIP SNe with RSG progenitors having initial masses between 18 and 30 M$_\odot$. The LBVs do appear as a possible transition phase between O and WR stars or between WNL and WNE stars. Fast rotation and/or strong mass loss during the Main-Sequence phase prevent the formation of LBV stars. The mechanisms driving the very strong ejections shown by LBV stars are still unknown. (abridged)

Citation

Meynet, G., Georgy, C., Hirschi, R., Maeder, A., Massey, P., Przybilla, N., & Nieva, M.-F. Red Supergiants, Luminous Blue Variables and Wolf-Rayet stars: the single massive star perspective. Presented at Proceedings of the 39th Liege Astrophysical Colloquium, Liège, Belgium

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (published)
• Conference Name: Proceedings of the 39th Liege Astrophysical Colloquium
• Acceptance Date: Jan 31, 2011
• Online Publication Date: Feb 5, 2011
• Publication Date: Jan 31, 2011
• Publicly Available Date: May 26, 2023
• Journal: Societe Royale des Sciences de Liege p. 266-278 (Proceedings of the 39th Liege Astrophysical Colloquium, held in Li\`ege 12-16 July 2010, edited by G. Rauw, M. De Becker, Y. Naz\'e, J.-M. Vreux, P. Williams)
• Print ISSN: 0037-9565
• Electronic ISSN: 1783-5720
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 80
• Pages: 266-278
• Public URL: https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/407529
• Publisher URL: https://popups.uliege.be/0037-9565/index.php?id=2738
• Related Public URLs: https://arxiv.org/abs/1101.5873