940 resultados para STELLAR WIND
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Context.LS 5039 has been observed with several X-ray instruments so far showing quite steady emission in the long term and no signatures of accretion disk. The source also presents X-ray variability at orbital timescales in flux and photon index. The system harbors an O-type main sequence star with moderate mass-loss. At present, the link between the X-rays and the stellar wind is unclear. Aims.We study the X-ray fluxes, spectra, and absorption properties of LS 5039 at apastron and periastron passages during an epoch of enhanced stellar mass-loss, and the long term evolution of the latter in connection with the X-ray fluxes. Methods.New XMM-Newton observations were performed around periastron and apastron passages in September 2005, when the stellar wind activity was apparently higher. April 2005 Chandra observations on LS 5039 were revisited. Moreover, a compilation of H EW data obtained since 1992, from which the stellar mass-loss evolution can be approximately inferred, was carried out. Results.XMM-Newton observations show higher and harder emission around apastron than around periastron. No signatures of thermal emission or a reflection iron line indicating the presence of an accretion disk are found in the spectrum, and the hydrogen column density () is compatible with being the same in both observations and consistent with the interstellar value. 2005 Chandra observations show a hard X-ray spectrum, and possibly high fluxes, although pileup effects preclude conclusive results from being obtained. The H EW shows yearly variations of 10%, and does not seem to be correlated with X-ray fluxes obtained at similar phases, unlike what is expected in the wind accretion scenario. Conclusions.2005 XMM-Newton and Chandra observations are consistent with 2003 RXTE/PCA results, namely moderate flux and spectral variability at different orbital phases. The constancy of the seems to imply that either the X-ray emitter is located at 1012 cm from the compact object, or the density in the system is 3 to 27 times smaller than that predicted by a spherical symmetric wind model. We suggest that the multiwavelength non-thermal emission of LS 5039 is related to the observed extended radio jets and is unlikely to be produced inside the binary system.
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Context. Classical supergiant X-ray binaries (SGXBs) and supergiant fast X-ray transients (SFXTs) are two types of high-mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs) that present similar donors but, at the same time, show very different behavior in the X-rays. The reason for this dichotomy of wind-fed HMXBs is still a matter of debate. Among the several explanations that have been proposed, some of them invoke specific stellar wind properties of the donor stars. Only dedicated empiric analysis of the donors’ stellar wind can provide the required information to accomplish an adequate test of these theories. However, such analyses are scarce. Aims. To close this gap, we perform a comparative analysis of the optical companion in two important systems: IGR J17544-2619 (SFXT) and Vela X-1 (SGXB). We analyze the spectra of each star in detail and derive their stellar and wind properties. As a next step, we compare the wind parameters, giving us an excellent chance of recognizing key differences between donor winds in SFXTs and SGXBs. Methods. We use archival infrared, optical and ultraviolet observations, and analyze them with the non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE) Potsdam Wolf-Rayet model atmosphere code. We derive the physical properties of the stars and their stellar winds, accounting for the influence of X-rays on the stellar winds. Results. We find that the stellar parameters derived from the analysis generally agree well with the spectral types of the two donors: O9I (IGR J17544-2619) and B0.5Iae (Vela X-1). The distance to the sources have been revised and also agree well with the estimations already available in the literature. In IGR J17544-2619 we are able to narrow the uncertainty to d = 3.0 ± 0.2 kpc. From the stellar radius of the donor and its X-ray behavior, the eccentricity of IGR J17544-2619 is constrained to e< 0.25. The derived chemical abundances point to certain mixing during the lifetime of the donors. An important difference between the stellar winds of the two stars is their terminal velocities (ν∞ = 1500 km s-1 in IGR J17544-2619 and ν∞ = 700 km s-1 in Vela X-1), which have important consequences on the X-ray luminosity of these sources. Conclusions. The donors of IGR J17544-2619 and Vela X-1 have similar spectral types as well as similar parameters that physically characterize them and their spectra. In addition, the orbital parameters of the systems are similar too, with a nearly circular orbit and short orbital period. However, they show moderate differences in their stellar wind velocity and the spin period of their neutron star which has a strong impact on the X-ray luminosity of the sources. This specific combination of wind speed and pulsar spin favors an accretion regime with a persistently high luminosity in Vela X-1, while it favors an inhibiting accretion mechanism in IGR J17544-2619. Our study demonstrates that the relative wind velocity is critical in class determination for the HMXBs hosting a supergiant donor, given that it may shift the accretion mechanism from direct accretion to propeller regimes when combined with other parameters.
