The X-Ray Photo-ionized Wind in Cen X-3/V779 Cen

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

Scientific paper

We fit the X-ray emission line spectrum of the Cen X-3 X-ray binary system obtained in and out of eclipse with ASCA using spectral models of recombination in an X-ray photoionized wind. We test models where the wind comes from the companion star and also models where the wind comes from the accretion disk and find that the wind in the system cannot be dominated by an accretion disk wind. The parameters which we derive for the companion star wind, especially the mass-loss rate divided by the terminal velocity, are consistent with the UV radiation driven winds of isolated O stars. This is surprising as the normal radiation driving mechanism cannot work in highly X-ray photonized plasma. We have also observed Cen X-3 in eclipse with Chandra. The line flux ratios in helium-like triplets confirm our interpretation that the emission lines are due to recombination in a photoionized plasma. Preliminary results suggest that the velocity of the wind derived from line shifts and line widths is lower than that of winds in isolated O stars and so the mass-loss rate is also less than that for isolated O stars. This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract W-7405-Eng-48.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

The X-Ray Photo-ionized Wind in Cen X-3/V779 Cen 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 The X-Ray Photo-ionized Wind in Cen X-3/V779 Cen, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The X-Ray Photo-ionized Wind in Cen X-3/V779 Cen will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-871467

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.