Luminous Blue Variables. (arXiv:2009.03144v1 [astro-ph.SR])
<a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Weis_K/0/1/0/all/0/1">Kerstin Weis</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Bomans_D/0/1/0/all/0/1">Dominik J. Bomans</a>

Luminous Blue Variables are massive evolved stars, here we introduce this
outstanding class of objects. Described are the specific characteristics, the
evolutionary state and what they are connected to other phases and types of
massive stars. Our current knowledge of LBVs is limited by the fact that in
comparison to other stellar classes and phases only a few “true” LBVs are
known. This results from the lack of a unique, fast and always reliable
identification scheme for LBVs. It literally takes time to get a true
classification of a LBV. In addition the short duration of the LBV phase makes
it even harder to catch and identify a star as LBV. We summarize here what is
known so far, give an overview of the LBV population and the list of LBV host
galaxies. LBV are clearly an important and still not fully understood phase in
the live of (very) massive stars, especially due to the large and time variable
mass loss during the LBV phase. We like to emphasize again the problem how to
clearly identify LBV and that there are more than just one type of LBVs: The
giant eruption LBVs or $eta$ Car analogs and the S Dor cycle LBVs.

Luminous Blue Variables are massive evolved stars, here we introduce this
outstanding class of objects. Described are the specific characteristics, the
evolutionary state and what they are connected to other phases and types of
massive stars. Our current knowledge of LBVs is limited by the fact that in
comparison to other stellar classes and phases only a few “true” LBVs are
known. This results from the lack of a unique, fast and always reliable
identification scheme for LBVs. It literally takes time to get a true
classification of a LBV. In addition the short duration of the LBV phase makes
it even harder to catch and identify a star as LBV. We summarize here what is
known so far, give an overview of the LBV population and the list of LBV host
galaxies. LBV are clearly an important and still not fully understood phase in
the live of (very) massive stars, especially due to the large and time variable
mass loss during the LBV phase. We like to emphasize again the problem how to
clearly identify LBV and that there are more than just one type of LBVs: The
giant eruption LBVs or $eta$ Car analogs and the S Dor cycle LBVs.

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