Luminous Blue Variables (LBVs) are massive stars, in a transition phase, from being O-type stars and rapidly becoming Wolf-Rayet objects. LBVs possess powerful stellar winds, high luminosities and show photometric and spectroscopic variability. We present the stellar and wind parameters of He3-519 obtained by the modeling of UVES observations with the model atmosphere code CMFGEN. We compare our results to previous studies in order to find mid-time scale variability of the stellar parameters and finally, we use stellar evolution models to determine the evolutionary status of this star.

Some OB stars show variable non-thermal radio emission. The non-thermal emission is due to synchrotron radiation that is emitted by electrons accelerated to high energies. The electron acceleration occurs at strong shocks created by the collision of radiatively-driven stellar winds in binary systems. Here we present results of our modelling of two colliding wind systems: Cyg OB2 No. 8A and Cyg OB2 No. 9.

We present results of a long-term spectroscopic monitoring program (since mid 2009) of Luminous Blue Variables with the new HERMES echelle spectrograph on the 1.2m Mercator telescope at La Palma (Spain). We investigate high-resolution (R = 80,000) optical spectra of two LBVs, P Cyg and HD 168607, the LBV candidates MWC 930 and HD 168625, and the LBV binary MWC 314. In P Cyg we observe flux changes in the violet wings of the Balmer Hα, Hβ, and He i lines between May and Sep 2009. The changes around 200 to 300 km s−1 are caused by variable opacity at the base of the supersonic wind from the blue supergiant.

We observe in MWC 314 broad double-peaked metal emission lines with invariable radial velocities over time. On the other hand, we measure in the photospheric S ii λ5647 absorption line, with lower excitation energy of ~14 eV, an increase of the heliocentric radial velocity centroid from 37 km s−1 to 70 km s−1 between 5 and 10 Sep 2009 (and 43 km s−1 on 6 Apr 2010). The increase of radial velocity of ~33 km s−1 in only 5 days can confirm the binary nature of this LBV close to the Eddington luminosity limit.

A comparison with VLT-UVES and Keck-Hires spectra observed over the past 13 years reveals strong flux variability in the violet wing of the Hα emission line of HD 168625 and in the absorption portion of the Hβ line of HD 168607. In HD 168625 we observe Hα wind absorption at velocities exceeding 200 km s−1 which develops between Apr and June 2010.

A magnetic field and rotational line profile variability (lpv) is found in the He-weak star HR 2949. The field measured from metallic lines varies in a clearly non-sinusoidal way, and shows a phase lag relative to the morphologically similar He i equivalent width variations. The surface abundance patterns are strong and complex, and visible even in the hydrogen lines.

A number of binary systems display enhanced activity around periastron passage which may be caused by the tidal interactions. We have developed a time-marching numerical calculation from first principles that computes the surface deformations, the perturbed velocity field, the energy dissipation rates and the photospheric line-profiles in a rotating star with a binary companion in an eccentric orbit. The method consists of solving the equations of motion for a grid of elements covering the surface of star m1, subjected to gravitational, centrifugal, Coriolis, gas pressure and viscous shear forces (Moreno et al. 1999, Toledano et al. 2007, Moreno et al. 2011). At selected times during the orbital cycle, the velocities of surface elements on the visible hemisphere of the star are projected along the observer's line of sight and the photospheric line-profile calculation is performed (Moreno et al. 2005). Direct comparison with observational photospheric line profile variability is then possible, showing that the general features are reproduced (Harrington et al. 2009). In this poster we show the example of a highly eccentric system (e = 0.8, P = 15 d). The surface deformation changes rapidly from that of an “equilibrium tide” at periastron to one with smaller-scale structure shortly thereafter. The computed line profiles display the presence of large blue-to-red migrating “bumps” around periastron, with smaller scale structure appearing later in the orbital cycle. Because the growth rate of the surface perturbations increases very abruptly at periastron, instabilities are expected to arise which may cause the observed activity and mass-ejection events around this orbital phase.

