The Blue supergiant problem and the main-sequence width

TL;DR

This study uses Gaia DR3 data and models with enhanced core-boundary mixing to show that Galactic B supergiants are likely still in the main-sequence phase, challenging previous classifications based on HR diagram positions.

Contribution

It demonstrates that considering Gaia distances and increased overshooting can reclassify B supergiants as main-sequence stars, offering new insights into the blue supergiant problem.

Findings

Galactic B supergiants are likely within the main-sequence band.

Enhanced core-boundary mixing explains their HR diagram position.

The study highlights the importance of interior mixing and wind mass loss effects.

Abstract

Using Gaia DR3 we derive new distances and luminosities for a sample of Galactic B supergiants which were thought to be post main-sequence (MS) objects from their HR diagram location beyond the terminal-age MS (TAMS). When applying the newer Gaia distances in addition to enhanced amounts of core-boundary mixing, aka convective overshooting, we show that these Galactic B supergiants are likely enclosed within the MS band, indicating an evolutionary stage of steady core hydrogen burning. We discuss the importance of considering enhanced overshooting and how vectors in the mass-luminosity plane (ML-plane) can be used to disentangle the effects of wind mass loss from interior mixing. We finish with the key message that any proposed solution to the BSG problem should consider not only an explanation for the sheer number of B supergiants inside the Hertzsprung gap, but should at the same time also account for the steep drop in rotation rates identified at spectral type B1 -- corresponding to an effective temperature of $\sim$21 kK, and for which two distinct families of solutions have been proposed.