Mapping WR140 from infrared spectroscopy and imaging
Abstract
Observations of the 1.083-micron He I line in WR140 (HD 193793) show P-Cygni profiles which varied as the binary system went through periastron passage. A sub-peak appeared on the normally flat-topped emission component and then moved across the profile consistent with its formation in the wind-collision region. Variation of the absorption component provided constraints on the opening angle (theta) of the wind-collision region. Infrared (2-10 micron) images observed with a variety of instruments in 2001-04 resolve the dust cloud formed in 2001, and show it to be expanding at a constant rate. Owing to the high eccentricity of the binary orbit, the dust is spread around the orbital plane in a 'splash' and we compare the dust images with the orientation of the orbit.
Cite
@article{arxiv.astro-ph/0411440,
title = {Mapping WR140 from infrared spectroscopy and imaging},
author = {P. M. Williams and W. P. Varricatt and A. P. Marston and N. M. Ashok},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:astro-ph/0411440},
year = {2007}
}
Comments
5 pages, 6 figures, contribution to "Massive Stars in Interacting Binaries", eds. N. St-Louis and A. F. J. Moffat, ASP Conference Series