Massive Stars In Starbursts

Massive Stars in Starbursts

This book reviews the importance of massive stars in several areas of astrophysics. Massive stars are objects that are 10-100 times the mass of our Sun. Above ten solar masses, loss through stellar winds begins to have a major impact on the evolution of a star. The upper limit of 100 solar masses is derived from observations. Significant progress has now been achieved in massive star research. New models, along with high quality observations, have improved our understanding of the formation, structure, atmosphere, and evolution of these massive objects. They are formed in violent bursts of star formation and are probably related to the phenomena observed in active galactic nuclei. The workshop at the Space Telescope Science Institute examined the interplay between the astrophysics of massive stars and their location in extragalactic starburst regions. There are eighteen chapters by leading researchers. Each has been carefully edited to ensure that the book is a comprehensive introduction to the theory and observation of massive stars in starburst regions.

Massive Stars in Starbursts

From Luminous Hot Stars to Starburst Galaxies

Luminous hot stars represent the extreme upper mass end of normal stellar evolution. Before exploding as supernovae, they live out their lives of a few million years with prodigious outputs of radiation and stellar winds, dramatically affecting both their evolution and environments. A detailed introduction to the topic, this book connects the astrophysics of massive stars with the extremes of galaxy evolution represented by starburst phenomena. A thorough discussion of the physical and wind parameters of massive stars is presented. HII galaxies, their connection to starburst galaxies, and the contribution of starburst phenomena to galaxy evolution through superwinds, are explored. The book concludes with the wider cosmological implications, including Population III stars, Lyman break galaxies and gamma-ray bursts, for each of which massive stars are believed to play a crucial role. This book is ideal for graduate students and researchers in astrophysics interested in luminous hot stars and galaxy evolution.