Line-blanketing in massive stars: new results

Until recently, a major deficiency of most spectroscopic modeling of hot stars was the neglect of line-blanketing. With the availability of new atomic data, faster computers, suitable approximations, and improved numerical techniques it is now feasible to include non-LTE line-blanketing due to CNO and iron group elements in atmospheric calculations. We highlight the capabilities of the present generation of models. New blanketing results are presented for WN and WC Wolf-Rayet stars, and for LBVs. Line-blanketing alters individual line strengths in unpredictable ways, and can significantly influence the determination of stellar parameters. We specifically highlight the UV spectral region in which the effects of Fe blanketing are directly manifested. The importance of the charge exchange reaction Fe2+ + H ⇌ Fe+ + H+ for modeling of the Fe emission lines in the extreme P-Cygni star HDE 316285 is illustrated.