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We report near-infrared spectroscopic observations of the Eta Carinae massive binary system during 2008-2009 using the CRIRES spectrograph mounted on the 8m UT 1 Very Large Telescope (VLT Antu). We detect a strong, broad absorption wing in He I lambda 10833 extending up to -1900 km s(-1) across the 2009.0 spectroscopic event. Analysis of archival Hubble Space Telescope/Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph ultraviolet and optical data identifies a similar high-velocity absorption (up to -2100 km s(-1)) in the ultraviolet resonance lines of Si IV lambda lambda 1394, 1403 across the 2003.5 event. Ultraviolet resonance lines from low-ionization species, such as Si II lambda lambda 1527, 1533 and CII lambda lambda 1334, 1335, show absorption only up to -1200 km s(-1), indicating that the absorption with velocities -1200 to -2100 km s(-1) originates in a region markedly more rapidly moving and more ionized than the nominal wind of the primary star. Seeing-limited observations obtained at the 1.6m OPD/LNA telescope during the last four spectroscopic cycles of Eta Carinae (1989-2009) also show high-velocity absorption in He I lambda 10833 during periastron. Based on the large OPD/LNA dataset, we determine that material with velocities more negative than -900 km s(-1) is present in the phase range 0.976 <= phi <= 1.023 of the spectroscopic cycle, but absent in spectra taken at phi <= 0.947 and phi >= 1.049. Therefore, we constrain the duration of the high-velocity absorption to be 95 to 206 days (or 0.047 to 0.102 in phase). We propose that the high-velocity absorption component originates in shocked gas in the wind-wind collision zone, at distances of 15 to 45 AU in the line-of-sight to the primary star. With the aid of three-dimensional hydrodynamical simulations of the wind-wind collision zone, we find that the dense high-velocity gas is along the line-of-sight to the primary star only if the binary system is oriented in the sky such that the companion is behind the primary star during periastron, corresponding to a longitude of periastron of omega similar to 240 degrees-270 degrees. We study a possible tilt of the orbital plane relative to the Homunculus equatorial plane and conclude that our data are broadly consistent with orbital inclinations in the range i = 40 degrees-60 degrees.
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Context.Massive stars form in dense and massive molecular cores. The exact formation mechanism is unclear, but it is possible that some massive stars are formed by processes similar to those that produce the low-mass stars, with accretion/ejection phenomena occurring at some point of the evolution of the protostar. This picture seems to be supported by the detection of a collimated stellar wind emanating from the massive protostar IRAS 16547-4247. A triple radio source is associated with the protostar: a compact core and two radio lobes. The emission of the southern lobe is clearly non-thermal. Such emission is interpreted as synchrotron radiation produced by relativistic electrons locally accelerated at the termination point of a thermal jet. Since the ambient medium is determined by the properties of the molecular cloud in which the whole system is embedded, we can expect high densities of particles and infrared photons. Because of the confirmed presence of relativistic electrons, inverse Compton and relativistic Bremsstrahlung interactions are unavoidable. Aims.We aim to make quantitative predictions of the spectral energy distribution of the non-thermal spots generated by massive young stellar objects, with emphasis on the particular case of IRAS 16547-4247. Methods.We study the high-energy emission generated by the relativistic electrons which produce the non-thermal radio source in IRAS 16547-4247. We also study the result of proton acceleration at the terminal shock of the thermal jet and make estimates of the secondary gamma rays and electron-positron pairs produced by pion decay. Results.We present spectral energy distributions for the southern lobe of IRAS 16547-4247, for a variety of conditions. We show that high-energy emission might be detectable from this object in the gamma-ray domain. The source may also be detectable in X-rays through long exposures with current X-ray instruments. Conclusions.Gamma-ray telescopes such as GLAST, and even ground-based Cherenkov arrays of new generation can be used to study non-thermal processes occurring during the formation of massive stars.
