Characterization of the Colliding Wind Region in the Superluminous Massive Eta Carinae
Abstract
The massive binary system, Eta Carinae, is a Colliding Wind Binary (CWB) with strong stellar winds that can reach hypersonic velocities up to 3000 km/s. With a high eccentricity of 0.9 and a period of 5.53 years, the binary system is approaching its next periastron in February 2020. When the strong winds from the Luminous Blue Variable component (Eta Car A) collide with the wind from the O type companion (Eta Car B) a hot Colliding Wind Region (CWR) produces X-rays between 0.1 - 10.0 keV showing strong emission lines from ions of elements like Fe, Ca, Mg, Si, and S. We present a new detailed X-ray line identification, with analysis of the profiles and their changes over time using the 20 years of observations made by the CHANDRA X-ray Observatory to characterize the physics of the CWR. We include in our analysis of new CHANDRA observations made in May, July and October 2019 and anticipate approved observations in January and February 2020 to study the sudden drop in Eta Carina's X-ray emission. Our new CHANDRA X-ray observations are compared with X-ray monitoring observations by the NICER X-ray telescope installed at the ISS.
- Publication:
-
American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #235
- Pub Date:
- January 2020
- Bibcode:
- 2020AAS...23537704E