Skip to main content

High-Resolution Studies of Eta Carinae’s Ejecta and Stellar Wind

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Astrophysics and Space Science Library ((ASSL,volume 384))

Abstract

Hubble Space Telescope observations and interferometric measurements provide unique insights into the small-scale structure of η Car’s circumstellar ejecta and its extreme, optically thick, aspherical stellar wind. We discuss speckle interferometric imaging and HST images of η Car’s ejecta in the inner 1 arcsec. We also review the first infrared long-baseline spectro-interferometry with high spatial resolution of 5 mas and high spectral resolution. Infrared interferometry allows us, for the first time, to study the strong wavelength dependence of η Car’s non-spherical wind structure within emission lines.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. O. Chesneau, M. Min, T. Herbst, et al., The sub-arcsecond dusty environment of Eta Carinae. A&A. 435, 1043–1061 (2005)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. M.F. Corcoran, X-ray monitoring of η Carinae: variations on a theme. AJ. 129, 2018–2025 (2005)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. M.F. Corcoran, K. Ishibashi, K. Davidson, et al., Increasing X-ray emissions and periodic outbursts from the massive star Eta Carinae. Nat. 390, 587–589 (1997)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. A. Damineli, The 5.52 year cycle of Eta Carinae. ApJ. 460, L49–L52 (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  5. A. Damineli, P.S. Conti, D.F. Lopes, Eta Carinae: a long period binary? New Astron. 2, 107–117 (1997)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. A. Damineli, D.J. Hillier, M.F. Corcoran, et al., The periodicity of the η Carinae events. MNRAS. 384, 1649–1656 (2008)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. K. Davidson, R.M. Humphreys, Eta Carinae as a possible multiple system. A&A. 164, L7–L9 (1986)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. K. Davidson, R.M. Humphreys, Eta Carinae and its environment. ARA&A. 35, 1–32 (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  9. K. Davidson, Why the binary hypothesis isn’t a panacea. in Eta Carinae at the Millennium, ed. by J.A. Morse, R.M. Humphreys, A. Damineli. ASP Confefence Series, vol. 179 (ASP, San Francisco, 1999), pp. 304–315

    Google Scholar 

  10. K. Davidson, Unique spectroscopic problems related to Eta Carinae. in Eta Carinae and Other Mysterious Stars, ed. by T. Gull, S. Johansson, K. Davidson. ASP Conference Series, vol. 242 (ASP, San Francisco, 2001), pp. 3–14

    Google Scholar 

  11. K. Davidson, D. Ebbets, G. Weigelt, et al., HST/FOS spectroscopy of Eta Carinae: the star itself, and ejecta within 0.3 arcsec. AJ. 109, 1784–1796 (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  12. K. Davidson, D. Ebbets, S. Johansson, et al., HST/GHRS observations of the compact slow ejecta of Eta Carinae. AJ. 113, 335–345 (1997)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. K. Davidson, K. Ishibashi, T.R. Gull, R.M. Humphreys, HST/STIS observations of the star during its recent event. in Eta Carinae at the Millennium, ed. by J.A. Morse, R.M. Humphreys, A. Damineli. ASP Conference Series, vol. 179 (ASP, San Francisco, 1999), pp. 227–235

    Google Scholar 

  14. K. Davidson, T.R. Gull, R.M. Humphreys, et al., An unusual brightening of Eta Carinae. AJ. 118, 1777–1783 (1999)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. K. Davidson, N. Smith, T.R. Gull, et al., The shape and orientation of the Homunculus Nebula based on spectroscopic velocities. AJ. 121, 1569–1577 (2001)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. K. Davidson, J. Martin, R.M. Humphreys, et al., A change in the physical state of η Carinae? AJ. 129, 900–906 (2005)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. B.N. Dorland, D. Currie, A.R. Hajian, Did η Carinae’s Weigelt blobs originate circa 1941? ApJ. 127, 1052–1058 (2004)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  18. H. Falcke, K. Davidson, K.-H. Hofmann, et al., Speckle-masking imaging polarimetry of η Carinae: evidence for an equatorial disk. A&A. 306, L17–L20 (1996)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. T.R. Gull, K. Ishibashi, K. Davidson, The Cycle 7 STIS Go Team: first observations of η Carinae with the space telescope imaging spectrograph. in Eta Carinae at the Millennium, ed. by J.A. Morse, R.M. Humphreys, A. Damineli. ASP Conference Series, vol. 179 (ASP, San Francisco, 1999), pp. 144–154

