Clumping in hot star winds

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Stellar winds are crucial for the evolution of massive stars and their environments. Evidence from spectroscopy, polarimetry, variability, stellar ejecta, and hydrodynamic modeling indicates that these winds are non-stationary and inhomogeneous, a phenomenon known as 'wind clumping'. Understanding this is urgent due to its significant implications; all methods for deriving empirical mass-loss rates are affected by wind clumping, leading to considerable uncertainty in these rates. This uncertainty results in vastly different scenarios for the evolution of massive stars. Clarifying these issues for Galactic OB, LBV, and Wolf-Rayet stars is essential for comprehending stellar clusters and galaxies and for predicting the properties of first-generation stars. To address these challenges, an international workshop on 'Clumping in Hot Star Winds' took place in Potsdam, Germany, from June 18 to 22, 2007. Approximately 60 participants, including leading experts in the field, engaged in extensive discussions. The Scientific Organizing Committee featured prominent figures such as John Brown, Joseph Cassinelli, and Wolf-Rainer Hamann, among others. The proceedings document the invited and contributed talks presented at the workshop, capturing the depth of the discussions held.