Combined stellar structure and atmosphere models for massive stars II. Spectral evolution on the main sequence

D. Schaerer, A. de Koter, W. Schmutz, A. Maeder

Published 1995-08-29Version 1

In Schaerer et al. (1995, Paper I) we have presented the first "combined stellar structure and atmosphere models" (CoStar) for massive stars, which consistently treat the entire mass loosing star from the center out to the outer region of the stellar wind. The models use up-to-date input physics and state-of-the-art techniques to model both the stellar interior and the spherically expanding non--LTE atmosphere including line blanketing. Paper II covers the spectral evolution corresponding to the MS interior evolution discussed in Paper I. The CoStar results presented comprise: a) flux distributions, from the EUV to the far IR, and the ionizing fluxes in the H and He continua, b) absolute UBVRIJHKL MN photometric data and UV colors, c) detailed line blanketed UV spectra, and d) non-LTE H and He line spectra in the optical and IR, including theoretical K band spectra. These results may, e.g., be used for population synthesis models intended to study the massive star content in young starforming regions. We compare our results with other predictions from LTE and non-LTE plane parallel models and point out the improvements and the importance of using adequate atmosphere models including stellar winds for massive stars. We compare the UV spectral evolution with observations, including continuum indices and several metal line signatures of P-Cygni lines and broad absorption features. Good agreement is found for most UV features. We are able to reproduce the strong observed FeIII 1920 A feature in late O and early B giants and supergiants. This feature is found to depend sensitively on temperature and may be used to derive effective temperatures for these stars. We also derive a simple formula to determine mass loss rates from the equivalent width of hydrogen recombination lines for OB stars showing net