Winds of OB stars: impact of metallicity, rotation and binary interaction

TL;DR

This paper investigates how metallicity, rotation, and binary interactions influence the winds of OB stars, affecting their evolution and feedback, by comparing empirical data at low metallicity with theoretical models.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the properties of OB star winds at low metallicity, identifying candidates for rotationally enhanced mass loss and discussing wind interactions near black holes.

Findings

Weak winds at SMC metallicity with notable exceptions

Identification of candidates with rotationally enhanced mass-loss rates

Discussion of OB wind interactions in X-ray binaries

Abstract

Winds of massive stars are an important ingredient in determining their evolution, final remnant mass, and feedback to the surrounding interstellar medium. We compare empirical results for OB star winds at low metallicity with theoretical predictions. Observations suggest very weak winds at SMC metallicity, but there are exceptions. We identified promising candidates for rotationally enhanced mass-loss rates with two component wind and partially stripped stars hiding among OB stars with slow but dense wind in the SMC. A preliminary analysis of these systems, derived parameters, and their implications are discussed. Finally, we briefly discuss the interaction of OB winds near black holes in X-ray binaries.