At low metallicity B-type stars rotate faster than at higher metallicity, typically in the SMC. As a consequence, a larger number of fast rotators is expected in the SMC than in the Galaxy, in particular more Be/Oe stars. With the ESO-WFI in its slitless mode, we examined the SMC open clusters and found an occurence of Be stars 3 to 5 times larger than in the Galaxy. The evolution of the angular rotational velocity seems to be the main key on the understanding of the specific behaviour and stellar evolution of such stars at different metallicities. With the results of this WFI study and using observational clues on the SMC WR stars and massive stars, as well as the theoretical indications of long gamma-ray burst progenitors, we identify the low metallicity massive Be and Oe stars as potential LGRB progenitors. Therefore the expected rates and numbers of LGRB are calculated and compared to the observed ones, leading to a good probability that low metallicity Be/Oe stars are actually LGRB progenitors.

In this talk, I review the different MHD processes, which take place in massive star interiors. First, I describe MHD instabilities, which act on magnetic fields in stellar radiation zones, and the dynamo action in massive stars that give strong indications in favor of a fossil origin of the fields observed at the surface of these stars. Then, I discuss the study of MHD turbulent relaxation processes, which are now examined in stellar interiors, to describe initial conditions for fossil magnetic fields. Finally, I focus on the state of the art of the modeling of the interaction between differential rotation, fossil magnetic field, meridional circulation, and turbulence.

LS I +61 303 is an exceptionally rare example of a Be/X-ray binary that also exhibits MeV–TeV emission, making it one of only a handful of ”γ-ray binaries”. Here we present Hα spectra that show strong variability during the 26.5 day orbital period and over decadal time scales. The Hα line profile exhibits a dramatic emission burst shortly before apastron, observed as a redshifted shoulder in the line profile, as the compact source moves almost directly away from the observer. Here we investigate several possible origins for this red shoulder, including an accretion disk, tidal mass transfer stream, turbulent gas in the wake of the neutron star, and a compact pulsar wind nebula in the system.

A detailed investigation of momentum transfer in radiatively driven stellar winds shows that for the thin wind case ion decoupling may occur. The decoupling of absorbing ions significantly affects dynamics of the wind. We analysed such effects using our hydrodynamic code and predicted spectral changes with the help of the SHELLSPEC code.

Discovered over 30 years ago, the B[e] phenomenon has not yet revealed all its puzzles. New objects that exhibit it are being discovered in the Milky Way, and properties of known objects are being constrained. We review recent findings about objects of this class and their subgroups as well as discuss new results from studies of the objects with yet unknown nature. In the Magellanic Clouds, the population of such objects has been restricted to supergiants. We present new candidates with apparently lower luminosities found in the LMC.

There are currently two optical interferometry recombiners that can provide spectral resolutions better than 10000, AMBER/VLTI operating in the H-K bands, and VEGA/CHARA, recently commissioned, operating in the visible. These instruments are well suited to study the wind activity of the brightest AB supergiants in our vicinity, in lines such as Hα or Brγ. We present here the first observations of this kind, performed on Rigel (B8Ia) and Deneb (A2Ia). Rigel was monitored by AMBER in two campaigns, in 2006-2007 and 2009-2010, and observed in 2009 by VEGA; whereas Deneb was monitored in 2008-2009 by VEGA. The extension of the Hα and Brγ line forming regions were accurately measured and compared with CMFGEN models of both stars. Moreover, clear signs of activity were observed in the differential visibility and phases. These pioneer observations are still limited, but show the path for a better understanding of the spatial structure and temporal evolution of localized ejections using optical interferometry.

The O9.5 Vp star HD 93521 is a well known non-radial pulsator located at a high Galactic latitude. The nature (Population I vs. II) of this star has been the subject of controversy for many years. We report on an XMM-Newton observation of the star that sheds new light on its nature.

The spinup of massive stars induced by evolution of the stellar interior can bring the star to near-critical rotation. In critically rotating stars the decrease of the stellar moment of inertia must be balanced by a net loss of angular momentum through an equatorial decretion disk. We examine the nature and role of mass loss via such disks. In contrast to the usual stellar wind mass loss set by exterior driving from the stellar luminosity, such decretion-disk mass loss stems from the angular momentum loss needed to keep the star near and below critical rotation, given the interior evolution and decline in the star's moment of inertia. Because the specific angular momentum in a Keplerian disk increases with the square root of the radius, the decretion mass loss associated with a required level of angular momentum loss critically depends on the outer radius for viscous coupling of the disk, and can be significantly less than the spherical, wind-like mass loss commonly assumed in evolutionary calculations.

Pinwheel Nebulae are colliding wind binaries (CWB) composed of a Wolf-Rayet star and an early-type star. We first compare our simulations to analytic solutions for CWB. Then we perform large scale 2D simulations of the particular system WR 104. We determine the properties of the gas in the winds and confirm the flow in the spiral has a ballistic motion.

In the standard description of stellar interiors, O and B stars possess a thoroughly mixed convective core surrounded by a stable radiative envelope in which no mixing occurs. But as is well known, this model disagrees strongly with the spectroscopic diagnostic of these stars, which reveals the presence at their surface of chemical elements that have been synthesized in the core. Hence the radiation zone must be the seat of some mild mixing mechanisms. The most likely to operate there are linked with the rotation: these are the shear instabilites triggered by the differential rotation, and the meridional circulation caused by the changes in the rotation profile accompanying the non-homologous evolution of the star. In addition to these hydrodynamical processes, magnetic stresses may play an important role in active stars, which host a magnetic field. These physical processes will be critically examined, together with some others that have been suggested.

