The Outer R Aquarii Nebula: Comparison of 6 Centimeter Radio Continuum and Balmer Line Emission
Abstract
The 6 cm radio continuum structure of the R Aquarii outer nebula is compared with CCD imagery of H-alpha and H-beta line emission. It is shown that the 6 cm VLA imagery is morphologically similar and quantitatively related spatially to Balmer line imagery. There is negligible interstellar or circumstellar absorption along the line of sight to the outer nebula. The 6 cm structure of the outer nebula is consistent with thermal bremsstrahlung emission by a hot, optically thin gas. Spectra of the outer R Aquarii nebula are suggestive of shock-wave heating. The approximate equality of mass loss and radiative cooling suggests that the system's wind is probably enough to power the outer nebula and may account for its long-term persistence.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- February 1989
- DOI:
- 10.1086/167149
- Bibcode:
- 1989ApJ...337..795H
- Keywords:
-
- Balmer Series;
- Binary Stars;
- Continuous Radiation;
- Emission Spectra;
- Nebulae;
- Radio Emission;
- Astronomical Spectroscopy;
- Bremsstrahlung;
- H Lines;
- High Temperature Gases;
- Mira Variables;
- Optical Thickness;
- Shock Heating;
- Astrophysics;
- NEBULAE: INDIVIDUAL NAME: R AQUARII;
- RADIATION MECHANISMS;
- STARS: INDIVIDUAL CONSTELLATION NAME: R AQUARII;
- STARS: LONG-PERIOD VARIABLES;
- STARS: RADIO RADIATION