scholarly journals Uncovering the orbital dynamics of stars hidden inside their powerful winds: application to η Carinae and RMC 140

2020 ◽  
Vol 494 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Grant ◽  
Katherine Blundell ◽  
James Matthews

ABSTRACT Determining accurate orbits of binary stars with powerful winds is challenging. The dense outflows increase the effective photospheric radius, precluding direct observation of the Keplerian motion; instead, the observables are broad lines emitted over large radii in the stellar wind. Our analysis reveals strong, systematic discrepancies between the radial velocities extracted from different spectral lines: the more extended a line’s emission region, the greater the departure from the true orbital motion. To overcome these challenges, we formulate a novel semi-analytical model that encapsulates both the star’s orbital motion and the propagation of the wind. The model encodes the integrated velocity field of the out-flowing gas in terms of a convolution of past motion due to the finite flow speed of the wind. We test this model on two binary systems. (1) For the extreme case η Carinae, in which the effects are most prominent, we are able to fit the model to 10 Balmer lines from H α to H κ concurrently with a single set of orbital parameters: time of periastron T0 = 2454848 (JD), eccentricity e = 0.91, semi-amplitude $k=69 \, \rm {\, km \, s^{-1}}$, and longitude of periastron ω = 241°. (2) For a more typical case, the Wolf–Rayet star in RMC 140, we demonstrate that for commonly used lines, such as He ii and N iii/iv/v, we expect deviations between the Keplerian orbit and the predicted radial velocities. Our study indicates that corrective modelling, such as presented here, is necessary in order to identify a consistent set of orbital parameters, independent of the emission line used, especially for future high accuracy work.

2005 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 463-463
Author(s):  
Virpi S. Niemela

We present results of our ongoing observing program on search and studies of massive stars (O and WR type) in binary systems in our neighbor galaxies, the Magellanic Clouds. Radial velocity orbits are presented for two new binaries, one in the Small Magellanic Cloud and another in the Large Magellanic Cloud, and improved orbits for previously known systems. We compare orbital parameters of selected binaries containing O and WR type components. We also discuss the present status of knowledge for massive binary stars in the Magellanic Clouds and the problems encountered in their orbital studies such as stellar winds the ubiquitous tendency to be born in multiple systems.


2006 ◽  
Vol 2 (S240) ◽  
pp. 198-201
Author(s):  
D. Falceta-Gonçalves ◽  
Z. Abraham ◽  
V. Jatenco-Pereira

AbstractWhen the winds of two massive stars orbiting each other collide, an interaction zone is created consisting of two shock fronts at both sides of a contact surface. During the cooling process, elements may recombine generating spectral lines. These lines may be Doppler shifted, as the gas stream flows over the interaction zone. To calculate the stream velocity projected into the line of sight we use a simplified conical geometry for the shock fronts and, to determine the synthetic line profile, we have to sum the amount of emitting gas elements with the same Doppler shifted velocity. We show that the stellar mass loss rates and wind velocities, and the orbital inclination and eccentricity, are the main parameters on this physical process. By comparing observational data to the synthetic line profiles it is possible to determine these parameters. We tested this process to Brey 22 WR binary system, and applied to the enigmatic object of η Carinae.


2008 ◽  
Vol 4 (S256) ◽  
pp. 57-62
Author(s):  
Pierre L. North ◽  
Romain Gauderon ◽  
Frédéric Royer

AbstractA sample of 33 eclipsing binaries observed in a field of the SMC with FLAMES@VLT is presented. The radial velocity curves obtained, together with existing OGLE light curves, allowed the determination of all stellar and orbital parameters of these binary systems. The mean distance modulus of the observed part of the SMC is 19.05 mag, based on the 26 most reliable systems. Assuming an average error of 0.1 mag on the distance modulus to an individual system, and a gaussian distribution of the distance moduli, we obtain a 2-σ depth of 0.36 mag or 10.6 kpc. Some results on the kinematics of the binary stars and of the H ii gas are also given.


2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (S282) ◽  
pp. 173-180
Author(s):  
Karen S. Bjorkman

AbstractPolarimetry is a useful diagnostic of asymmetries in both circumstellar environments and binary star systems. Its sensitivity to asymmetries in systems means that it can help to uncover details about system orbital parameters, including providing information about the orbital inclination. Polarimetry can probe the circumstellar and/or circumbinary material as well. A number of significant results on binary systems have been produced by polarimetric studies. One might therefore expect that polarimetry could similarly play a useful role in studies of exoplanets, and a number of possible diagnostics for exoplanets have been proposed. However, the application of polarimetry to exoplanet research is only in preliminary stages, and the difficulties with applying the technique to exoplanets are non-trivial. This review will discuss the successes of polarimetry in analyzing binary systems, and consider the possibilities and challenges for extending similar analysis to exoplanet systems.


2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (S314) ◽  
pp. 117-118
Author(s):  
R. Azulay ◽  
J.C. Guirado ◽  
J.M. Marcaide ◽  
I. Martí-Vidal ◽  
E. Ros

AbstractPrecise determination of dynamical masses of pre-main-sequence stars is essential for calibrating stellar evolution models, that are widely used to derive theoretical masses of young low-mass objects. We have determined the individual masses of the pair AB Dor Ba/Bb using Australian Long Baseline Array observations and archive infrared data, as part of a larger program directed to monitor binary systems in the AB Doradus moving group. We have detected, for the first time, compact radio emission from both stars. This has allowed us to determine the orbital parameters of both the relative and absolute orbits and, consequently, their individual dynamical masses: 0.28±0.05 M⊙ and 0.25±0.05 M⊙. Comparisons of the dynamical masses with the prediction of pre-main-sequence (PMS) evolutionary models show that the models underpredict the dynamical masses of the binary components Ba and Bb by 10–30% and 10–40%, respectively.


2008 ◽  
Vol 4 (S253) ◽  
pp. 462-465
Author(s):  
I. Boisse ◽  
C. Moutou ◽  
A. Vidal-Madjar ◽  
F. Bouchy ◽  
F. Pont ◽  
...  

AbstractExoplanet search programs need to study how to disentangle radial-velocity (RV) variations due to Doppler motion and the noise induced by stellar activity. We monitored the active K2V HD 189733 with the high-resolution SOPHIE spectrograph (OHP, France). We refined the orbital parameters of HD 189733b and put limitations on the eccentricity and on a long-term velocity gradient. We subtracted the orbital motion of the planet and compared the variability of activity spectroscopic indices (HeI, Hα, Ca II H&K lines) to the evolution of the RV residuals and the shape of spectral lines. All are in agreement with an active stellar surface in rotation. We used such correlations to correct for the RV jitter due to stellar activity. This results in achieving a high precision on the orbital parameters, with a semi-amplitude: K=200.56±0.88m⋅s−1 and a derived planet mass of MP=1.13±0.03 MJup.


2009 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Karami ◽  
K. Ghaderi ◽  
R. Mohebi ◽  
R. Sadeghi ◽  
M. M. Soltanzadeh

AbstractWe used an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to derive the orbital parameters of spectroscopic binary stars. Using measured radial velocity data of seven double-lined spectroscopic binary systems V373 Cas, V2388 Oph, V401 Cyg, GM Dra, V523 Cas, AB And and HD 141929, we found corresponding orbital and spectroscopic elements. Our numerical results are in good agreement with those obtained by others using more traditional methods.


1984 ◽  
Vol 105 ◽  
pp. 403-406
Author(s):  
G. Burki ◽  
M. Mayor

Six years ago an observational program on supergiant stars using CORAVEL was initiated at Geneva Observatory. About 1500 radial velocities were obtained out of a sample of 181 northern supergiants of F, G, K, M type. Nineteen new SB have been discovered and 16 others are suspected to be SB. The total rate of binary systems among northern supergiants is in the range of 31–38 % (Burki and Mayor, 1983). This value neither depends on spectral type nor luminosity class.


2006 ◽  
Vol 2 (S240) ◽  
pp. 697-699
Author(s):  
Olivera Latković

AbstractIn the frame of the collaboration of several Southern European observatories, we are examining a number of eclipsing binary systems in search for evidence of pulsating phenomena. We hope our candidate systems will be suitable for subsequent astroseismological studies. As a first step towards this end, we are analyzing spectroscopic observations of several such binary stars; these observations have been made at the National Astronomical Observatory Rozhen, Bulgaria, in the period from 2002 to 2005, and the reduction was done at the Astronomical Observatory of Belgrade, Serbia. The measurements of radial velocities and RV curve analysis are in preparation.


Author(s):  
Noriyuki Katoh ◽  
Yoichi Itoh ◽  
Bun’ei Sato

ABSTRACT This study focuses on periodic variations of radial velocities (RVs) after removing the orbital motion of 33 spectroscopic binaries. The RVs were monitored from 2003 to 2012 and published in Katoh et al. (2013, AJ, 145, 41). Their RV precision was determined to be ∼10 m s−1 utilizing an I2 cell. We investigated the periodic variation using a generalzied Lomb–Scargle algorithm and found periodic variations in the residual velocities of seven binary systems. The residual-velocity variations are mostly generated by stellar activity rather than the orbital motion of a possible companion. For eight binaries, we found significant evidence of a second signal, with velocity dispersions greater than three times the RV uncertainty. We find these residual-velocity variations inconsistent with a Doppler signal induced by the orbital motion of an unknown component. For the remaining 18 binaries, we did not detect significant variations of residual-velocity.


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