A semiempirical model for the red supergiant's wind in Zeta Aurigae systems

A semiempirical model for the wind in four Zeta Aur binary systems is developed, basing the analyses on the velocity function, nonthermal velocities, and upper limits to Ne/N(H) inferred from observations of the winds from the cool supergiants. The model assumes that the energy fluxes needed to drive the wind are supplied by Alfven waves, since the acoustic wave flux estimated from line broadening is too low. The damping scale length of the waves, is found to change from very small values near the star to larger values of the order of the local radius further out in the wind. The temperature structure and hydrogen ionization are derived for these models. Limits to the stellar magnetic field are found, as well as a necessary constraint for the existence of cool massive winds, suggesting that the dividing line in the H-R diagram is where this constraint is violated. 52 refs