81 research outputs found
Observational properties of massive black hole binary progenitors
The first directly detected gravitational waves (GW 150914) were emitted by
two coalescing black holes (BHs) with masses of ~36Msun and ~29Msun. Several
scenarios have been proposed to put this detection into an astrophysical
context. The evolution of an isolated massive binary system is among commonly
considered models. Various groups have performed detailed binary-evolution
calculations that lead to BH merger events. However, the question remains open
as to whether binary systems with the predicted properties really exist. The
aim of this paper is to help observers to close this gap by providing spectral
characteristics of massive binary BH progenitors during a phase where at least
one of the companions is still non-degenerate. Stellar evolution models predict
fundamental stellar parameters. Using these as input for our stellar atmosphere
code (PoWR), we compute a set of models for selected evolutionary stages of
massive merging BH progenitors at different metallicities. The synthetic
spectra obtained from our atmosphere calculations reveal that progenitors of
massive BH merger events start their lives as O2-3V stars that evolve to
early-type blue supergiants before they undergo core-collapse during the
Wolf-Rayet phase. When the primary has collapsed, the remaining system will
appear as a wind-fed high-mass X-ray binary. We provide feedback parameters,
broad band magnitudes, and spectral templates that should help to identify such
binaries in the future. Comparisons of empirically determined mass-loss rates
with those assumed by evolution calculations reveal significant differences.
The consideration of the empirical mass-loss rates in evolution calculations
will possibly entail a shift of the maximum in the predicted binary-BH merger
rate to higher metallicities, that is, more candidates should be expected in
our cosmic neighborhood than previously assumed.Comment: 64 pages, 30 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy &
Astrophysics, v2: typos correcte
MWC 656 is unlikely to contain a black hole
Context. MWC 656 was reported as the first known Be star with a black-hole
(BH) companion in a 60 d period. The mass of the proposed BH companion is
estimated to be between 4 - 7 MSun. This estimate is based on radial velocity
(RV) measurements derived from the Fe ii 4583 emission line of the Be star disc
and from the He ii 4686 emission line, assumed to be formed in a disc around
the putative BH. Aims. Using new high-resolution spectroscopic data, we
investigate whether MWC 656 truly contains a BH. Methods. We used the
cross-correlation method to calculate the RVs of both the Be star and the He ii
4686 emission line and we derive a new orbital solution. We also performed
disentangling to look for the spectral signature of a companion. Results. We
derive an orbital period of 59.028 +- 0.011 d and a mass ratio q = M_Heii/M_Be
= 0.12 +- 0.03, much lower than the previously reported q = 0.41 +- 0.07.
Adopting a mass of the Be star of M_Be = 7.8 +- 2.0MSun, the companion has a
mass of 0.94 +- 0.34MSun. For the upper limit of M_Be = 16MSun and q = 0.15,
the companion has a mass 2.4MSun. Performing disentangling on mock spectra
shows that the spectral signature of a non-degenerate stellar companion with
such a low mass cannot be retrieved using our data. Conclusions. Our
measurements do not support the presence of a BH companion in MWC 656. The
derived upper limit on the mass of the companion rather indicates that it is a
neutron star, a white dwarf, or a hot helium star. Far-UV data will help to
reject or confirm a hot helium-star companion.Comment: 6 pages, 2 + 6 figures, 3 + 1 tables, accepted for publication in A&
The Wolf-Rayet binaries of the nitrogen sequence in the Large Magellanic Cloud: spectroscopy, orbital analysis, formation, and evolution
Massive Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars dominate the radiative and mechanical energy
budget of galaxies and probe a critical phase in the evolution of massive stars
prior to core-collapse. It is not known whether core He-burning WR stars
(classical WR, cWR) form predominantly through wind-stripping (w-WR) or binary
stripping (b-WR). With spectroscopy of WR binaries so-far largely avoided due
to its complexity, our study focuses on the 44 WR binaries / binary candidates
of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC, metallicity Z~0.5 Zsun), identified on the
basis of radial velocity variations, composite spectra, or high X-ray
luminosities. Relying on a diverse spectroscopic database, we aim to derive the
physical and orbital parameters of our targets, confronting evolution models of
evolved massive stars at sub-solar metallicity, and constraining the impact of
binary interaction in forming them. Spectroscopy is performed using the Potsdam
Wolf-Rayet (PoWR) code and cross-correlation techniques. Disentanglement is
performed using the code Spectangular or the shift-and-add algorithm.
