Physics
Scientific paper
Feb 2001
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2001noao.prop..142e&link_type=abstract
NOAO Proposal ID #2001A-0142
Physics
Scientific paper
I propose to use OSIRIS and IRS on the CTIO 4-m to obtain near- infrared spectra of the proposed luminous blue variable star LBV 1806- 20, which is also a candidate companion to the soft-gamma-ray repeater SGR1806-20. Our recent Palomar 5-m R~850 IR spectra of this bright, heavily extincted star show the simultaneous presence of both HeI absorption and HeII emission features, apparently indicating that this star is indeed a physical companion to SGR1806-20. Based on the estimated extinction and distance, the star has L~10^7 L_&sun;, indicating it is one of the most luminous stars in the Galaxy. Recent ISO observations reveal an embedded cluster of hot, massive stars only ~ 12 arcsec (~ 0.8 pc) away from this star, which may be its parent cluster. The proposed observations would characterize the detailed spectral properties of the LBV, solidify the extinction and distance estimates for the star and the nearby cluster, and confirm the association between the LBV star and SGR1806-20. This will resolve the issue of binarity with SGR1806-20 (which would have tremendous implications for our understanding of massive star evolution and neutron star formation), as well as provide a much-improved observational picture of an extremely rare object.
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