We present Rigid Field Hydrodynamic simulations of the magnetosphere of σ Ori E. We find that the X-ray emission from the star's magnetically confined wind shocks is very sensitive to the assumed mass-loss rate. To compare the simulations against the measured X-ray emission, we first disentangle the star from its recently discovered late-type companion using Chandra HRC-I observations. This then allows us to place an upper limit on the mass-loss rate of the primary, which we find to be significantly smaller than previously imagined.

Circumstellar discs of Be stars are thought to be formed from material ejected from a fast-spinning central star. This material possesses large amounts of angular momentum and settles in a quasi-Keplerian orbit around the star. This simple description outlines the basic issues that a successful disc theory must address: 1) What is the mechanism responsible for the mass ejection? 2) What is the final configuration of the material? 3) How the disc grows? With the very high angular resolution that can be achieved with modern interferometers operating in the optical and infrared we can now resolve the photosphere and immediate vicinity of nearby Be stars. Those observations are able to provide very stringent tests for our ideas about the physical processes operating in those objects. This paper discusses the basic hydrodynamics of viscous decretion discs around Be stars. The model predictions are quantitatively compared to observations, demonstrating that the viscous decretion scenario is currently the most viable theory to explain the discs around Be stars.

We present the results from the spectroscopic follow-up of WR140 (WC7 + O4-5) during its last periastron passage in january 2009. This object is known as the archetype of colliding wind binaries and has a relatively large period (≃8 years) and eccentricity (≃0.89). We provide updated values for the orbital parameters, new estimates for the WR and O star masses and new constraints on the mass-loss rates.

The physical interpretation of spectro-interferometric data is strongly model dependent. On one hand, models involving elaborate radiative transfer solvers are in general too time consuming to perform an automatic fitting procedure and derive astrophysical quantities and their related errors. On the other hand, using simple geometrical models does not give sufficient insights into the physics of the object. We developed a numerical tool optimised for mid-infrared (mid-IR) interferometry, the Fast Ray-tracing Algorithm for Circumstellar Structures (FRACS). Thanks to the short computing time required by FRACS, best-fit parameters and uncertainties for several physical quantities were obtained, such as inner dust radius, relative flux contribution of the central source and of the dusty CSE, dust temperature profile, disc inclination.

The Magnetism in Massive Stars (MiMeS) Project is a consensus collaboration among many of the foremost international researchers of the physics of hot, massive stars, with the basic aim of understanding the origin, evolution and impact of magnetic fields in these objects. At the time of writing, MiMeS Large Programs have acquired over 950 high-resolution polarised spectra of about 150 individual stars with spectral types from B5-O4, discovering new magnetic fields in a dozen hot, massive stars. The quality of this spectral and magnetic matériel is very high, and the Collaboration is keen to connect with colleagues capable of exploiting the data in new or unforeseen ways. In this paper we review the structure of the MiMeS observing programs and report the status of observations, data modeling and development of related theory.

The nature of the light variations of chemically peculiar stars was studied in detail only in a very few cases. To better understand the mechanisms of light variability of these stars, we study the light variations of the well-known magnetic chemically peculiar star CU Vir and one of the least amplitude variable stars HD 64740. We show that the light variability of these stars is induced by flux redistribution in spots of enhanced abundance of chemical elements (e.g., helium, silicon, iron or chromium), and by the stellar rotation. We conclude that this is a promising model for the explanation of the light variability of most chemically peculiar stars.

Westerlund 1 is one of the most massive young clusters known in the Local Group, with an age of 3-5 Myr. It contains an assortment of rare evolved massive stars, such as blue, yellow and red supergiants, Wolf-Rayet stars, a luminous blue variable, and a magnetar, as well as 4 massive eclipsing binary systems (Wddeb, Wd13, Wd36, WR77o, see Bonanos 2007). The eclipsing binaries present a rare opportunity to constrain evolutionary models of massive stars, the distance to the cluster and furthermore, to determine a dynamical lower limit for the mass of a magnetar progenitor. Wddeb, being a detached system, is of great interest as it allows determination of the masses of 2 of the most massive unevolved stars in the cluster. We have analyzed spectra of all 4 eclipsing binaries, taken in 2007-2008 with the 6.5 meter Magellan telescope at Las Campanas Observatory, Chile, and present fundamental parameters (masses, radii) for their component stars.

