The evolution of massive and very massive stars in clusters


Dany Vanbeveren

Astrophysical Institute, Vrije Universiteit Brussel

The present paper reviews massive star (initial mass <= 120 Mo) and very massive star (initial mass > 120 Mo) evolution. I will focus on evolutionary facts and questions that may critically affect predictions of population and spectral synthesis of starburst regions. We discuss

a. the effects of ever-lasting factor 2 or more uncertainty in the stellar wind mass loss rates;

b. the effects of rotation;

c. the effects of binaries;

d. the effects of stellar dynamics in dense cluster cores on the formation and evolution of very massive stars.

Reference: New Astronomy Reviews 53 (2009), 27
Status: Manuscript has been accepted

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Email: dvbevere@vub.ac.be