PROBING WOLF-RAYET WINDS: CHANDRA/HETG X-RAY SPECTRA OF WR 6

David P. Huenemoerder; K. G. Gayley; W. -R. Hamann; R. Ignace; J. S. Nichols; L. Oskinova; A. M. T. Pollock; N. S. Schulz; T. Shenar

doi:10.1088/0004-637X/815/1/29

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PROBING WOLF-RAYET WINDS: CHANDRA/HETG X-RAY SPECTRA OF WR 6

Journal article

Peer reviewed

PROBING WOLF-RAYET WINDS: CHANDRA/HETG X-RAY SPECTRA OF WR 6

David P. Huenemoerder, K. G. Gayley, W. -R. Hamann, R. Ignace, J. S. Nichols, L. Oskinova, A. M. T. Pollock, N. S. Schulz and T. Shenar

The Astrophysical journal, Vol.815(1), p.29

12/10/2015

DOI: 10.1088/0004-637X/815/1/29

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Abstract

With a deep Chandra/HETGS exposure of WR 6, we have resolved emission lines whose profiles show that the X-rays originate from a uniformly expanding spherical wind of high X-ray-continuum optical depth. The presence of strong helium-like forbidden lines places the source of X-ray emission at tens to hundreds of stellar radii from the photosphere. Variability was present in X-rays and simultaneous optical photometry, but neither were correlated with the known period of the system or with each other. An enhanced abundance of sodium revealed nuclear-processed material, a quantity related to the evolutionary state of the star. The characterization of the extent and nature of the hot plasma in WR 6 will help to pave the way to a more fundamental theoretical understanding of the winds and evolution of massive stars.

Astronomy & Astrophysics

Physical Sciences

Science & Technology

Details

Title: Subtitle: PROBING WOLF-RAYET WINDS: CHANDRA/HETG X-RAY SPECTRA OF WR 6
Creators: David P. Huenemoerder - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
K. G. Gayley - University of Iowa
W. -R. Hamann - University of Potsdam
R. Ignace - East Tennessee State University
J. S. Nichols - Center for Astrophysics Harvard & Smithsonian
L. Oskinova - University of Potsdam
A. M. T. Pollock - European Space Agcy, ESAC, E-28691 Villanueva De La Canada, Spain
N. S. Schulz - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
T. Shenar - University of Potsdam
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: The Astrophysical journal, Vol.815(1), p.29
DOI: 10.1088/0004-637X/815/1/29
ISSN: 0004-637X
eISSN: 1538-4357
Publisher: Iop Publishing Ltd
Number of pages: 16
Grant note: NAS8-03060 / National Aeronautics Space Administration; National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) NAS8-03060 / Chandra X-ray Center NASA; National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) GO3-14003A; GO5-16009A; GO3-14003D; GO3-14003B; GO3-13003C / National Aeronautics and Space Administration; National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) 50 OR 1302 / DLR grant; Helmholtz Association; German Aerospace Centre (DLR)
Language: English
Date published: 12/10/2015
Academic Unit: Physics and Astronomy
Record Identifier: 9984428808502771

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