Abstract

The formation and evolution of massive and very massive stars in dense stellar clusters

Dany Vanbeveren (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)

A. Pauldrach, T. Hoffmann

An important issue in modern astrophysical research is to understand the phases of the evolution of dense star clusters. In this context the formation of very massive stars with masses up to several thousand solar masses is decisive for the evolution of starbursts, which play an essential role in the chemical evolution of galaxies. In these environments, massive stars play a dominant role. The stellar winds of massive and very massive stars have a significant influence not only on their surrounding, but the associated mass loss also profoundly affects the evolution of the stars themselves. We will discuss processes that critically affect the evolution of massive and very massive massive stars formed in dense clusters.