Bibcode
Evans, C. J.; Taylor, W. D.; Hénault-Brunet, V.; Sana, H.; de Koter, A.; Simón-Díaz, S.; Carraro, G.; Bagnoli, T.; Bastian, N.; Bestenlehner, J. M.; Bonanos, A. Z.; Bressert, E.; Brott, I.; Campbell, M. A.; Cantiello, M.; Clark, J. S.; Costa, E.; Crowther, P. A.; de Mink, S. E.; Doran, E.; Dufton, P. L.; Dunstall, P. R.; Friedrich, K.; García, M.; Gieles, M.; Gräfener, G.; Herrero, A.; Howarth, I. D.; Izzard, R. G.; Langer, N.; Lennon, D. J.; Maíz Apellániz, J.; Markova, N.; Najarro, F.; Puls, J.; Ramirez, O. H.; Sabin-Sanjulián, C.; Smartt, S. J.; Stroud, V. E.; van Loon, J. Th.; Vink, J. S.; Walborn, N. R.
Bibliographical reference
Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 530, id.A108
Advertised on:
6
2011
Journal
Citations
288
Refereed citations
224
Description
The VLT-FLAMES Tarantula Survey (VFTS) is an ESO Large Programme that
has obtained multi-epoch optical spectroscopy of over 800 massive stars
in the 30 Doradus region of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). Here we
introduce our scientific motivations and give an overview of the survey
targets, including optical and near-infrared photometry and
comprehensive details of the data reduction. One of the principal
objectives was to detect massive binary systems via variations in their
radial velocities, thus shaping the multi-epoch observing strategy.
Spectral classifications are given for the massive emission-line stars
observed by the survey, including the discovery of a new Wolf-Rayet star
(VFTS 682, classified as WN5h), 2' to the northeast of R136. To
illustrate the diversity of objects encompassed by the survey, we
investigate the spectral properties of sixteen targets identified by
Gruendl & Chu from Spitzer photometry as candidate young stellar
objects or stars with notable mid-infrared excesses. Detailed spectral
classification and quantitative analysis of the O- and B-type stars in
the VFTS sample, paying particular attention to the effects of
rotational mixing and binarity, will be presented in a series of future
articles to address fundamental questions in both stellar and cluster
evolution.
Figures 10-12, Tables 5 and 6, and Appendix A are available in
electronic form at http://www.aanda.org
Related projects
Physical properties and evolution of Massive Stars
This project aims at the searching, observation and analysis of massive stars in nearby galaxies to provide a solid empirical ground to understand their physical properties as a function of those key parameters that gobern their evolution (i.e. mass, spin, metallicity, mass loss, and binary interaction). Massive stars are central objects to
Sergio
Simón Díaz