SS 433: a WR X-ray binary or a WR-type phenomenon ?
Abstract
We present mid-infrared spectra of the microquasar SS 433 obtained with the Infrared Space Observatory (spectroscopic mode of ISOPHOT) and compare them to the spectra of four Wolf-Rayet stars. The mid-infrared spectrum of SS 433 shows mainly HI and HeI emission lines and is very similar to the spectrum of WR 147, a WN8(h)+B0.5V binary with a colliding wind. The 2-12 micron continuum emission corresponds to optically thin and partially optically thick free-free emission from which we calculate a mass loss rate of 1.4-2.2x10^{-4} M_sun/yr if the wind is homogeneous and a third of these values if it is clumped, which is consistent with a strong WN stellar wind. We propose that this strong wind outflows from a geometrically thick envelope of material surrounding the compact object like a stellar atmosphere, imitating the Wolf-Rayet phenomenon.
Cite
@article{arxiv.astro-ph/0410480,
title = {SS 433: a WR X-ray binary or a WR-type phenomenon ?},
author = {Yael Fuchs and L. Koch Miramond and P. Abraham},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:astro-ph/0410480},
year = {2007}
}
Comments
5 pages, 2 ps figure files, to appear in proceedings of "Massive Stars in Interacting Binaries" (Lac Sacacomie, Quebec, 16-20 Aug 2004) eds. Nicole St-Louis & Tony Moffat, ASP Conference Series