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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
| Published: |
2026
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.02238 |
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Table of Contents:
- A growing number of Galactic Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars, in particular WC and transitional WN/C (WNC) objects, have been reported at comparatively low luminosities. If confirmed, these low-luminosity WR stars provide stringent tests of stellar-evolution models, because their HR-diagram locations and surface compositions are highly sensitive to internal mixing and to the adopted WR-phase mass-loss history.We examine whether the HR-diagram positions and wind properties of low-luminosity WC/WNC stars can be reproduced by single-star evolutionary tracks at approximately solar metallicity, and we identify cases where additional channels (e.g. binary stripping) or dominant systematic uncertainties are likely required. Low-luminosity WNC/WC stars offer sensitive leverage on WR mixing and mass-loss prescriptions. A staged model-data comparison shows that revised WR winds can alleviate the luminosity-side tension for faint WCL stars, but the simultaneous requirements of temperature, surface composition, and WR-like wind density remain important. The WNC stars provide the strongest evidence that additional mixing, stripping, or binary-related channels may be required.