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Diverses méthodes ont été utilisées pour étudier les étoiles Wolf-Rayet (WR) dans le but de comprendre les phénomènes physiques variés qui prennent place dans leur vent dense. Pour étudier la variabilité qui n'est pas strictement périodique et ayant des caractéristiques différentes d'une époque à l'autre, il faut observer pendant des périodes de temps suffisamment longues en adopter un échantillonnage temporel élevé pour être en mesure d'identifier les phénomènes physiques sous-jacents. À l'été 2013, des astronomes professionnels et amateurs du monde entier ont contribué à une campagne d'observation de 4 mois, principalement en spectroscopie, mais aussi en photométrie, polarimétrie et en interférométrie, pour observer les 3 premières étoiles Wolf-Rayet découvertes: WR 134 (WN6b), WR 135 (WC8) et WR 137 (WC7pd + O9). Chacune de ces étoiles est intéressante à sa manière, chacune présentant une variété différente de structures dans son vent. Les données spectroscopiques de cette campagne ont été réduites et analysées pour l'étoile présumée simple WR 134 pour mieux comprendre le comportement de sa variabilité périodique à long terme dans le cadre d'une étude des régions d'interactions en corotation (CIRs) qui se retrouvent dans son vent. Les résultats de cette étude sont présentés dans ce mémoire.
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By means of numerical simulations, we investigate magnetized stellar winds of pre-main-sequence stars. In particular, we analyze under which circumstances these stars will present elongated magnetic features (e.g., helmet streamers, slingshot prominences, etc). We focus on weak-lined T Tauri stars, as the presence of the tenuous accretion disk is not expected to have strong influence on the structure of the stellar wind. We show that the plasma-beta parameter (the ratio of thermal to magnetic energy densities) is a decisive factor in defining the magnetic configuration of the stellar wind. Using initial parameters within the observed range for these stars, we show that the coronal magnetic field configuration can vary between a dipole-like configuration and a configuration with strong collimated polar lines and closed streamers at the equator (multicomponent configuration for the magnetic field). We show that elongated magnetic features will only be present if the plasma-beta parameter at the coronal base is beta(0) << 1. Using our self-consistent three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamics model, we estimate for these stellar winds the timescale of planet migration due to drag forces exerted by the stellar wind on a hot-Jupiter. In contrast to the findings of Lovelace et al., who estimated such timescales using the Weber and Davis model, our model suggests that the stellar wind of these multicomponent coronae are not expected to have significant influence on hot-Jupiters migration. Further simulations are necessary to investigate this result under more intense surface magnetic field strengths (similar to 2-3 kG) and higher coronal base densities, as well as in a tilted stellar magnetosphere.
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We present an analysis of a 78 ks Chandra high-energy transmission gratings observation of the B0I star QV Nor, the massive donor of the wind-accreting pulsar 4U1538−52. The neutron star (NS) orbits its companion in a very close orbit (r < 1.4R*, in units of the stellar radii), thereby allowing probing of the innermost wind regions. The flux of the Fe Kα line during eclipse reduces to only ∼30% of the flux measured out of eclipse. This indicates that the majority of Fe fluorescence must be produced in regions close to the NS, at distances smaller than 1R* from its surface. The fact that the flux of the continuum decreases to only ∼3% during eclipse allows for a high contrast of the Fe Kα line fluorescence during eclipse. The line is not resolved and centered at 1.9368 0.0018 l = 0.0032 - + Å. From the inferred plasma speed limit of v < c l < 800 l D km s−1 and range of ionization parameters of log 1, 2 x = [- ], together with the stellar density profile, we constrain the location of the cold, dense material in the stellar wind of QV Nor using simple geometrical considerations. We then use the Fe Kα line fluorescence as a tracer of wind clumps and determine that these clumps in the stellar wind of QV Nor (B0I) must already be present at radii r < 1.25R*, close to the photosphere of the star.
