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Hα emission variability in the γ-ray binary LSI +61 303

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 July 2011

M. Virginia McSwain ,
Erika D. Grundstrom ,
Douglas R. Gies  and
Paul S. Ray
M. Virginia McSwain
Affiliation:
Dept. of Physics, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015 email: [email protected]
Erika D. Grundstrom
Affiliation:
Physics and Astronomy Department, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235 email: [email protected]
Douglas R. Gies
Affiliation:
Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303 email: [email protected]
Paul S. Ray
Affiliation:
Space Science Division, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375 email: [email protected]
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Abstract

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LS I +61 303 is an exceptionally rare example of a Be/X-ray binary that also exhibits MeV–TeV emission, making it one of only a handful of ”γ-ray binaries”. Here we present Hα spectra that show strong variability during the 26.5 day orbital period and over decadal time scales. The Hα line profile exhibits a dramatic emission burst shortly before apastron, observed as a redshifted shoulder in the line profile, as the compact source moves almost directly away from the observer. Here we investigate several possible origins for this red shoulder, including an accretion disk, tidal mass transfer stream, turbulent gas in the wake of the neutron star, and a compact pulsar wind nebula in the system.

Keywords

accretionaccretion disksstars: windsoutflowsstars: emission-lineBestars: individual (LS I +61 303)
Type
Contributed Papers
Information
Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union , Volume 6 , Symposium S272: Active OB stars: structure, evolution, mass loss, and critical limits , July 2010 , pp. 525 - 526
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2011

References

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