Infrared Spectroscopy of the LBV Counterpart to SGR 1806-20

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I propose to use OSIRIS on the CTIO 4-m to obtain R ~ 3000 near- infrared spectra of the proposed infrared companion to the soft-gamma- ray repeater SGR1806-20. This bright, heavily extincted star has the spectral characteristics of a luminous blue variable. Our recent Palomar 5-m R~850 IR spectra 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. The physical association of such a star with SGR1806-20 would have tremendous implications for our understanding of massive star evolution and neutron star formation. The proposed observations would confirm the association between the LBV star and SGR1806-20, solidify the extinction and distance estimates for the star, and characterize its detailed spectral properties. This will resolve the issue of binarity with SGR1806-20, as well as provide a much-improved observational picture of an extremely rare object.

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