Signatures of the 3-D Wind-Wind Collision Cavity in η Car
Abstract
We discuss recent efforts to apply 3-D Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) simulations to model the binary wind collision in η Carinae, focusing on the Bore Hole effect, wherein the fast wind from the hot secondary star carves a cavity in the dense primary wind, allowing increased escape of radiation from the hotter/deeper layers of the primary's extended photosphere. This model may provide clues on how/where UV light is escaping the system, the illumination of distant material in various directions, and the parameters/orientation of the binary orbit. The role of interferometric observations in testing the models is also discussed.
- Publication:
-
Revista Mexicana de Astronomia y Astrofisica Conference Series
- Pub Date:
- February 2010
- Bibcode:
- 2010RMxAC..38...52M
- Keywords:
-
- hydrodynamics;
- stars: atmospheres;
- stars: individual ( η Carinae);
- stars: winds;
- outflows