INFLUENCE OF THE LARGE-SCALE STAR FORMATION PATTERN ON THE GALACTIC DISTRIBUTION OF WOLF-RAYET STARS

被引:7
作者
ALFARO, EJ
DELGADO, AJ
CABRERACANO, J
机构
[1] Inst. de Astrofisica de Andalucia, 18080 Granada
关键词
STARS; WOLF-RAYET;
D O I
10.1086/186289
中图分类号
P1 [天文学];
学科分类号
0704 ;
摘要
We have performed a quantitative analysis of the sample of Wolf-Rayet stars with computed distances as listed in the catalog of Conti & Vacca. Using Kernel methods, density distributions have been computed for the W-R stars, WN, and WC types, and the resulting structure has been compared to the one depicted by the star-forming supercomplexes, as delineated by the population of young open clusters (Efremov & Sitnik). The results of this comparison show a clear spatial link between both structures, mainly conditioned by the clumpy aspect of the WN density distribution, whereas the WC stars present an almost homogeneous distribution in the area covered by the whole sample of W-R stars. On the basis of this behavior, a fundamental interdependence is suggested between the large-scale pattern of the star-forming processes in our Galaxy, and the distribution and evolutionary properties of Wolf-Rayet stars. In particular, galactic variations of the WC/WN ratio would be not only determined by global galactic properties, such as metallicity galactocentric gradient, but also reflect the different characteristics of the WC and WN distributions at scales defined by the regions of active star formation.
引用
收藏
页码:L47 / L50
页数:4
相关论文
共 19 条
[1]   TOPOGRAPHY OF THE GALACTIC DISK - Z-STRUCTURE AND LARGE-SCALE STAR FORMATION [J].
ALFARO, EJ ;
CABRERACANO, J ;
DELGADO, AJ .
ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL, 1991, 378 (01) :106-118
[2]   WOLF-RAYET STARS IN LOCAL GROUP GALAXIES - NUMBERS AND SPECTRAL PROPERTIES [J].
ARMANDROFF, TE ;
MASSEY, P .
ASTRONOMICAL JOURNAL, 1991, 102 (03) :927-950
[3]  
ARNAULT P, 1989, ASTRON ASTROPHYS, V224, P73
[4]  
CABRERACANO J, 1990, ASTRON ASTROPHYS, V235, P94
[5]   THE EVOLUTION OF MASSIVE STARS - THE NUMBERS AND DISTRIBUTION OF O STARS AND WOLF-RAYET STARS [J].
CONTI, PS ;
GARMANY, CD ;
DELOORE, C ;
VANBEVEREN, D .
ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL, 1983, 274 (01) :302-312
[6]   THE DISTRIBUTION OF MASSIVE STARS IN THE GALAXY .1. THE WOLF-RAYET STARS [J].
CONTI, PS ;
VACCA, WD .
ASTRONOMICAL JOURNAL, 1990, 100 (02) :431-444
[7]  
EFREMOV YN, 1988, SOV ASTRON LETT+, V14, P347
[8]  
EFREMOV YN, 1982, SOV ASTRON LETT+, V8, P314
[9]   REGULAR STRINGS OF H-II REGIONS AND SUPERCLOUDS IN SPIRAL GALAXIES - CLUES TO THE ORIGIN OF CLOUDY STRUCTURE [J].
ELMEGREEN, BG ;
ELMEGREEN, DM .
MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 1983, 203 (01) :31-+
[10]  
ELMEGREEN BG, 1985, BIRTH INFANCY STARS, P215