The VLT-flames tarantula survey: The fastest rotating O-type star and shortest period LMC pulsar - Remnants of a supernova disrupted binary?

Abstract

We present a spectroscopic analysis of an extremely rapidly rotating late O-type star, VFTS102, observed during a spectroscopic survey of 30 Doradus. VFTS102 has a projected rotational velocity larger than 500 km s-1 and probably as large as 600 km s-1; as such it would appear to be the most rapidly rotating massive star currently identified. Its radial velocity differs by 40 km s-1 from the mean for 30 Doradus, suggesting that it is a runaway. VFTS102 lies 12pc from the X-ray pulsar PSRJ0537-6910 in the tail of its X-ray diffuse emission. We suggest that these objects originated from a binary system with the rotational and radial velocities of VFTS102 resulting from mass transfer from the progenitor of PSRJ0537-691 and the supernova explosion, respectively. © 2011. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.