CMF models of hot star winds II. Reduction of O star wind mass-loss rates in global models

Abstract

We calculate global (unified) wind models of main-sequence, giant, and supergiant O stars from our Galaxy. The models are calculated by solving hydrodynamic, kinetic equilibrium (also known as NLTE) and comoving-frame (CMF) radiative transfer equations from the (nearly) hydrostatic photosphere to the supersonic wind. For given stellar parameters, our models predict the photosphere and wind structure and in particular the wind mass-loss rates without any free parameters. Our predicted mass-loss rates are by a factor of 2--5 lower than the commonly used predictions. A possible cause of the difference is abandoning of the Sobolev approximation for the calculation of the radiative force, because our models agree with predictions of CMF NLTE radiative transfer codes. Our predicted mass-loss rates agree nicely with the mass-loss rates derived from observed near-infrared and X-ray line profiles and are slightly lower than mass-loss rates derived from combined UV and H$\alpha$ diagnostics. The empirical mass-loss rate estimates corrected for clumping may therefore be reconciled with theoretical predictions in such a way that the average ratio between individual mass-loss rate estimates is not higher than about $1.6$. On the other hand, our predictions are by factor of $4.7$ lower than pure H$\alpha$ mass-loss rate estimates and can be reconciled with these values only assuming a microclumping factor of at least eight.

13 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics

References in corpus (3)

• Modeling the early evolution of massive OB stars with an experimental wind routine
• X-ray diagnostics of massive star winds
• Sub-mm free-free emission from the winds of massive stars in the age of ALMA

Cited by in corpus (9)

• New predictions for radiation-driven, steady-state mass-loss and wind-momentum from hot, massive stars II. A grid of O-type stars in the Galaxy and the Magellanic Clouds
• Metallicity-dependent wind parameter predictions for OB stars
• Empirical mass-loss rates and clumping properties of Galactic early-type O supergiants
• Atmospheric NLTE models for the spectroscopic analysis of blue stars with winds. V. Complete comoving frame transfer, and updated modeling of X-ray emission
• Physics and evolution of the most massive stars in 30 Dor. Mass loss, envelope inflation, and a variable upper stellar mass limit
• Stochastic light variations in hot stars from wind instability: Finding photometric signatures and testing against the TESS data
• Spectroscopic evolution of massive stars near the main sequence at low metallicity
• Self-consistent solutions for line-driven winds of hot massive stars. The m-CAK procedure
• Resolving the puzzle of type IIP SN 2016X