ULTRAVIOLET SPECTROSCOPIC ANALYSIS OF TRANSIENT MASS FLOW OUTBURST IN U CEPHEI
- Physics Department, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015 (United States)
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771 (United States)
- Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas, Paseo del Bosque s/n, B1900FWA-La Plata (Argentina)
- Centro de Astrobiologia, CSIC/INTA, Carretera de Torrejon a Ajalvir, E-28850 Torrejon de Ardoz (Madrid) (Spain)
Spectra from the International Ultraviolet Explorer taken in 1989 September over one full orbital period of U Cephei (U Cep, HD 5796) are analyzed. The TLUSTY and SYNSPEC stellar atmospheric simulation programs are used to generate synthetic spectra to which U Cep continuum levels are normalized. Absorption lines attributed to the photosphere are divided out to isolate mass flow and accretion spectra. A radial velocity curve is constructed for conspicuous gas stream features, and shows evidence for a transient flow during secondary eclipse with outward velocities ranging between 200 and 350 km s{sup –1}, and a number density of (3 ± 2) × 10{sup 10} cm{sup –3}. The validity of C IV 1548 and 1550 and Si IV 1393 and 1402 lines are re-examined in the context of extreme rotational blending effects. A G-star to B-star mass transfer rate of (5 ± 4) × 10{sup –9} M{sub ☉} yr{sup –1} is calculated as an approximate upper limit, and a model system is presented.
- OSTI ID:
- 22270933
- Journal Information:
- Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 775, Issue 1; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0004-637X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
A TRANSITION REGION EXPLOSIVE EVENT OBSERVED IN He II WITH THE MOSES SOUNDING ROCKET
Mass flow in the 07f binary UW Canis Majoris