Analyzing the Lack of X-ray Production in Wolf-Rayet Winds through Computational Modeling.

File(s)
Date
2009-01-30Author
Johnson, Andrew
Advisor(s)
Miller, Nathan A.
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Typical hot massive stars (OB stars) produce X-ray emissions that are attributed to the shock
production in their winds. Wolf-Rayet stars are unique in that despite similar characteristics to
other OB stars, they produce extremely weak X-ray emission. Using the modeling program Spect3D (developed by Prism Corporation), we construct models of Wolf-Rayet winds. We can then analyze the effects of shock features in the wind, and what impact they have on the optical depth and populations of elemental ions. We then run
comparison models of typical X-ray producing stars to see what features differ in the Wolf-Rayet models that could explain the lack of X-ray emissions.
Subject
Wolf-Rayet stars
Stellar winds--Mathematical models
X-ray astronomy--Mathematical models
Posters
Permanent Link
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/31973Description
Color poster with text, charts, and graphs describing research conducted by Andrew Johnson, advised by Nathan A. Miller.