Einstein view of the Wolf-Rayet stars

Journal Article · Tue Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/165539· OSTI ID:5748870

Pollock, A M.T.

A uniform analysis of all 48 Wolf-Rayet stars observed with the IPC of the Einstein Observatory shows that their X-ray luminosities cover a range of more than two orders of magnitude. Most of the brightest stars are either also sources of nonthermal radio radiation, in which case the measurements interpreted as Compton scattering of photospheric radiation by relativistic electrons imply surface magnetic fields of up to a few hundred Gauss, or massive binary systems where the X-rays could come from colliding winds. The single stars and many of the stars that have been proposed as low-mass binaries are geneally among the faintest objects and probably emit a lower proportion of their bolometric luminosities at X-ray frequencies than OB stars of similar absolute magnitude. 64 references.

• Research Organization: EXOSAT Observatory, Noordwijk, Netherlands; Birmingham Univ., England
• OSTI ID: 5748870
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 320; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BASIC INTERACTIONS
BINARY STARS
COMPTON EFFECT
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
COSMIC RAY SOURCES
COSMIC X-RAY SOURCES
ELASTIC SCATTERING
ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERACTIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
INTERACTIONS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LUMINOSITY
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAIN SEQUENCE STARS
MASS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
OZONE
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADIATIONS
SCATTERING
STARS
WOLF-RAYET STARS
X RADIATION