Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons™
Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 1 of 1
Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Polarized Bow Shock Nebulae Reveal Features Of The Winds And Environments Of Massive Stars, Manisha Shrestha
Polarized Bow Shock Nebulae Reveal Features Of The Winds And Environments Of Massive Stars, Manisha Shrestha
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Massive stars strongly affect their surroundings through their energetic stellar winds during their lifetime and through their energetic deaths as supernovae. When a stellar wind interacts with the local interstellar medium (ISM), if the relative velocity between wind and ISM is supersonic, then a stellar wind bow shock is formed. Bow shocks and related density enhancements produced by the winds of massive stars moving through the interstellar medium provide important information regarding the motions of the stars, the properties of their stellar winds, and the characteristics of the local medium. Since bow shock nebulae are aspherical structures, light scattering within …