Doppler imaging of early-type magnetic stars is the most advanced method to interpret their line profile variations. DI allows us to study directly a complex interplay between chemical spots, magnetic fields, and the mass loss. Here we outline the general principles of the surface mapping of stars, discuss adaption of this technique to early-type stars and present several recent examples of the abundance and magnetic mapping performed for rapidly rotating early-B stars. In particular, we present the first Doppler images for the very fast rotating He-rich star HR 7355 and a reconstruction of magnetic field for the well-known Bp star σ Ori E. We also present new magnetic maps for the He-strong star HD 37776, which possesses one of the most complex magnetic field topologies among the upper main sequence stars.

We review the status of a long-term program to search for stellar magnetospheres in Bp stars. A few new σOri E analogues discovered during the course of this investigation are briefly discussed and other stars that may be worthy of further study are noted.

FS CMa objects are a group of hot stars that exhibit the B[e] phenomenon. The group was defined a few years ago on the basis of the formerly known unclassified B[e] stars and newly discovered objects. One of their main features is the presence of hot circumstellar dust whose properties were unknown. We present IR spectra of nearly 20 FS CMa objects obtained with the Spitzer Space Telescope. Dusty features, such as broad silicate bands in emission and narrow bands that are usually explained by PAHs, are detected. The IR fluxes are compared to those detected by IRAS and MSX. Main results of the data analysis are briefly discussed.

We present an evolutionary study of 28 Tau, a Be star, in connection with its rapid rotation. The photometric data during the absence of its envelope in 1921 have been used to determine the effective temperature and luminosity of the star at the main sequence of the HR diagram. From an evolutionary model, we found that the mass and radius of the star are about 3.2 M⊙ and 3.2 R⊙ respectively. The equatorial rotation velocity of the star, νe found to be close to its critical velocity, νcr where νe/νcr ≃ 0.87.

A current investigation is underway into the possible collision between a circumstellar disk and the secondary star in the δ Scorpii binary system. δ Scorpii is a prime candidate for a disk-star collision since the primary star has a circumstellar disk and the secondary star has a highly elliptical orbit with a period of approximately 10.5 years making the periastron passage very close to the primary star. The Navy Prototype Optical Interferometer (NPOI) was used to spatially resolve the two stars as well as the cirumstellar disk around the primary. A revised orbit with new orbital parameters has been calculated using observations obtained between 2005 and 2010. Our results indicate periastron passage will occur on 2011-07-03.

Classical Be stars, in addition to their emission-line spectra, are associated with infrared excess which is attributable to free-free emission from ionized gas. However, a few with exceptionally large near-infrared excess, namely with J–H, and H–Ks both greater than 0.6 mag—and excess emission extending to mid- and far-infrared wavelengths—must be accounted for by thermal emission from circumstellar dust. Evolved Be stars on the verge of turning off the main sequence may condense dust in their expanding cooling envelopes. The dust particles should be very small in size, hence reprocess starlight efficiently. This is in contrast to Herbig Ae/Be stars for which the copious infrared excess arises from relatively large grains as part of the surplus star-forming materials.

Only 5 Of?p stars have been identified in the Galaxy. Of these, 3 have been studied in detail, and within the past 5 years magnetic fields have been detected in each of them. The observed magnetic and spectral characteristics are indicative of organised magnetic fields, likely of fossil origin, confining their supersonic stellar winds into dense, structured magnetospheres. The systematic detection of magnetic fields in these stars strongly suggests that the Of?p stars represent a general class of magnetic O-type stars.

In this review I will present recent results obtained between 2005, which was the last “Be-stars” meeting in Sapporo, and 2010, on the observations of circumstellar disks around active hot stars.