Leloudas, G., Sollerman, J., Levan, A. J., Fynbo, J. P. U., Malesani, D. and Maund, J. R. (2010) Do Wolf-Rayet stars have similar locations in hosts as type Ib/c supernovae and long gamma-ray bursts? Astronomy & Astrophysics, Vol.518 . article no. A29. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/200913753

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Abstract

Aims. We study the distribution of Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars and their subtypes with respect to their host galaxy light distribution. We thus want to investigate whether WR stars are potential progenitors of stripped-envelope core-collapse supernovae (SNe) and/or long-duration gamma-ray bursts (LGRBs).
Methods. We derived the relative surface brightness (fractional flux) at the locations of WR stars and compared with similar results for LGRBs and SNe.We examined two nearby galaxies,M 83 and NGC 1313, for which a comprehensive study of theWR population exists. These two galaxies contain a sufficiently large number ofWR stars and sample different metallicities. To enable the comparison,
the images of the galaxies were processed to make them appear as they would look at a higher redshift. The robustness of our results against several sources of uncertainty was investigated with the aid of Monte Carlo simulations.
Results. We find that the WC star distribution favours brighter pixels than the WN star population. WC stars are more likely drawn from the same distribution as SNe Ic than from other SN distributions, while WN stars show a higher degree of association with SNe Ib. It can also not be excluded that WR (especially WC) stars are related to LGRBs. Some differences between the two galaxies
do exist, especially in the subtype distributions, and may stem from differences in metallicity.
Conclusions. Although a conclusive answer is not possible, the expectation thatWR stars are the progenitors of SNe Ib/c and LGRBs survives this test. The trend observed between the distributions of WN and WC stars, as compared to those of SNe Ib and Ic, is consistent with the theoretical picture that SNe Ic result from progenitors that have been stripped of a larger part of their envelope.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	Q Science > QB Astronomy
Divisions:	Faculty of Science > Physics
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Wolf-Rayet stars, Stars -- Distribution, Supernovae, Gamma ray bursts
Journal or Publication Title:	Astronomy & Astrophysics
Publisher:	EDP Sciences
ISSN:	0004-6361
Official Date:	July 2010
Dates:	Date Event July 2010 Published
Volume:	Vol.518
Page Range:	article no. A29
DOI:	10.1051/0004-6361/200913753
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access
Funder:	Danmarks Grundforskningsfond [Danish National Research Foundation], Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse (Sweden), Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, National Science Foundation (U.S.) (NSF), United States. Dept. of Energy, United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Japan. Monbushō, Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften [Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science], Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), American Museum of Natural History, Astrophysical Institute Potsdam, Universität Basel, University of Cambridge, Case Western Reserve University, University of Chicago, Drexel University, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab), Institute for Advanced Study (Princeton, N.J.), Johns Hopkins University, Joint Institute for Nuclear Astrophysics, Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology, Korean Scientist Group, Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fibre Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST), Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Max-Planck-Institut für Astrophysik, New Mexico State University, Ohio State University, University of Pittsburgh, University of Portsmouth, Princeton University, United States Naval Observatory, University of Washington

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