{
  "abstract": "Sakurai's object provides a rare opportunity to observe stellar evolution on human timescales. Since its born-again event and detection in 1996, its evolution has been extensively monitored, and recent optical spectroscopy has suggested the emergence of [WR]-type emission features. In this Letter, we present a secure spectroscopic identification of its central star based on new VLT/FORS2 observations and NLTE expanding atmosphere models. Several observed emission lines arise in a [WR]-type stellar wind, establishing the central star as a [WR] object. The strongest stellar features are due to C II-III and He I. We derive the stellar and wind parameters of Sakurai's object and discuss its evolutionary status. The [WR] star is much cooler (Teff ~ 30.5 kK) than the born-again star V605 Aql (Teff} ~ 95 kK), which erupted about 80 years earlier. The inferred temperature is lower than predicted by models suppressing convective mixing efficiency during the VLTP, but is consistent with higher time-resolution calculations involving slightly lower-mass (<~ 0.6Msun) remnants. Continued spectroscopic monitoring and atmospheric modelling will be crucial for tracing its reheating curve and constraining the physics of this rapid evolutionary phase.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": "Journal reference: MNRAS, Volume 552, Issue 1, October 2026, stag1533",
  "arxiv": "2609.18645",
  "author_total": 12,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "W. Marcolino"
    },
    {
      "name": "P. A. M. van Hoof"
    },
    {
      "name": "V. C. Maria"
    },
    {
      "name": "H. Todt"
    },
    {
      "name": "G. C. Van de Steene"
    },
    {
      "name": "J. A. Toalá"
    },
    {
      "name": "S. Kimeswenger"
    },
    {
      "name": "M. Hajduk"
    },
    {
      "name": "J. -C. Bouret"
    },
    {
      "name": "D. Tafoya"
    },
    {
      "name": "D. Barría"
    },
    {
      "name": "A. A. Zijlstra"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/00x7d97jtw1qp.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2609.18645",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "00x7d97jtw1qp",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.18645",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "astro-ph.SR"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": null,
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2609.18645",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-16",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/00x7d97jtw1qp.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:22:01Z",
      "native_id": "2609.18645",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.18645"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "astronomy",
      "origin": "arxiv:astro-ph.SR",
      "subfield": "stellar"
    }
  ],
  "title": "The emergence of a [WC] star in Sakurai's object",
  "title_text": "The emergence of a [WC] star in Sakurai's object",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:22:01Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/00x7d97jtw1qp",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": [
    {
      "doi": "10.1093/mnras/stag1533",
      "pid": null,
      "relation": "published-as",
      "title": null,
      "venue": null
    }
  ]
}