Multi-Wavelength Implications of the Companion Star in eta Carinae
- Author:
- Russell, Christopher
- Published:
- [2012].
- Physical Description:
- 1 electronic document
- Additional Creators:
- Hillier, D. John, Owocki, Stanley P., Gull, Theodore R., Okazaki, Atsuo, Groh, Jose H., and Madura, Thomas I.
Online Version
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- Restrictions on Access:
- Unclassified, Unlimited, Publicly available.
Free-to-read Unrestricted online access - Summary:
- Eta-Carinae is considered to be a massive colliding wind binary system with a highly eccentric (e approximately 0.9), 5.54-yr orbit. However, the companion star continues to evade direct detection as the primary dwarfs its emission at most wavelengths. Using three-dimensional (3-D) SPH simulations of eta-Car's colliding winds and radiative transfer codes, we are able to compute synthetic observables across multiple wavebands for comparison to the observations. The models show that the presence of a companion star has a profound influence on the observed HST/STIS UV spectrum and H-alpha line profiles, as well as the ground-based photometric monitoring. Here, we focus on the Bore Hole effect, wherein the fast wind from the hot secondary star carves a cavity in the dense primary wind, allowing increased escape of radiation from the hotter/deeper layers of the primary's extended wind photosphere. The results have important implications for interpretations of eta-Car's observables at multiple wavelengths.
- Other Subject(s):
- Collection:
- NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) Collection.
- Note:
- Document ID: 20120001994.
GSFC.JA.5685.2011. - Terms of Use and Reproduction:
- Copyright, Distribution as joint owner in the copyright.
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