Laboratoire Univers et Particules de Montpellier

• Direction d'équipe

• Planète et Univers/Astrophysique/Astrophysique stellaire et solaire
  
• Physique/Astrophysique/Astrophysique stellaire et solaire
  
• Planète et Univers/Astrophysique/Astrophysique galactique
  
• Physique/Astrophysique/Astrophysique galactique
  
• Physique/Physique/Physique de l'espace
  

Context. A significant percentage of massive stars are found in multiple systems. The effect of binarity on stellar evolution is poorly constrained. In particular, the role of tides and mass transfer on surface chemical abundances is not constrained observationally. Aims: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of binarity on the stellar properties and surface abundances of massive binaries. Methods: We performed a spectroscopic analysis of six Galactic massive binaries. We obtained the spectra of individual components via a spectral disentangling method and subsequently analyzed these spectra by means of atmosphere models. The stellar parameters and CNO surface abundances were determined. Results: Most of these six systems are comprised of main-sequence stars. Three systems are detached, two are in contact, and no information is available for the sixth system. For 11 out of the 12 stars studied, the surface abundances are only mildly affected by stellar evolution and mixing. The surface abundances are not different from those of single stars within the uncertainties. The secondary of XZ Cep is strongly chemically enriched. Considering previous determinations of surface abundances in massive binary systems suggests that the effect of tides on chemical mixing is limited, whereas the mass transfer and removal of outer layers of the mass donor leads to the appearance of chemically processed material at the surface, although this is not systematic. The evolutionary masses of the components of our six systems are on average 16.5% higher than the dynamical masses. Some systems seem to have reached synchronization, while others may still be in a transitory phase.

We study the young S-stars within a distance of 0.04 pc from the supermassive black hole in the center of our Galaxy. Given how inhospitable the region is for star formation, their presence is more puzzling the younger we estimate their ages. In this study, we analyse the result of 12 years of high resolution spectroscopy within the central arcsecond of the Galactic Center (GC). By co-adding between 55 and 105 hours of spectra we have obtained high signal to noise H- and K-band spectra of eight stars orbiting the central supermassive black hole. Using deep H-band spectra, we show that these stars must be high surface gravity (dwarf) stars. We compare these deep spectra to detailed model atmospheres and stellar evolution models to infer the stellar parameters. Our analysis reveals an effective temperature of 21000-28500 K, a rotational velocity of 60-170 km/s, and a surface gravity of 4.1-4.2. These parameters imply a spectral type of B0-B3V for these stars. The inferred masses lie within 8-14 Msun. We derive an age of 6.6^{+3.4}{-4.7} Myr for the star S2, which is compatible with the age of the clockwise rotating young stellar disk in the GC. We estimate the age of all other studied S-stars to be less than 15 Myr, which are compatible with the age of S2 within the uncertainties. The relatively low ages for these S-stars favor a scenario in which the stars formed in a local disk rather than the field-binary-disruption scenario throughout a longer period of time.

Context. Massive star evolution remains only partly constrained. In particular, the exact role of rotation has been questioned by puzzling properties of OB stars in the Magellanic Clouds. Aims. Our goal is to study the relation between surface chemical composition and rotational velocity, and to test predictions of evolutionary models including rotation. Methods. We have performed a spectroscopic analysis of a sample of fifteen Galactic O7-8 giant stars. This sample is homogeneous in terms of mass, metallicity and evolutionary state. It is made of stars with a wide range of projected rotational velocities. Results. We show that the sample stars are located on the second half of the main sequence, in a relatively narrow mass range (25–40 M⊙). Almost all stars with projected rotational velocities above 100 km s-1 have N/C ratios about ten times the initial value. Below 100 km s-1 a wide range of N/C values is observed. The relation between N/C and surface gravity is well reproduced by various sets of models. Some evolutionary models including rotation are also able to consistently explain slowly rotating, highly enriched stars. This is due to differential rotation which efficiently transports nucleosynthesis products and allows the surface to rotate slower than the core. In addition, angular momentum removal by winds amplifies surface braking on the main sequence. Comparison of the surface composition of O7-8 giant stars with a sample of B stars with initial masses about four times smaller reveal that chemical enrichment scales with initial mass, as expected from theory. Conclusions. Although evolutionary models that include rotation face difficulties in explaining the chemical properties of O- and B-type stars at low metallicity, some of them can consistently account for the properties of main-sequence Galactic O stars in the mass range 25–40 M⊙.

Context. Mass and momentum exchanges in close massive binaries play an important role in their evolution, and produce several observational signatures such as asynchronous rotation and altered chemical compositions, that remain after the stars detach again. Aims: We investigated these effects for the detached massive O-star binary HD 149 404 (O7.5 If + ON9.7 I, P = 9.81 days), which is thought to have experienced a past episode of case A Roche-lobe overflow (RLOF). Methods: Using phase-resolved spectroscopy, we performed the disentangling of the optical spectra of the two stars. The reconstructed primary and secondary spectra were then analysed with the CMFGEN model atmosphere code to determine stellar parameters, such as the effective temperatures and surface gravities, and to constrain the chemical composition of the components. We complemented the optical study with the study of IUE spectra, which we compare to the synthetic binary spectra. The properties of the stars were compared to evolutionary models. Results: We confirmed a strong overabundance in nitrogen ([N/C] ~ 150[N/C]⊙) for the secondary and a slight nitrogen overabundance ([N/C] ~ 5[N/C]⊙) for the primary star. Comparing the two stars, we found evidence for asynchronous rotation, with a rotational period ratio of 0.50 ± 0.11. Conclusions: The hypothesis of a past case A RLOF interaction in HD 149 404 is most plausible to explain its chemical abundances and rotational asynchronicity. Some of the observed properties, such as the abundance pattern, are clearly a challenge for current case A binary evolution models, however.

ontext. Some O and B stars show unusually strong or weak lines of carbon and/or nitrogen. These objects are classified as OBN or OBC stars. It has recently been shown that nitrogen enrichment and carbon depletion are the most likely explanations for the existence of the ON class. Aims. We investigate OC stars (all being supergiants) to check that surface abundances are responsible for the observed anomalous line strengths. Methods. We perform a spectroscopic analysis of three OC supergiants using atmosphere models. A fourth star was previously studied by us. Our sample thus comprises all OC stars known to date in the Galaxy. We determine the stellar parameters and He, C, N, and O surface abundances. Results. We show that all stars have effective temperatures and surface gravities fully consistent with morphologically normal O supergiants. However, OC stars show little, if any, nitrogen enrichment and carbon surface abundances consistent with the initial composition. OC supergiants are thus barely chemically evolved, unlike morphologically normal O supergiants.