An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

The final kinetic energy of the → stellar wind expressed by:

(1/2)Mdot.v_∞² = (1/2)(v_∞/c)L

For an O6 star, L ~ 3 x 10⁵Lsun and v_∞ ~ 2000 km s^-1, which give a wind luminosity of ~ 1 x 10³⁷ erg s^-1, about 1% of the → stellar luminosity. See also → photon tiring limit.

See also: → wind; → luminosity.