Radiative transfer in snapshots of 3D radiative hydrodynamic models of red supergiants

¹ GRAAL, cc072, Université Montpellier II, 34095 Montpellier Cedex 05, France
² Department for Astronomy and Space Physics at Uppsala University, Box 515, 75120 Uppsala, Sweden

Abstract

Red Supergiant (RSG) represent a key-phase in the evolution of massive stars. These stars are characterized by strong mass loss of unknown origin. Observations show strong line profile fluctuations in depth, width and velocity, suggesting giant convective cells which could explain mass loss. Recently, radiative hydrodynamics (RHD) simulations of these stars show a peculiar convection pattern with giant cells. We performed 3D pure LTE radiative transfer calculations in snapshots of 3D hydrodynamical simulations taking into account the Doppler shifts caused by the convective motions. Computed spectra from RHD models qualitatively reproduce observations.