Date:
Tue, 06/01/200912:15-13:15
Location:
Kaplun Bldg, seminar room, 2nd floor
Physical processes during the periastron passage of Eta Carinae
Eta Carinae is a unique massive binary star system in our Galaxy, presenting some basic undetermined parameters and open questions. Its 5.54 year periodicity in a very eccentric orbit is observed in all wavelengths. We identifythe important physical processes that we expect to take place at periastorn passage, and use these to explain observations. We examine a variety of observations that shed light on the orientation of the semi-major axis the binary system. We find that all of them support an orientation where for most of the time the secondary - the hotter less massive star - is behind the primary star. The secondary comes closer to the observer only for a short time near periastron passage, in its highly eccentric orbit.
Eta Carinae is a unique massive binary star system in our Galaxy, presenting some basic undetermined parameters and open questions. Its 5.54 year periodicity in a very eccentric orbit is observed in all wavelengths. We identifythe important physical processes that we expect to take place at periastorn passage, and use these to explain observations. We examine a variety of observations that shed light on the orientation of the semi-major axis the binary system. We find that all of them support an orientation where for most of the time the secondary - the hotter less massive star - is behind the primary star. The secondary comes closer to the observer only for a short time near periastron passage, in its highly eccentric orbit.