Ultraviolet classification of Wolf-Rayet stars

Extract

The ultraviolet spectra of 94 WR stars obtained from Vilspa IUE archive are used here to look for classification criteria in the UV region alone. We have tried to select as many single and SB1 type stars as possible in the Galaxy and the LMC to get the complete, flux-calibrated spectra between 1150 and 3250 Å. Altogether 56 (34 of WN and 22 of WC type) stars in the Galaxy and 38 (31 of WN and 7 of WC type) in the LMC were found, for which at least single SWP and LWR (or LWP) low resolution images are accessible – note that this is about one third of the number of known galactic and LMC WR stars. The set of stars we study is representative according to spectral subtype and brightness (it is almost complete to 12 magnitude for galactic stars). See Niedzielski & Rochowicz (1994) for the list of program stars and associated IUE images as well as for the details of reduction.

To look for classification criteria of WR stars in the ultraviolet region we will use the equivalent width (EW) and line width (FWHM) data.