The Discovery and Physical Parameterization of a New Type of Wolf-Rayet Star

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of a new class of Wolf-Rayet stars in the Magellanic Clouds, characterized by unique physical parameters, challenging existing classifications and raising questions about their evolutionary status.

Contribution

It introduces a new class of Wolf-Rayet stars with distinct physical properties, identified through a survey and preliminary modeling, expanding the understanding of stellar evolution.

Findings

Discovered 13 new Wolf-Rayet stars in the Magellanic Clouds.

Identified 8 stars as a new class with lower mass-loss rates.

Preliminary modeling shows similar temperatures to early WNs but with lower mass-loss.

Abstract

As part of our ongoing Wolf-Rayet (WR) Magellanic Cloud survey, we have discovered 13 new WRs. However, the most exciting outcome of our survey is not the number of new WRs, but their unique characteristics. Eight of our discoveries appear to belong to an entirely new class of WRs. While one might naively classify these stars as WN3+O3V binaries, such a pairing is unlikely. Preliminary CMFGEN modeling suggests physical parameters similar to early-type WNs in the Large Magellanic Cloud except with mass-loss rates three to five times lower and slightly higher temperatures. The evolution status of these stars remains an open question.