Discovery of Extremely Large-Amplitude Quasi-Periodic Photometric Variability in WC9-Type Wolf-Rayet Binary, WR 104

Details Discovery of Extremely Large-Amplitude Quasi-Periodic Photometric Variability in WC9-Type Wolf-Rayet Binary, WR 104 Discovery of Extremely Large-Amplitude Quasi-Periodic Photometric Variability in WC9-Type Wolf-Rayet Binary, WR 104

2002-05-30

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0205525v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

5 pages, 4 figures, to appear in PASJ (Letters), using an alternative style file

Scientific paper

We discovered that the Wolf-Rayet (WR)+OB star binary, WR 104, renowned for its associated "dusty pinwheel nebula" recently spatially resolved with infrared interferometry, exhibits strong quasi-periodic optical variations with a full amplitude of 2.7 mag. Such a large-amplitude, continuous variation has been unprecedented in a WR star. The optical quasi-period (~241 d) is in almost perfect agreement with the interferometric period (243.5+/-3 d). The remarkable agreement of the dominant period in optical variability with the orbital period supports that the strongly varying dust obscuration is physically related to the binary motion, rather than sporadic dust-forming episodes. Considering the low orbital inclination (11+/-7 deg) and the nearly circular orbit inferred from the interferometric observations, the strongly variable line-of-sight extinction suggests that the highly structured extinction can be being formed via an ejection of dust in the direction of the binary rotation axis. Another viable explanation is that the three-dimensional structure of the shock front, itself is the obscuring body. Depending on the geometry, the dusty shock front near the conjunction phase of the binary can completely obscure the inner WR-star wind and the OB star, which can explain the amplitude of optical fading and the past observation of remarkable spectral variation.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Discovery of Extremely Large-Amplitude Quasi-Periodic Photometric Variability in WC9-Type Wolf-Rayet Binary, WR 104 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 Discovery of Extremely Large-Amplitude Quasi-Periodic Photometric Variability in WC9-Type Wolf-Rayet Binary, WR 104, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Discovery of Extremely Large-Amplitude Quasi-Periodic Photometric Variability in WC9-Type Wolf-Rayet Binary, WR 104 will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-99887