Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2000-10-22
Mon.Not.Roy.Astron.Soc. 322 (2001) 177
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Accepted for publication in MNRAS, 11 pages, 6 figures
Scientific paper
10.1046/j.1365-8711.2001.04129.x
We observed the energetic binary Cygnus X-3 in both quiescent and flaring states between 4 and 16 microns using the ISO satellite. We find that the quiescent source shows the thermal free-free spectrum typical of a hot, fast stellar wind, such as from a massive helium star. The quiescent mass-loss rate due to a spherically symmetric, non-accelerating wind is found to be in the range 0.4-2.9 x 10E-4 solar masses per year, consistent with other infrared and radio observations, but considerably larger than the 10E-5 solar masses per year deduced from both the orbital change and the X-ray column density. There is rapid, large amplitude flaring at 4.5 and 11.5 microns at the same time as enhanced radio and X-ray activity, with the infrared spectrum apparently becoming flatter in the flaring state. We believe non-thermal processes are operating, perhaps along with enhanced thermal emission.
Bell Burnell Jocelyn S.
Fender Rob P.
Ogley Richard N.
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