Article (Scientific journals)
A radio-map of the colliding winds in the very massive binary system HD93129A
Benaglia, Paula; Marcote, Benito; Moldon, Javier et al.
2015In Astronomy and Astrophysics, 579, p. 99
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Keywords :
Massive stars; Binary systems; Radio continuum; Non-thermal radiation mechanism; HD93129A; Space
Abstract :
[en] Radio observations are an effective tool to discover particle acceleration regions in colliding-wind binaries, through detection of synchrotron radiation; these regions are natural laboratories for the study of relativistic particles.Wind-collision region (WCR) models can reproduce the radio continuum spectra of massive binaries that contain both thermal and non-thermal radio emission; however, key constraints for models come from high-resolution imaging. Only five WCRs have been resolved to date at radio frequencies at milliarcsec (mas) angular scales. The source HD93129A, prototype of the very few known O2 I stars, is a romising target for study: recently, a second massive, early-type star about 50 mas away was discovered, and a non-thermal radio source detected in the region. Preliminary long-baseline array data suggest that a significant fraction of the radio emission from the system comes from a putative WCR. We sought evidence that HD93129A is a massive binary system with colliding stellar winds that produce non-thermal radiation, through spatially resolved images of the radio emitting regions. Methods.We completed observations with the Australian Long Baseline Array (LBA) to resolve the system at mas angular resolutions and reduced archival Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) data to derive the total radio emission. We also compiled optical astrometric data of the system in a homogeneous way. We reduced historical Hubble Space Telescope data and obtained absolute and relative astrometry with milliarcsec accuracy. The astrometric analysis leads us to conclude that the two stars in HD93129A form a gravitationally bound system. The LBA data reveal an extended arc-shaped non-thermal source between the two stars, indicative of a WCR. The wind momentum-rate ratio of the two stellar winds is estimated. The ATCA data show a point source with a change in flux level between 2003-4 and 2008-9, that is modeled with a non-thermal power-law spectrum with spectral indices of - 1:03 +/- 0:09 and -1:21 +/- 0:03 respectively. The mass-loss rates derived from the deduced thermal radio emission and from the characteristics of the WCR are consistent with estimates derived by other authors.
Disciplines :
Space science, astronomy & astrophysics
Author, co-author :
Benaglia, Paula
Marcote, Benito
Moldon, Javier
Nelan, Ed
De Becker, Michaël  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO)
Dougherty, Sean
Koribalski, Baerbel
Language :
English
Title :
A radio-map of the colliding winds in the very massive binary system HD93129A
Publication date :
July 2015
Journal title :
Astronomy and Astrophysics
ISSN :
0004-6361
eISSN :
1432-0746
Publisher :
EDP Sciences, Les Ulis, France
Volume :
579
Pages :
A99
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Available on ORBi :
since 27 March 2015

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