NLTE wind models for SMC stars

Abstract

We study stellar wind properties of selected late O stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). We calculate NLTE line-driven wind models for these stars and compare predicted wind parameters with observed values. We found satisfactory agreement between theoretical and observed terminal velocities. On the other hand, predicted and observed mass-loss rates are in a good agreement only for higher mass-loss rates. For mass-loss rates lower than approximately 10^{-7} M_sun / year we found large discrepancy between theoretical and observed values. We propose a new explanation of this effect based on dynamical decoupling of some atoms. Finally, we study the dependence of wind terminal velocities and mass-loss rates on metallicity.