A Census of B[e] Supergiants

0520547 - ASÚ 2020 RIV CH eng J - Journal Article
Kraus, Michaela
A Census of B[e] Supergiants.
Galaxies. Roč. 7, č. 4 (2019), č. článku 83. E-ISSN 2075-4434
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GA17-02337S
Institutional support: RVO:67985815
Keywords : massive stars * emission line * supergiants
OECD category: Astronomy (including astrophysics,space science)
Method of publishing: Open access

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.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0305208