Physics – Optics
Scientific paper
Dec 1997
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1997hst..prop.7838s&link_type=abstract
HST Proposal ID #7838
Physics
Optics
Hst Proposal Id #7838 Hot Stars High-Mass Stars
Scientific paper
Models of the evolution of massive binaries predict that a few such objects should survive the common envelope phase and result in systems containing a compact object plus a Wolf-Rayet star {c+WR}. According to these models, a vast amount of stellar material is lost during the common envelope phase prior to the c+WR phase. We propose to test these models by searching for the presence of this circumbinary material around the only known c+WR object: Cyg X-3. Since the large reddening towards Cyg X-3 prevents any investigation in the optical, deep exposures with NIC-2 and the PaAlpha narrow band filter centered on Cyg X-3 will be used to image the system at high spatial resolution. By exposing NIC-1 and NIC-3 in parallel, we will simultaneously cover spatial scales up to 100" . {Although NIC-3 will be out of focus its PaAlpha images will still be superior to ground-based images.} We have already attempted to image Cyg X-3 from the ground using adaptive optics techniques on a 4m telescope. Our exposure yielded a marginal detection of extended nebular emission. While further ground based observations will not significantly inprove upon these images, observations with NICMOS will yield much deeper images. Our goal is to obtain a clear detection of the nebular PaAlpha emission, the strength of which can be used to estimate the initial mass of the WR star; its morphology can be used to constrain models of the mass loss during the common envelope phase.
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