Wolf-Rayet stars in I Zw 18
1999 ◽
Vol 193
◽
pp. 606-607
Keyword(s):
Wolf-Rayet stars have been detected in the NW region of the metal–poor starburst galaxy I Zw 18. The integrated luminosity and FWHM of the bumps at 4650 Å and 5808 Å are consistent with the presence of a few individual stars of WC4 or WC5 type. The unexpected presence of WC stars in such a low-metallicity galaxy could, however, be explained by high mass loss rates, or alternatively favor a binary channel for WR formation. WC stars could also account for the strong and narrow He II 4686Å emission line which peaks co-spatially with the WR bump emission (see Schaerer 1996).