Revisiting Wolf-Rayet Masses Through the Photogravitational Parameter Φ

This work introduces the photogravitational parameter Φ ≡ L/(Mg) as a surface-based, model-independent diagnostic for massive stars near the Eddington limit. Calibrated on 12 binaries (RMS ~9%) and applied to 10 isolated stars, the method reveals systematic mass deficits of 35–54% relative to evolutionary tracks (median ~42.5%). The framework provides calibration values, error budgets, and a GR closure test, offering a reproducible path to resolve the mass discrepancy and scale determinations to the full Galactic population.