Photometric and polarimetric variability and mass-loss rate of the massive binary Wolf-Rayet star HDE 311884 (WN6 + 05: V)

Journal Article · Thu Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1990 · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/168429· OSTI ID:6851866

Moffat, A F.J.; Drissen, L; Robert, C; Lamontagne, R; Coziol, R ^[1]

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1. Montreal Universite, Montreal (Canada)

Photometric and polarimetric monitoring of the Wolf-Rayet (W-R) + O-type binary system HDE 311884 = WR 47 over many orbital cycles shows the clear effects of phase-dependent electron scattering of O-star light as the orbiting O companion shines through varying column density of W-R stellar wind material. In contrast to this wind-type eclipse, the stars themselves do not quite eclipse. Both photometry and polarimetry give a consistent estimate of the mass-loss rate of the W-R component: at about 0.00003 solar mass/yr. The orbital inclination, i = 70 deg, along with the previously published velocity orbit, yields high masses: M(WN6) = 48 solar masses and M(O5:V) = 57 solar masses. 33 refs.

• OSTI ID: 6851866
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Vol. 350; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BINARY STARS
PHOTOMETRY
POLARIMETRY
WOLF-RAYET STARS
ECLIPSE
MASS
MASS TRANSFER
POLARIZATION
SPECTROPHOTOMETRY
STELLAR WINDS
MAIN SEQUENCE STARS
STARS
STELLAR ACTIVITY
640102* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources