The low X-ray temperatures and luminosities of colliding wind binaries compared to theoretical expectations has been a long standing problem. As a potential solution to this problem we present quantitative calculations of the radiation hydrodynamics in colliding wind binary systems, accounting for the effect of two radiation fields on the dynamics of both winds, using a formulation similar to that of Castor et al. (1975, ApJ 195, 157). A more detailed description of this work can be found in Stevens & Pollock (1994, MNRAS in press). Consider only the WR wind being driven under the influence of the WR and O-star radiation fields and motion only on the line-of-centers. Near the WR-star, its own radiation field dominates, and the mass-loss rate will be largely unaffected by the presence of the companion. However, moving towards the O-star, the O-star radiation field becomes a significant fraction of the total flux. As the O-star radiation field is opposed to the WR radiation field the radiative line-force will be diminished and the wind acceleration diminished. This will lead to the WR star wind colliding with the O-star wind at a lower velocity than would be expected from single star models. This mechanism will only be at work in close binary systems. In wide binaries both winds will be at terminal velocity before the other radiation field makes a difference. Results for a sample calculation are shown in Fig 1, using parameters for V444 Cyg from Schmutz et al. (1989, A&A 210, 236). In the absence of any deceleration effects the WR wind velocity at the shock would be ∼ 1300 km s−1, corresponding to kT ∼ 2 keV. The reduction in the WR star velocity at the shock interface caused by the O-star radiation field is predicted to be ∼ x2 leading to kTx ∼ 0.5 keV, in line with X-ray observations.
Optical depths for gamma-rays in the radiation field of a star heated by an external X-ray source in LMXBs
