Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2008-05-30
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
34 pages, 8 figures (3 in color). Accepted to ApJ
Scientific paper
10.1086/590491
Using Spitzer Space Telescope photometric observations of the eclipsing, interacting binary WZ Sge, we have discovered that the accretion disk is far more complex than previously believed. Our 4.5 and 8 micron time series observations reveal that the well known gaseous accretion disk is surrounded by an asymmetric disk of dusty material with a radius approximately 15 times larger than the gaseous disk. This dust ring contains only a small amount of mass and is completely invisible at optical and near-IR wavelengths, hence consisting of "dark matter". We have produced a model dust ring using 1 micron spherical particles with a density of 3 g/cm$^3$ and with a temperature profile ranging from 700-1500K. Our discovery about the accretion disk structure and the presence of a larger, outer dust ring have great relevance for accretion disks in general, including those in other interacting binary systems, pre-main sequence stars, and active galaxies.
Brinkworth Carolyn
Hoard Donald Wayne
Howell Steve B.
Rector Travis A.
Walentosky Kafka M. S. J.
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