A Census of B[e] Supergiants
Stellar evolution theory is most uncertain for massive stars. For reliable predictions of the evolution of massive stars and their final fate, solid constraints on the physical parameters, and their changes along the evolution and in different environments, are required. Massive stars evolve through...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-09-01
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| Series: | Galaxies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4434/7/4/83 |
| _version_ | 1818856159730204672 |
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| author | Michaela Kraus |
| author_facet | Michaela Kraus |
| author_sort | Michaela Kraus |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Stellar evolution theory is most uncertain for massive stars. For reliable predictions of the evolution of massive stars and their final fate, solid constraints on the physical parameters, and their changes along the evolution and in different environments, are required. Massive stars evolve through a variety of short transition phases, in which they can experience large mass-loss either in the form of dense winds or via sudden eruptions. The B[e] supergiants comprise one such group of massive transition objects. They are characterized by dense, dusty disks of yet unknown origin. In the Milky Way, identification and classification of B[e] supergiants is usually hampered by their uncertain distances, hence luminosities, and by the confusion of low-luminosity candidates with massive pre-main sequence objects. The extragalactic objects are often mistaken as quiescent or candidate luminous blue variables, with whom B[e] supergiants share a number of spectroscopic characteristics. In this review, proper criteria are provided, based on which B[e] supergiants can be unambiguously classified and separated from other high luminosity post-main sequence stars and pre-main sequence stars. Using these criteria, the B[e] supergiant samples in diverse galaxies are critically inspected, to achieve a reliable census of the current population. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T08:20:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e865838b9814489ea1c69132a654360b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4434 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T08:20:04Z |
| publishDate | 2019-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Galaxies |
| spelling | doaj.art-e865838b9814489ea1c69132a654360b2022-12-21T20:29:25ZengMDPI AGGalaxies2075-44342019-09-01748310.3390/galaxies7040083galaxies7040083A Census of B[e] SupergiantsMichaela Kraus0Astronomical Institute, Czech Academy of Sciences, Fričova 298, 251 65 Ondřejov, Czech RepublicStellar evolution theory is most uncertain for massive stars. For reliable predictions of the evolution of massive stars and their final fate, solid constraints on the physical parameters, and their changes along the evolution and in different environments, are required. Massive stars evolve through a variety of short transition phases, in which they can experience large mass-loss either in the form of dense winds or via sudden eruptions. The B[e] supergiants comprise one such group of massive transition objects. They are characterized by dense, dusty disks of yet unknown origin. In the Milky Way, identification and classification of B[e] supergiants is usually hampered by their uncertain distances, hence luminosities, and by the confusion of low-luminosity candidates with massive pre-main sequence objects. The extragalactic objects are often mistaken as quiescent or candidate luminous blue variables, with whom B[e] supergiants share a number of spectroscopic characteristics. In this review, proper criteria are provided, based on which B[e] supergiants can be unambiguously classified and separated from other high luminosity post-main sequence stars and pre-main sequence stars. Using these criteria, the B[e] supergiant samples in diverse galaxies are critically inspected, to achieve a reliable census of the current population.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4434/7/4/83stars: massivestars: emission line, besupergiantsstars: winds, outflowscircumstellar matter |
| spellingShingle | Michaela Kraus A Census of B[e] Supergiants Galaxies stars: massive stars: emission line, be supergiants stars: winds, outflows circumstellar matter |
| title | A Census of B[e] Supergiants |
| title_full | A Census of B[e] Supergiants |
| title_fullStr | A Census of B[e] Supergiants |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Census of B[e] Supergiants |
| title_short | A Census of B[e] Supergiants |
| title_sort | census of b e supergiants |
| topic | stars: massive stars: emission line, be supergiants stars: winds, outflows circumstellar matter |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4434/7/4/83 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT michaelakraus acensusofbesupergiants AT michaelakraus censusofbesupergiants |