Evolutionary status is interpreted using the Binary Population and Spectral
Synthesis (BPASS) code, exploring binary interaction and chemically-homogeneous
evolution.
No obvious dichotomy in the locations of apparently-single and binary WN
stars on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram is apparent. According to commonly
used stellar evolution models (BPASS, Geneva), most apparently-single WN stars
could not have formed as single stars, implying that they were stripped by an
undetected companion. Otherwise, it must follow that pre-WR mass-loss/mixing
(e.g., during the red supergiant phase) are strongly underestimated in standard
stellar evolution models.Comment: accepted to A&A on 10.05.2019; 69 pages (25 main paper + 44
appendix); Corrigendum: Shenar et al. 2020, A&A, 641, 2: An unfortunate typo
in the implementation of the "transformed radius" caused errors of up to
~0.5dex in the derived mass-loss rates. This has now been correcte
Binary-object spectral-synthesis in 3D (BOSS-3D) -- Modelling H-alpha emission in the enigmatic multiple system LB-1
Context: To quantitatively decode the information stored within an observed
spectrum, detailed modelling of the physical state and accurate radiative
transfer solution schemes are required. In the analysis of stellar spectra, the
numerical model often needs to account for binary companions and 3D structures
in the stellar envelopes. The enigmatic binary (or multiple) system LB-1
constitutes a perfect example of such a complex multi-D problem. Aims: To
improve our understanding of the LB-1 system, we directly modelled the
phase-dependent H-alpha line profiles of this system. To this end, we developed
a multi-purpose binary-object spectral-synthesis code in 3D (BOSS-3D). Methods:
BOSS-3D calculates synthetic line profiles for a given state of the
circumstellar material. The standard pz-geometry commonly used for single stars
is extended by defining individual coordinate systems for each involved object
and by accounting for the appropriate coordinate transformations. The code is
then applied to the LB-1 system, considering two main hypotheses, a binary
containing a stripped star and Be star, or a B star and a black hole with a
disc. Results: Comparing these two scenarios, neither model can reproduce the
detailed phase-dependent shape of the H-alpha line profiles. A satisfactory
match with the observations, however, is obtained by invoking a disc around the
primary object in addition to the Be-star disc or the black-hole accretion
disc. Conclusions: The developed code can be used to model synthetic line
profiles for a wide variety of binary systems, ranging from transit spectra of
planetary atmospheres, to post-asymptotic giant branch binaries including
circumstellar and circumbinary discs and massive-star binaries with stellar
winds and disc systems. For the LB-1 system, our modelling provides strong
evidence that each object in the system contains a disc-like structure
Searching for compact objects in the single-lined spectroscopic binaries of the young Galactic cluster NGC 6231
Recent evolutionary computations predict that a few percent of massive OB
stars in binary systems should have a dormant BH companion. Despite several
reported X-ray quiet OB+BH systems over the last couple of years, finding them
with certainty remains challenging. These have great importance as they can be
gravitational wave (GW) source progenitors, and are landmark systems in
constraining supernova kick physics. This work aims to characterise the hidden
companions to the single-lined spectroscopic binaries (SB1s) in the B star
population of the young open Galactic cluster NGC 6231 to find candidate
systems for harbouring compact object companions. With the orbital solutions
for each SB1 previously constrained, we applied Fourier spectral disentangling
to multi-epoch optical VLT/FLAMES spectra of each target to extract a potential
signature of a faint companion, and to identify newly disentangled double-lined
spectroscopic binaries (SB2s). For targets where the disentangling does not
reveal any signature of a stellar companion, we performed atmospheric and
evolutionary modelling on the primary to obtain constraints on the unseen
companion. Seven newly classified SB2 systems with mass ratios down to near 0.1
were identified. From the remaining targets, for which no faint companion could
be extracted from the spectra, four are found to have companion masses in the
predicted mass ranges of neutron stars (NSes) and BHes. Two of these have
companion masses between 1 and 3.5 , making them potential hosts of
NSes (or lower mass main sequence stars). The other two are between 2.5 to 8
and 1.6 and 26 , respectively, and so are identified as