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La tasca investigadora presentada en aquesta memòria s'ha centrat en les fonts galàctiques de raigs gamma de molt alta energia LS I +61 303, HESS J1708-410 i HESS J1858+020. La primera és una binària de raigs gamma molt estudiada, formada per una estrella massiva i un objecte compacte. S'ha proposat un escenari on l'objecte compacte seria un púlsar jove, i la interacció del seu vent amb el vent de l'estrella generaria els raigs gamma. De totes formes, no s'ha detectat polsos procedents d'aquest putatiu púlsar. L'investigador va realitzar observacions en fase a 1280 MHz amb el radiotelescopi GMRT, sense trobar-hi polsos, cosa que implica un estricte límit superior de 0,38 mJy a la densitat mitjana de flux polsat en un putatiu púlsar amb un període major que 2 mil•lisegons en el sistema binari LS I +61 303. Per altra banda, HESS J1708-410 i HESS J1858+020 són dues fonts esteses de raigs gamma de molt alta energia de les quals no es coneix cap contrapart a d'altres longituds d'ona. L'investigador les va observar amb el GMRT, quatre vegades HESS J1708-410 (dues a 610 MHz i dues a 1400 MHz) i dues vegades HESS J1858+020 (una a cada freqüència). En les imatges realitzades amb aquestes dades no hi ha emissió estesa coincident amb les regions d'emissió de raigs gamma. HESS J1858+020 se solapa parcialment amb una font estesa que podria ser un SNR. De confirmar-se la falta de contrapartida ràdio de HESS J1708-410, estaríem parlant d'un accelerador hadrònic extraordinàriament eficient, d'una classe desconeguda fins ara.
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Context.It has been proposed that the origin of the very high-energy photons emitted from high-mass X-ray binaries with jet-like features, so-called microquasars (MQs), is related to hadronic interactions between relativistic protons in the jet and cold protons of the stellar wind. Leptonic secondary emission should be calculated in a complete hadronic model that includes the effects of pairs from charged pion decays inside the jets and the emission from pairs generated by gamma-ray absorption in the photosphere of the system. Aims.We aim at predicting the broadband spectrum from a general hadronic microquasar model, taking into account the emission from secondaries created by charged pion decay inside the jet. Methods.The particle energy distribution for secondary leptons injected along the jets is consistently derived taking the energy losses into account. The spectral energy distribution resulting from these leptons is calculated after assuming different values of the magnetic field inside the jets. We also compute the spectrum of the gamma-rays produced by neutral pion-decay and processed by electromagnetic cascades under the stellar photon field. Results.We show that the secondary emission can dominate the spectral energy distribution at low energies (~1 MeV). At high energies, the production spectrum can be significantly distorted by the effect of electromagnetic cascades. These effects are phase-dependent, and some variability modulated by the orbital period is predicted.
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We have compiled optical and radio astrometric data of the microquasar LS 5039 and derived its proper motion. This, together with the distance and radial velocity of the system, allows us to state that this source is escaping from its own regional standard of rest, with a total systemic velocity of about 150 km/s and a component perpendicular to the galactic plane larger than 100 km/s. This is probably the result of an acceleration obtained during the supernova event that created the compact object in this binary system. We have computed the trajectory of LS 5039 in the past, and searched for OB associations and supernova remnants in its path. In particular, we have studied the possible association between LS 5039 and the supernova remnant G016.8-01.1, which, despite our efforts, remains dubious. We have also discovered and studied an HI cavity in the ISM, which could have been created by the stellar wind of LS 5039 or by the progenitor of the compact object in the system. Finally, in the symmetric supernova explosion scenario, we estimate that at least 17 solar masses were lost in order to produce the high eccentricity observed. Such a mass loss could also explain the observed runaway velocity of the microquasar.
