Resolve the degeneracy between clumping structure and stellar parameters

Determine whether a degeneracy exists between the wind-clumping distribution and the fundamental parameters of dynamically consistent LBV atmosphere models by constructing large multidimensional grids that vary the relevant model parameters.

Background

The authors note that the radial distribution of wind inhomogeneities in luminous blue variables remains poorly constrained, forcing the models to use prescriptions developed for other classes of massive stars. Because the clumping parameters influence the velocity field and radiative acceleration, they may be degenerate with other fundamental parameters such as mass-loss rate, stellar mass, temperature, and abundances.

The AF And calculations do not show a substantial effect of this possible degeneracy on the inferred parameters, but the authors do not regard that result as general. They propose extensive grids of dynamically consistent models spanning a multidimensional parameter space to determine whether the degeneracy is real and significant.