Lomax, JR, Nazé, Y, Hoffman, JL et al. (8 more authors) (2015) V444 Cygni X-ray and polarimetric variability: radiative and coriolis forces shape the wind collision region. Astronomy and Astrophysics, 573. A43. 1 - 18 (18). ISSN 0004-6361
Abstract
We present results from a study of the eclipsing, colliding-wind binary V444 Cyg that uses a combination of X-ray and optical spectropolarimetric methods to describe the 3D nature of the shock and wind structure within the system. We have created the most complete X-ray light curve of V444 Cyg to date using 40 ks of new data from Swift, and 200 ks of new and archived XMM-Newton observations. In addition, we have characterized the intrinsic, polarimetric phase-dependent behavior of the strongest optical emission lines using data obtained with the University of Wisconsin's Half-Wave Spectropolarimeter. We have detected evidence of the Coriolis distortion of the wind-wind collision in the X-ray regime, which manifests itself through asymmetric behavior around the eclipses in the system's X-ray light curves. The large opening angle of the X-ray emitting region, as well as its location (i.e. the WN wind does not collide with the O star, but rather its wind) are evidence of radiative braking/inhibition occurring within the system. Additionally, the polarimetric results show evidence of the cavity the wind-wind collision region carves out of the Wolf-Rayet star's wind.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | (c) ESO 2014. This is an author produced version of a paper published in Astronomy & Astrophysics. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy |
Keywords: | Binaries: eclipsing; Stars: Wolf-Rayet; Stars: winds, outflows; Stars: individual: V444 Cyg; Techniques: polarimetric; X-rays: stars |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences (Leeds) > School of Physics and Astronomy (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 20 Apr 2015 10:35 |
Last Modified: | 18 Jan 2018 13:47 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201424468 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | EDP Sciences |
Identification Number: | 10.1051/0004-6361/201424468 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:84006 |