The Discovery of a Rare WO-type Wolf-Rayet Star in the Large Magellanic Cloud

TL;DR

Scientists discovered a rare WO4 Wolf-Rayet star in the Large Magellanic Cloud, highlighting the potential for finding more such short-lived, advanced evolutionary stage massive stars in this galaxy.

Contribution

First identification of a WO4 Wolf-Rayet star in the LMC, expanding knowledge of rare stellar evolutionary stages in nearby galaxies.

Findings

This is only the second WO star found in the LMC.

The star exhibits strong OVI lines characteristic of WO4 classification.

The discovery suggests more Wolf-Rayet stars may still be undiscovered in the LMC.

Abstract

While observing OB stars within the most crowded regions of the Large Magellanic Cloud, we happened upon a new Wolf-Rayet star in Lucke-Hodge 41, the rich OB association that contains S Doradus and numerous other massive stars. At first glance the spectrum resembled that of a WC4 star, but closer examination showed strong OVI 3811, 34 lines, leading us to classify it as a WO4. This is only the second known WO in the LMC, and the first known WO4 (the other being a WO3). This rarity is to be expected due to these stars' short lifespans as they represent the most advanced evolutionary stage in a massive star's lifetime before exploding as SNe. This discovery shows that while the majority of WRs within the LMC have been discovered, there may be a few WRs left to be found.