Influence of the large-scale star formation pattern on the galactic distribution of Wolf-Rayet stars

DOI: 
Publication date: 
01/01/1993
Main author: 
Alfaro E.J.
IAA authors: 
Alfaro E.J.;Delgado A.J.;Cabrera-Caño J.
Authors: 
Alfaro E.J., Delgado A.J., Cabrera-Caño J.
Journal: 
Astrophysical Journal
Publication type: 
Article
Volume: 
386
Pages: 
L47-L50
Number: 
Abstract: 
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.
Database: 
SCOPUS
Keywords: 
Stars: Wolf-Rayet