On the spectroscopic orbit of the bright WC binary Gamma(2) Velorum, with implications for the evolutionary scenario of Wolf-Rayet stars

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (47) References (23) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS On the spectroscopic orbit of the bright WC binary gamma 2 Velorum, with implications for the evolutionary scenario of Wolf-Rayet stars. Moffat, A. F. J. ; Vogt, N. ; Paquin, G. ; Lamontagne, R. ; Barrera, L. H. Abstract A series of over 50 spectroscopic plates distributed over three orbital cycles confirm the radial-velocity (RV) orbit for this 78.5 day, WC 8 + O9 I binary, as determined recently by Niemela and Sahade (1980). On the basis of RV perturbations, no evidience is found for a third, low-mass body in the system, as proposed elsewhere in the literature. Comparison with other WC + O binaries reveals a trend of mass ratio with spectral subclass, such that the cooler, late-type, WCL stars are more massive relative to their O companions than the hotter, early-type, WCE stars. Therefore, the finite lifetime of the WC phase combined with the observed high mass-loss rate for W-R stars implies that WCL stars may evolve into WCE stars. This scenario goes in the right sense if the peeling-off process of the wind exposes a progressively hotter core. Publication: The Astronomical Journal Pub Date: June 1986 DOI: 10.1086/114115 Bibcode: 1986AJ.....91.1386M Keywords: Binary Stars; Orbital Elements; Stellar Evolution; Stellar Luminosity; Stellar Spectrophotometry; Wolf-Rayet Stars; O Stars; Photographic Plates; Radial Velocity; Stellar Mass Ejection; Stellar Orbits; Stellar Winds; Astrophysics full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (10)