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arXiv · 1703.02086

The Most Massive Heartbeat: An In-depth Analysis of {\iota} Orionis

Herbert Pablo·N. D. Richardson·J. Fuller·J. Rowe·A. F. J. Moffat·R. Kuschnig·A. Popowicz·G. Handler·C. Neiner·A. Pigulski·G. A. Wade·W. Weiss·B. Buysschaert·T. Ramiaramanantsoa·A. D. Bratcher·C. J. Gerhartz·J. J. Greco·K. Hardegree-Ullman·L. Lembryk·W. L. Oswald
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Abstract

{\iota} Ori is a well studied massive binary consisting of an O9 III + B1 III/IV star. Due to its high eccentricity (e = 0.764) and short orbital period (P orb = 29.13376 d), it has been considered to be a good candidate to show evidence of tidal effects; however, none have previously been identified. Using photometry from the BRITE-Constellation space photometry mission we have confirmed the existence of tidal distortions through the presence of a heartbeat signal at periastron. We combine spectroscopic and light curve analyses to measure the masses and radii of the components, revealing {\iota} Ori to be the most massive heartbeat system known to date. In addition, using a thorough frequency analysis, we also report the unprecedented discovery of multiple tidally induced oscillations in an O star. The amplitudes of the pulsations allow us to empirically estimate the tidal circularization rate, yielding an effective tidal quality factor Q $\approx 4 \times 10^{4}$ .

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Herbert Pablo, N. D. Richardson, J. Fuller, J. Rowe, A. F. J. Moffat, R. Kuschnig, A. Popowicz, G. Handler, C. Neiner, A. Pigulski, G. A. Wade, W. Weiss, B. Buysschaert, T. Ramiaramanantsoa, A. D. Bratcher, C. J. Gerhartz, J. J. Greco, K. Hardegree-Ullman, L. Lembryk, W. L. Oswald. 2017-03-06. The Most Massive Heartbeat: An In-depth Analysis of {\iota} Orionis. https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stx207

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