Dust Formation Chemistry in Carbon-Rich Wolf-Rayet Winds

Dust formation processes are investigated in the hot hydrogen-deficient wind of carbon-rich Wolf-Rayet (WC) stars. Results show that dust precursors (small linear carbon chains) form in large quantities only at high gas densities. This suggests that a clumpy wind or an equatorial disc are necessary to trigger dust formation in WC stars. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.