Runaway OB stars are massive early-type stars that travel through interstellar space with an anomalously high velocity. As the star travels with supersonic velocity through the interstellar medium matter is swept up resulting in a bow shock. The exact shape and conditions (density, temperature) of such a bow shock region depend critically on the stellar properties (such as velocity and mass-loss rate) as well as on the properties of the surrounding interstellar medium. Beyond the physics of the bow shocks themselves the size and shape can be used to infer parameters of the stellar wind of the star as wel as the local interstellar medium. We propose to use both the PACS and SPIRE instruments in photometric mode to charaterise in detail the far-infrared spatial structure and corresponding spectral energy distribution of these bow shocks. In particular, we expect to resolve, if present, turbulent instabilities.
Publication
Demonstration of a Novel Method for Measuring Mass-loss Rates for Massive Stars | Kobulnicky Henry A. et al. | The Astrophysical Journal Volume 856 Issue 1 article id. 74 11 pp. (2018). | 856 | 10.3847\\/1538-4357\\/aab3e0 | 2018ApJ...856...74K | http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2018ApJ...856...74K
Instrument
PACS_PacsPhoto_largeScan, SPIRE_SpirePhoto_large
Temporal Coverage
2012-01-11T19:18:26Z/2012-04-24T01:26:36Z
Version
SPG v14.2.0
Mission Description
Herschel was launched on 14 May 2009! It is the fourth cornerstone mission in the ESA science programme. With a 3.5 m Cassegrain telescope it is the largest space telescope ever launched. It is performing photometry and spectroscopy in approximately the 55-671 µm range, bridging the gap between earlier infrared space missions and groundbased facilities.
European Space Agency, cox et al., 2012, 'Far-Infrared Emission from Bow Shocks around Runaway OB stars', SPG v14.2.0, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-iff2f09
