Polarization Eclipse Model of the Wolf-Rayet Binary V444 Cygni with Constraints on the Stellar Radii and an Estimate of the Wolf-Rayet Mass-Loss Rate
Abstract
A comprehensive study is made of the polarization eclipse of V444 Cyg using an extensive data set of multicolor linear polarization observations obtained with emphasis on the eclipse of the WR star by the O-star companion. A model is introduced with an improved treatment of the various occultation effects. A comparison of the model with the observations yields estimates of the O and WR star radii (8.5 +/- 1 and less than 4 solar radii, respectively) as well as of the WR mass-loss rate (0.75 x 10 exp -5 solar mass/yr).
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- June 1993
- DOI:
- 10.1086/172751
- Bibcode:
- 1993ApJ...410..342S
- Keywords:
-
- Astronomical Polarimetry;
- Binary Stars;
- Stellar Mass Ejection;
- Stellar Models;
- Stellar Occultation;
- Wolf-Rayet Stars;
- Computational Astrophysics;
- Electron Scattering;
- Light Curve;
- Linear Polarization;
- Polarization Characteristics;
- Ubv Spectra;
- Astrophysics;
- STARS: BINARIES: ECLIPSING;
- POLARIZATION;
- STARS: INDIVIDUAL CONSTELLATION NAME: V444 CYGNI;
- STARS: WOLF-RAYET