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Nous présentons un relevé et une analyse spectroscopiques de plus de 1300 naines blanches brillantes (V < 17.5) et riches en hydrogène. Des spectres dans le domaine du visible avec un rapport signal-sur-bruit élevé ont été obtenus et les données ont ensuite été analysées avec notre méthode spectroscopique habituelle qui compare les profils observés des raies de Balmer à des spectres synthétiques calculés à partir de la dernière génération de modèles d’atmosphère. D’abord, nous présentons une analyse détaillée de 29 naines blanches de type DAO utilisant une nouvelle grille de modèles qui inclut du carbone, de l’azote et de l’oxygène aux abondances solaires. Nous démontrons que l’ajout de ces métaux dans les modèles d’atmosphère est essentiel pour surmonter le problème des raies de Balmer qui empêche un ajustement simultané de toutes les raies de Balmer avec des paramètres atmosphériques cohérents. Nous identifions également 18 naines blanches chaudes de type DA qui souffrent aussi du problème des raies de Balmer. Des spectres dans l’ultraviolet lointain obtenus des archives du satellite FUSE sont ensuite examinés pour démontrer qu’il existe une corrélation entre les abondances métalliques élevées et les cas du problème des raies de Balmer. Les conséquences de ces résultats pour toutes les naines blanches chaudes et riches en hydrogène sont discutées. En particulier, le scénario évolutif pour les naines blanches DAO est révisé et nous n’avons plus besoin d’évoquer l’évolution post-EHB pour expliquer la majorité des étoiles DAO. Finalement, nous élaborons un scénario dans lequel les métaux engendrent un faible vent stellaire qui expliquerait la présence d’hélium dans les étoiles DAO. Ensuite, nous présentons les résultats globaux de notre relevé, ce qui inclut une analyse spectroscopique de plus de 1200 naines blanches de type DA. En premier lieu, nous présentons le contenu spectroscopique de notre échantillon qui contient de nombreuses classifications erronées ainsi que plusieurs naines blanches de type DAB, DAZ et magnétiques. Nous discutons ensuite des nouveaux modèles d'atmosphère utilisés dans notre analyse. De plus, nous utilisons des modèles de naines M pour obtenir de meilleures valeurs des paramètres atmosphériques pour les naines blanches qui sont membres de systèmes binaires DA+dM. Certaines naines blanches uniques et quelques systèmes binaires double-dégénérées sont également analysés de manière plus détaillée. Nous examinons ensuite les propriétés globales de notre échantillon incluant la distribution de masse et la distribution de masse en fonction de la température. Nous étudions également la façon dont les nouveaux profils de raies de Balmer affectent la détermination des paramètres atmosphériques. Nous testons la précision et la robustesse de nos méthodes en comparant nos résultats avec ceux du projet SPY, dans le cadre duquel plus de 300 des mêmes naines blanches ont été analysées d'une manière complètement indépendante. Finalement, nous faisons un retour sur la bande d'instabilité des naines blanches pulsantes de type ZZ Ceti pour voir quels effets ont les nouveaux profils de raies sur la détermination de ses frontières empiriques.
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Ce mémoire s’intéresse au système binaire massif CV Serpentis, composé d’une Wolf- Rayet riche en carbone et d’une étoile de la séquence principale, de type spectral O (WC8d + O8-9IV). D’abord, certains phénomènes affectant les étoiles massives sont mentionnés, de leur passage sur la séquence principale à leur mort (supernova). Au cours du premier cha- pitre, un rappel est fait concernant certaines bases de l’astrophysique stellaire observa- tionnelle (diagramme Hertzsprung-Russell, phases évolutives, etc...). Au chapitre suivant, un des aspects les plus importants de la vie des étoiles massives est abordé : la perte de masse sous forme de vents stellaires. Un historique de la découverte des vents ouvre le chapitre, suivi des fondements théoriques permettant d’expliquer ce phénomène. Ensuite, différents aspects propres aux vents stellaires sont présentés. Au troisième chapitre, un historique détaillé de CV Ser est présenté en guise d’introduc- tion à cet objet singulier. Ses principales caractéristiques connues y sont mentionnées. Finalement, le cœur de ce mémoire se retrouve au chapitre 4. Des courbes de lumière ultra précises du satellite MOST (2009 et 2010) montrent une variation apparente du taux de perte de masse de la WR de l’ordre de 62% sur une période orbitale de 29.701 jours. L’analyse des résidus permet de trouver une signature suggérant la présence de régions d’interaction en corotation (en anglais corotating interaction regions, ou CIR) dans le vent WR. Une nouvelle solution orbitale est présentée ainsi que les paramètres de la région de collision des vents et les types spectraux sont confirmés.
