VLT observations of the highly ionized nebula around Brey2*

Authors :: Nazé, Y.
Rauw, G.
Manfroid, J.
Chu, Y.-H.
Vreux, J.-M.
Nazé, Y.
Rauw, G.
Manfroid, J.
Chu, Y.-H.
Vreux, J.-M.
Source :: Astronomy and Astrophysics; April 2003, Vol. 401 Issue: 2 pL13-L16, 4p
Publication Year :: 2003
Abstract: We present the first high resolution He iiλ4686 images of the high excitation nebula around the WR star Brey2 in the LMC. This nebula presents a striking morphology: a small arc-like feature some 3.6 pc in radius is particularly prominent in the He iiλ4686 line. We further discover a previously unknown faint He iiemission that extends over an area of $22\times 17$pc2. An even fainter He iiemission is apparently associated with the interstellar bubble blown by the progenitor of Brey2. The total He iiflux corresponds to an ionizing flux of $4\times 10^{47}$photons s-1. Hα, [O iii], and He iλ5876 images and long-slit spectra are also examined in this letter, enabling us to investigate the detailed physical properties at various locations of the nebula.