Multifrequency observations of the Wolf-Rayet star WR 146: another colliding-wind binary?

Details Multifrequency observations of the Wolf-Rayet star WR 146: another colliding-wind binary? Multifrequency observations of the Wolf-Rayet star WR 146: another colliding-wind binary?

Jun 1996

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1996mnras.280..963d&link_type=abstract

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Volume 280, Issue 3, pp. 963-970.

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

56

Stars: Individual: Wr 146, Stars: Wolf-Rayet, Radio Continuum: Stars

Scientific paper

We present the first high-spatial-resolution radio observations of the Wolf-Rayet star WR 146, obtained at 1.6 and 5 GHz with the MERLIN array. The 5-GHz observations resolve the source into two components separated by 116+/-14 milliarcsecond (mas). The weaker (southern) source is identified as thermal emission arising from the stellar wind of the WR star and the stronger (northern) source, which is resolved with a diameter of 38 mas and a brightness temperature T_b~10^6 K, as non-thermal emission. New infrared and millimetre photometry of WR 146 is consistent with a stellar-wind origin for the southern radio component, and allows us to estimate the distance to the WR star to be 1.2+/-0.3 kpc. We also present a blue spectrum of WR 146, which shows evidence for absorption lines attributable to an OB-type companion to the WC6 star. In these respects, WR 146 is similar to the other Wolf-Rayet stars (WR 125 and 140) known to be non-thermal emitters. We suggest that the non-thermal emission arises from the interaction of the WR wind and that of its newly detected luminous companion. The observed size of the non-thermal radio-emitting region is consistent with that expected from colliding-wind theory. We estimate that the non-thermal emission is essentially unabsorbed by the stellar wind of the WR star, providing an unprecedented opportunity for studying colliding winds.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Multifrequency observations of the Wolf-Rayet star WR 146: another colliding-wind binary? does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Multifrequency observations of the Wolf-Rayet star WR 146: another colliding-wind binary?, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Multifrequency observations of the Wolf-Rayet star WR 146: another colliding-wind binary? will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1301546