candidates for harbouring BH companions. However, unambiguous identification of
these systems as X-ray quiet compact object harbouring binaries requires follow
up observations.Comment: Submitted to A&
A Coordinated X-ray and Optical Campaign of the Nearby Massive Binary Orionis Aa: II. X-ray Variability
We present time-resolved and phase-resolved variability studies of an
extensive X-ray high-resolution spectral dataset of the Orionis Aa
binary system. The four observations, obtained with Chandra ACIS HETGS, have a
total exposure time of ~479 ks and provide nearly complete binary phase
coverage. Variability of the total X-ray flux in the range 5-25 is
confirmed, with maximum amplitude of about +/-15% within a single ~125 ks
observation. Periods of 4.76d and 2.04d are found in the total X-ray flux, as
well as an apparent overall increase in flux level throughout the 9-day
observational campaign. Using 40 ks contiguous spectra derived from the
original observations, we investigate variability of emission line parameters
and ratios. Several emission lines are shown to be variable, including S XV, Si
XIII, and Ne IX. For the first time, variations of the X-ray emission line
widths as a function of the binary phase are found in a binary system, with the
smallest widths at phase=0.0 when the secondary Orionis Aa2 is at
inferior conjunction. Using 3D hydrodynamic modeling of the interacting winds,
we relate the emission line width variability to the presence of a wind cavity
created by a wind-wind collision, which is effectively void of embedded wind
shocks and is carved out of the X-ray-producing primary wind, thus producing
phase-locked X-ray variability.Comment: 36 pages, 14 Tables, 19 Figures, accepted by ApJ, one of 4 related
papers to be published togethe
A Coordinated X-ray and Optical Campaign on the Nearest Massive Eclipsing Binary, Delta Ori Aa: I. Overview of the X-ray Spectrum
We present an overview of four phase-constrained Chandra HETGS X-ray
observations of Delta Ori A. Delta Ori A is actually a triple system which
includes the nearest massive eclipsing spectroscopic binary, Delta Ori Aa, the
only such object which can be observed with little phase-smearing with the
Chandra gratings. Since the fainter star, Delta Ori Aa2, has a much lower X-ray
luminosity than the brighter primary, Delta Ori A provides a unique system with
which to test the spatial distribution of the X-ray emitting gas around Delta
Ori Aa1 via occultation by the photosphere of and wind cavity around the X-ray
dark secondary. Here we discuss the X-ray spectrum and X-ray line profiles for
the combined observation, having an exposure time of nearly 500 ksec and
covering nearly the entire binary orbit. Companion papers discuss the X-ray
variability seen in the Chandra spectra, present new space-based photometry and
ground-based radial velocities simultaneous with the X-ray data to better
constrain the system parameters, and model the effects of X-rays on the optical
and UV spectrum. We find that the X-ray emission is dominated by embedded wind
shock emission from star Aa1, with little contribution from the tertiary star
Ab or the shocked gas produced by the collision of the wind of Aa1 against the
surface of Aa2. We find a similar temperature distribution to previous X-ray
spectrum analyses. We also show that the line half-widths are about
the terminal velocity of the wind of star Aa1. We find a strong
anti-correlation between line widths and the line excitation energy, which
suggests that longer-wavelength, lower-temperature lines form farther out in
the wind. Our analysis also indicates that the ratio of the intensities of the
strong and weak lines of \ion{Fe}{17} and \ion{Ne}{10} are inconsistent with
model predictions, which may be an effect of resonance scatteringComment: accepted by ApJ; revised according to ApJ proo
A massive helium star with a sufficiently strong magnetic field to form a magnetar
Magnetars are highly magnetized neutron stars; their formation mechanism is
unknown. Hot helium-rich stars with spectra dominated by emission lines are
known as Wolf-Rayet stars. We observe the binary system HD 45166 using
spectropolarimetry, finding that it contains a Wolf-Rayet star with a mass of 2
solar masses and a magnetic field of 43 kilogauss. Stellar evolution
calculations indicate that this component will explode as a type Ib or IIb
supernova, and the strong magnetic field favors a magnetar remnant. We propose
that the magnatized Wolf-Rayet star formed by the merger of two lower mass
helium stars.Comment: Published in Science on the 18 August 2023. Radial velocities,
spectra, and software available in: https://zenodo.org/record/8042656 ESO
press release: www.eso.org/public/news/eso231
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