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Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal
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Based on our previous work, we investigate here the effects on the wind and magnetospheric structures of weak-lined T Tauri stars due to a misalignment between the axis of rotation of the star and its magnetic dipole moment vector. In such a configuration, the system loses the axisymmetry presented in the aligned case, requiring a fully three-dimensional (3D) approach. We perform 3D numerical magnetohydrodynamic simulations of stellar winds and study the effects caused by different model parameters, namely the misalignment angle theta(t), the stellar period of rotation, the plasma-beta, and the heating index.. Our simulations take into account the interplay between the wind and the stellar magnetic field during the time evolution. The system reaches a periodic behavior with the same rotational period of the star. We show that the magnetic field lines present an oscillatory pattern. Furthermore, we obtain that by increasing theta(t), the wind velocity increases, especially in the case of strong magnetic field and relatively rapid stellar rotation. Our 3D, time-dependent wind models allow us to study the interaction of a magnetized wind with a magnetized extrasolar planet. Such interaction gives rise to reconnection, generating electrons that propagate along the planet`s magnetic field lines and produce electron cyclotron radiation at radio wavelengths. The power released in the interaction depends on the planet`s magnetic field intensity, its orbital radius, and on the stellar wind local characteristics. We find that a close-in Jupiter-like planet orbiting at 0.05 AU presents a radio power that is similar to 5 orders of magnitude larger than the one observed in Jupiter, which suggests that the stellar wind from a young star has the potential to generate strong planetary radio emission that could be detected in the near future with LOFAR. This radio power varies according to the phase of rotation of the star. For three selected simulations, we find a variation of the radio power of a factor 1.3-3.7, depending on theta(t). Moreover, we extend the investigation done in Vidotto et al. and analyze whether winds from misaligned stellar magnetospheres could cause a significant effect on planetary migration. Compared to the aligned case, we show that the timescale tau(w) for an appreciable radial motion of the planet is shorter for larger misalignment angles. While for the aligned case tau(w) similar or equal to 100 Myr, for a stellar magnetosphere tilted by theta(t) = 30 degrees, tau(w) ranges from similar to 40 to 70 Myr for a planet located at a radius of 0.05 AU. Further reduction on tau(w) might occur for even larger misalignment angles and/or different wind parameters.
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The Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars are hot luminous objects which are suffering an extreme mass loss via a continuous stellar wind. The high values of mass loss rates and high terminal velocities of the WR stellar winds constitute a challenge to the theories of radiation driven winds. Several authors incorporated magnetic forces to the line driven mechanism in order to explain these characteristics of the wind. Observations indicate that the WR stellar winds may reach, at the photosphere, velocities of the order of the terminal values, which means that an important part of the wind acceleration occurs at the optically thick region. The aim of this study is to analyze a model in which the wind in a WR star begins to be accelerated in the optically thick part of the wind. We used as initial conditions stellar parameters taken from the literature and solved the energy, mass and momentum equations. We demonstrate that the acceleration only by radiative forces is prevented by the general behavior of the opacities. Combining radiative forces plus a flux of Alfven waves, we found in the simulations a fast drop in the wind density profile which strongly reduces the extension of the optically thick region and the wind becomes optically thin too close its base. The understanding how the WR wind initiate is still an open issue. (C) 2010 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.