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arXiv · 1307.7074

The XMM-Newton EPIC X-ray Light Curve Analysis of WR 6

R. Ignace·K. G. Gayley·W. R. Hamann·D. P. Huenemoerder·L. M. Oskinova·A. M. T. Pollock·M. McFall
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Abstract

We obtained four pointings of over 100 ks each of the well-studied Wolf-Rayet star WR 6 with the XMM-Newton satellite. With a first paper emphasizing the results of spectral analysis, this follow-up highlights the X-ray variability clearly detected in all four pointings. However, phased light curves fail to confirm obvious cyclic behavior on the well-established 3.766 d period widely found at longer wavelengths. The data are of such quality that we were able to conduct a search for "event clustering" in the arrival times of X-ray photons. However, we fail to detect any such clustering. One possibility is that X-rays are generated in a stationary shock structure. In this context we favor a co-rotating interaction region (CIR) and present a phenomenological model for X-rays from a CIR structure. We show that a CIR has the potential to account simultaneously for the X-ray variability and constraints provided by the spectral analysis. Ultimately, the viability of the CIR model will require both intermittent long-term X-ray monitoring of WR 6 and better physical models of CIR X-ray production at large radii in stellar winds.

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R. Ignace, K. G. Gayley, W. R. Hamann, D. P. Huenemoerder, L. M. Oskinova, A. M. T. Pollock, M. McFall. 2013-07-26. The XMM-Newton EPIC X-ray Light Curve Analysis of WR 6. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637x/775/1/29

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