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Wolf-Rayet Stars |
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| Manuel Wolff ; Johannes
Zabl ; Jürgen Leschhorn Leonard Storz |
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Group 142 |
Print Version 
The picture shows the Wolf-Rayet star WR 124, which is exploding in slow motion.
Abstract
In 1867 the two astronomers C.J.E. Wolf and G. Rayet
working in the observatory of Paris identified a new category of stars. The group of
Wolf-Rayet stars represents a short stage of life in the evolution of massive stars (about
15 M ¤
and more) .
With high temperatures of about 25000 to 50000 K and huge luminosities ( 
to 
L ¤ ),
they represent an extreme type of star.
Their extraordinary status is received by their spectrum with broad emission lines.
This is a consequence of their heavy stellar winds that are marked by the Wolf-Rayet
stars' special chemical composition which is characterized by the products of further
nuclear fusions (N, C, O) and less Hydrogen.
By these processes these heavy stars enrich our universe with the variety of
higher elements that are so important for the human existence.
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