Very Massive Stars and the Eddington Limit

TL;DR

This paper investigates whether the Eddington limit restricts the maximum mass of very massive stars, examines their wind and spectral properties, and discusses their end-of-life as pair instability supernovae.

Contribution

It provides an analysis of the Eddington limit's role in VMS mass constraints and explores their spectral classification and supernova outcomes.

Findings

Eddington limit influences VMS mass loss and spectral features.

VMS can reach masses where pair instability supernovae occur.

Wind properties vary with mass and age in VMS.

Abstract

We use contemporary evolutionary models for Very Massive Stars (VMS) to assess whether the Eddington limit constrains the upper stellar mass limit. We also consider the interplay between mass and age for the wind properties and spectral morphology of VMS, with reference to the recently modified classification scheme for O2-3.5If*/WN stars. Finally, the death of VMS in the local universe is considered in the context of pair instability supernovae.