Constraining the Mass Loss Geometry of Beta Lyrae
Massive binary stars lose mass by two mechanisms: jet-driven mass loss during periods of active mass transfer and by wind-driven mass loss. Beta Lyrae is an eclipsing, semi-detached binary whose state of active mass transfer provides a unique opportunity to study how the evolution of binary system...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The Korean Space Science Society
2012-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://ocean.kisti.re.kr/downfile/volume/kosss/OJOOBS/2012/v29n1/OJOOBS_2012_v29n1_47.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797368736384024576 |
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| author | Jamie R. Lomax |
| author_facet | Jamie R. Lomax |
| author_sort | Jamie R. Lomax |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Massive binary stars lose mass by two mechanisms: jet-driven mass loss during periods of active mass transfer and by
wind-driven mass loss. Beta Lyrae is an eclipsing, semi-detached binary whose state of active mass transfer provides a
unique opportunity to study how the evolution of binary systems is affected by jet-driven mass loss. Roche lobe overflow
from the primary star feeds the thick accretion disk which almost completely obscures the mass-gaining star. A hot spot
predicted to be on the edge of the accretion disk may be the source of beta Lyrae’s bipolar outflows. I present results
from spectropolarimetric data taken with the University of Wisconsin’s Half-Wave Spectropolarimeter and the Flower
and Cook Observatory’s photoelastic modulating polarimeter instrument which have implications for our current understanding
of the system’s disk geometry. Using broadband polarimetric analysis, I derive new information about the
structure of the disk and the presence and location of a hot spot. These results place constraints on the geometrical distribution
of material in beta Lyrae and can help quantify the amount of mass lost from massive interacting binary systems
during phases of mass transfer and jet-driven mass loss. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T17:36:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-83f4d5967f924f398c74836ddbf27877 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2093-5587 2093-1409 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T17:36:58Z |
| publishDate | 2012-03-01 |
| publisher | The Korean Space Science Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-83f4d5967f924f398c74836ddbf278772024-01-02T11:59:49ZengThe Korean Space Science SocietyJournal of Astronomy and Space Sciences2093-55872093-14092012-03-01291474910.5140/JASS.2012.29.1.047Constraining the Mass Loss Geometry of Beta LyraeJamie R. Lomax0Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Denver, Denver, CO 80208, USAMassive binary stars lose mass by two mechanisms: jet-driven mass loss during periods of active mass transfer and by wind-driven mass loss. Beta Lyrae is an eclipsing, semi-detached binary whose state of active mass transfer provides a unique opportunity to study how the evolution of binary systems is affected by jet-driven mass loss. Roche lobe overflow from the primary star feeds the thick accretion disk which almost completely obscures the mass-gaining star. A hot spot predicted to be on the edge of the accretion disk may be the source of beta Lyrae’s bipolar outflows. I present results from spectropolarimetric data taken with the University of Wisconsin’s Half-Wave Spectropolarimeter and the Flower and Cook Observatory’s photoelastic modulating polarimeter instrument which have implications for our current understanding of the system’s disk geometry. Using broadband polarimetric analysis, I derive new information about the structure of the disk and the presence and location of a hot spot. These results place constraints on the geometrical distribution of material in beta Lyrae and can help quantify the amount of mass lost from massive interacting binary systems during phases of mass transfer and jet-driven mass loss.http://ocean.kisti.re.kr/downfile/volume/kosss/OJOOBS/2012/v29n1/OJOOBS_2012_v29n1_47.pdfbinariesjet-driven mass lossaccretion diskbeta Lyraemass transferhot spot |
| spellingShingle | Jamie R. Lomax Constraining the Mass Loss Geometry of Beta Lyrae Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences binaries jet-driven mass loss accretion disk beta Lyrae mass transfer hot spot |
| title | Constraining the Mass Loss Geometry of Beta Lyrae |
| title_full | Constraining the Mass Loss Geometry of Beta Lyrae |
| title_fullStr | Constraining the Mass Loss Geometry of Beta Lyrae |
| title_full_unstemmed | Constraining the Mass Loss Geometry of Beta Lyrae |
| title_short | Constraining the Mass Loss Geometry of Beta Lyrae |
| title_sort | constraining the mass loss geometry of beta lyrae |
| topic | binaries jet-driven mass loss accretion disk beta Lyrae mass transfer hot spot |
| url | http://ocean.kisti.re.kr/downfile/volume/kosss/OJOOBS/2012/v29n1/OJOOBS_2012_v29n1_47.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jamierlomax constrainingthemasslossgeometryofbetalyrae |