Guillaume Dubus: As far as I can tell your model is exactly the same as standard models for high-mass x-ray binaries, the on difference is that you have a mechanism for generating γ rays. My question is, we know that there are dozens of other systems that are just LS 5039, so why are they not emitting γ rays?

Classical Be stars are rapidly rotating, hot stars that possess an equatorial disk formed from gas released by the central star. The mechanism driving the stellar mass loss has yet to be fully explained, but the rapid rotation of the central B star is believed to be crucial. Rapid rotation also produces gravity darkening, and we have now extended our disk models to include these effects. In this contribution, we focus on the effect of gravity darkening on the thermal structure of a circumstellar disk.

The ultraviolet stellar wind lines of the photometrically periodic variable early B-type star σ Lupi were found to behave very similarly to what has been observed in known magnetic B stars, although no periodicity could be determined. AAT spectropolarimetric measurements with SEMPOL were obtained. We detected a longitudinal magnetic field with varying strength and amplitude of about 100 G with error bars of typically 20 G. This type of variability supports an oblique magnetic rotator model. We fold the equivalent width of the 4 usable UV spectra in phase with the well-known photometric period of 3.019 days, which we identify with the rotation period of the star. The magnetic field variations are consistent with this period. Additional observations with ESPaDOnS attached to the CFHT strongly confirmed this discovery, and allowed to determine a precise magnetic period. Like in the other magnetic B stars the wind emission likely originates in the magnetic equatorial plane, with maximum emission occurring when a magnetic pole points towards the Earth. The 3.0182 d magnetic rotation period is consistent with the photometric period, with maximum light corresponding to maximum magnetic field. No helium or other chemical peculiarity is known for this object.

We report the results of a search for line profile variability (LPV) in the spectra of OB stars. The wavelets were used for looking for the irregular LPV in spectra of program stars. We connect the appearance of irregular details in the LPV with the formation and dissipation of the small-scale substructures (clumps) in the wind.

Classical Be (CBe) stars are fast-rotating emission-line stars associated with infrared excess often attributed to plasma free-free emission. A few with exceptionally large near-infrared excess, namely with (J–H) and (H–Ks) both greater than 0.6 mag, however, must be accounted for by thermal emission from circumstellar dust. From 2007 to 2009, spectra of more than 100 CBe stars have been collected. We present some of these spectra and discuss how temporal correlation (or lack of) among spectral features would provide possible diagnosis of the origin of the CBe phenomena.

After briefly reviewing the theory behind the radiative line-driven winds of OB stars, I examine the processes that can generate structure in them; these include both intrinsic instabilities, and surface perturbations such as pulsation and rotation. I then delve into wind channeling and confinement by magnetic fields as a mechanism for forming longer-lived circumstellar structures. With a narrative that largely follows the historical progression of the field, I introduce the key insights and results that link the first detection of a magnetosphere, over three decades ago, to the recent direct measurement of magnetic braking in a number of active OB stars.

We summarize the discussion held after the session on periodic variations and asteroseismology. The session not only included seven talks, but as well thirty excellent posters were shown. It was impossible to summarize all these in the available frame of a discussion, and so this work focuses on very few sub-topics only mentioned in the actual discussion session. These topics were the relation of pulsation and turbulence, pulsation in close binaries, the observed photometric variability, the connection of pulsations and outburst, and bipolar flows.

Radiatively driven mass loss is an important factor in the evolution of massive stars. The mass loss rates depend on a number of stellar parameters, including the effective temperature and luminosity. Massive stars are also often rapidly rotating, which affects their structure and evolution. In sufficiently rapidly rotating stars, both the effective temperature and surface flux vary significantly as a function of latitude, and hence mass loss rates can vary appreciably between the poles and the equator. In this work, we discuss the addition of mass loss to a 2D stellar evolution code (ROTORC) and compare evolution sequences with and without mass loss.

Massive O- and B-type stars are “cosmic engines” in the Universe and can be the dominant source of luminosity in a galaxy. The class of Be stars are rapidly rotating B-type stars that lose mass in an equatorial, circumstellar disk (Porter & Rivinius 2003) and cause Balmer and other line emission. Currently, we are unsure as to why these stars rotate so quickly but three scenarios are possible: they may have been born as rapid rotators, spun up by binary mass transfer, or spun up during the main-sequence evolution of B stars. In order to investigate these scenarios for this population of massive stars, we have been spectroscopically observing a set of 115 field Be stars with the Kitt Peak Coudè Feed telescope in both the Hα and Hγ wavelength regimes since 2004. This time baseline allows for examination of variability properties of the circumstellar disks as well as determine candidates for closer examination for binarity. We find that 90% of the observed stars show some variability with 8% showing significant variability over the 5-year baseline. Such values may be compared with the significant variability seen in some clusters such as NGC 3766 (McSwain 2008). Also, while ~20% of the sample consists of known binaries, we find that another 15–30% of the sample shows indications of binarity.

Long baseline interferometry now offers us the opportunity to measure the dimensions of Be star circumstellar disks across the spectrum. This includes the near-infrared continuum where the emission is dominated by bound-free and free-free emission from the ionized disk gas. Here we present the results of calculations of the disk sizes and continuum flux excesses for a simple version of the viscous decretion model of the disk. We compare these results to recent 18 μm flux measurements from the AKARI infrared satellite all-sky survey.