Mass loss and carbon abundance in WC stars

Spectroscopic observations of eight WC stars, obtained at 360-590 and 460-700 nm with a grating spectrograph and a vidicon detector on the 1.6-m reflector at the Brazilian National Astrophysical Observatory in May 1985, are reported and analyzed, using a simple C-He stellar-wind model to calculate the mass-loss rates. The data are presented in tables and a sample spectrum and discussed in detail. The C/He mass ratio is found to range between 0.5 and 3.3, tending to be higher in more evolved stars. The mean mass-loss rate for seven normal-luminosity WC stars is given as 0.000072 + or - 0.000024 solar mass/yr, while the corresponding value for the overluminous star HD 97152 is 0.00015 solar mass/yr. 34 references