Authors
Jennifer Andrews, Nathan Smith
Publication date
2019/6
Journal
HST Proposal
Pages
15855
Description
Luminous blue variables (LBVs) are evolved massive stars that undergo dramatic mass loss and irregular variability. Whether LBVs originate from a single massive progenitor or through binary interaction is still debated. They statistically prefer isolated locations in star forming galaxies, far away from O-type stars, which indicates a likely binary origin. Located in a young stellar cluster, the newly discovered LBV outburst MCA1-B in M33 affords us the rare opportunity to independently age-date an LBV based on the ages of the other cluster members. By determining the cluster turn off mass we can ascertain if the LBV is overluminous compared to the rest of the cluster, and therefore determine decisively if it has been rejuvenated through binary evolution. If it does appear to be younger than the surrounding population, we can determine quantitatively how much mass it has gained or what the likely masses of the merger …
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