Searcharxiv⌕ Search
Home/Archive/arXiv

arXiv · astro-ph/9912017

R4 and its circumstellar nebula: evidence for a binary merger?

A. Pasquali·A. Nota·N. Langer·R. E. Schulte-Ladbeck·M. Clampin
View original source ↗Read source document ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

We present new, NTT longslit spectroscopy of the B[e] supergiant in the binary system R4 in the Small Magellanic Cloud. The data show extended, forbidden N and S emissions which are typical signatures of circumstellar matter. Their extension along the space axis of the slit defines an angular size of 8.6'' which translates into a linear size of 2.4 pc. The N emission lines also show the velocity structure of a bipolar outflow expanding at 100 km/s on average. This implies that, for a measured radius of 1.2 pc, the outflow originated about 12000 yrs ago. The line flux ratio [NII]6584/[SII]6717 indicates that the nebula is nitrogen enriched and therefore it has been ejected from the central star. This is the first bipolar, ejection nebula detected around a well-established B[e] supergiant. The bipolar morphology and the chemical enrichment shown by the nebula associated with R4 are consistent with the picture of a binary merger (Langer & Heger 1998), in which R4 was originally a system composed by a close pair and a third star (the observed A companion). The close pair merged into a single star and the merging process produced a circumstellar nebula that was later shaped by the ensueing B star wind.

Explore related subjects

astro-ph

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

A. Pasquali, A. Nota, N. Langer, R. E. Schulte-Ladbeck, M. Clampin. 1999-12-01. R4 and its circumstellar nebula: evidence for a binary merger?. https://doi.org/10.1086/301257

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

arXiv2026

Oscillation frequencies and mode lifetimes in alpha Centauri A

We analyse our recently-published velocity measurements of alpha Cen A (Butler et al. 2004). After adjusting the weights on a night-by-night basis in order to optimize the window function to minimize sidelobes, we extract 42 oscillation frequencies with l=0 to 3 and measure the large and small frequency separations. We give fitted relations to these frequencies that can be compared with theoretical models and conclude that the observed scatter about these fits is due to the finite lifetimes of the oscillation modes. We estimate the mode lifetimes to be 1-2 d, substantially shorter than in the Sun.

astro-ph↗
arXiv2026

Hipparcos period-luminosity relations for Miras and semiregular variables

We present period-luminosity diagrams for nearby Miras and semiregulars, selecting stars with parallaxes better than 20 per cent and well-determined periods. Using K-band magnitudes, we find two well-defined P-L sequences, one corresponding to the standard Mira P-L relation and the second shifted to shorter periods by a factor of about 1.9. The second sequence only contains semiregular variables, while the Mira sequence contains both Miras and semiregulars. Several semiregular stars show double periods in agreement with both relations. The Whitelock evolutionary track is shown to fit the data, indicating that the semiregulars are Mira progenitors. The transition between the two sequences may correspond to a change in pulsation mode or to a change in the stellar structure. Large amplitude pulsations leading to classical Mira classification occur mainly near the tip of the local AGB luminosity function.

astro-ph↗
arXiv2025

A Cyclical Baryonic Big Bang Explains the Universe

Our universe has multiple examples of unexplained gravitational losses in black holes and neutron stars. The smallest black holes of about 4 solar masses means the maximum baryon density ρ\approx 10^{17} grams/cm^3. Any collapse of the universe will stop with a scale factor \approx 10^{13} cm. and radiation energy \approx 10 GeV. Due to higher squeezed core baryons, the outer part of the mass transferred energy to the core and became dark matter. After contraction reduced particle motion and gravitation, the core radiation energy propelled pieces of the shell into the universe. Each of these masses captured hot core gases according to its gravitational size, forming proto-galaxies. A cold shell and a hot core explain the Planck spectrum and large galaxy formation in the early universe. Thus the universe was never radiation dominant.The universe will remain cyclical as any increase in entropy of matter will be crushed back to neutrons during the contraction phase.

astro-ph↗