    Google Scholar 

  20. T.R. Gull, S. Johansson, K. Davidson (eds.), Eta Carinae and other mysterious stars: the hidden opportunities of emission spectroscopy. in Eta Carinae and Other Mysterious Stars, ASP Conference Series, vol. 242 (ASP, San Francisco, 2001)

    Google Scholar 

  21. F. Hamann, this volume, 95–128 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  22. D.J. Hillier, K. Davidson, K. Ishibashi, T. Gull, On the nature of the central source in η Carinae. ApJ. 553, 837–860 (2001)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. D.J. Hillier, K. Davidson, K. Ishibashi, T. Gull, Eta Carinae: the central star. in Eta Carinae and Other Mysterious Stars, ASP Conference Series, vol. 242 (ASP, San Francisco, 2001), pp. 15–28

    Google Scholar 

  24. D.J. Hillier, T. Gull, K. Nielsen, et al., The UV scattering halo of the central source associated with η Carinae. ApJ. 642, 1098–1116 (2006)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  25. K.-H. Hofmann, G. Weigelt, Speckle masking observation of the central object in the giant H II region NGC 3603. A&A. 167, L15–L16 (1986)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  26. K.-H. Hofmann, G. Weigelt, Speckle masking observation of Eta Carinae. A&A. 203, L21–L22 (1988)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  27. R.M. Humphreys, K.Z. Stanek (eds.), The fate of the most massive stars. in The Fate of the Most Massive Stars, ASP Conference Series, vol. 332 (ASP, San Francisco, 2005)

    Google Scholar 

  28. K. Ishibashi, T.R. Gull, K. Davidson, Discovery of a little Homunculus within the Homunculus Nebula of η Carinae. AJ. 125, 3222–3236 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  29. W. Kundt, C. Hillemanns, ETA CARINAE – an evolved triple-star system? Chin. J. Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. 3, 349–360 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  30. M. Livio, J. E. Pringle, Can Eta Carinae be a triple system? MNRAS. 295, L59–L60 (1998)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  31. A.W. Lohmann, G. Weigelt, B. Wirnitzer, Speckle masking in astronomy – triple correlation theory and applications. Appl. Opt. 22, 4028–4037 (1983)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  32. J.C. Martin, M.D. Koppelman, η Carinae’s brightness variations since 1998: Hubble space telescope observations of the central star. AJ. 127, 2352–2361 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  33. J.C. Martin, K. Davidson, R.M. Humphreys, D.J. Hillier, K. Ishibashi, On the He II emission in η Carinae and the origin of its spectroscopic events. ApJ. 640, 474–490 (2006)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  34. J.C. Martin, K. Davidson, M.D. Koppelman, The chrysalis opens? Photometry from the η Carinae Hubble space telescope treasury project, 2002–2006. AJ. 132, 2717–2728 (2006)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  35. A. Mehner, K. Davidson, G.J. Ferland, R.M. Humphreys, High-excitation emission lines near Eta Carinae, and its likely companion star. ApJ. 710, 729–742 (2010)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  36. J.A. Morse, R.M. Humphreys, A. Daminelli (eds.), Eta Carinae at the millennium. in Eta Carinae at the Millennium, ASP Conference Series, vol. 179 (ASP, San Francisco, 1999)

    Google Scholar 

  37. K.E. Nielsen, M.F. Corcoran, T. Gull, et al., η Carinae across the 2003.5 minimum: spectroscopic evidence for massive binary interactions. ApJ. 660, 669–686 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  38. S.P. Owocki, S.R. Cranmer, K.G. Gayley, Inhibition FO wind compressed disk formation by nonradial line-forces in rotating hot-star winds. ApJ. 472, L115–L118 (1996)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  39. S.P. Owocki, S.R. Cranmer, K.G. Gayley, Mass loss from rotating hot-stars: inhibition of wind compressed disks by nonradial line-forces. Ap&SS. 260, 149–159 (1998)

    Article  ADS  MATH  Google Scholar 

  40. J.M. Pittard, M.F. Corcoran, In hot pursuit of the hidden companion of Eta Carinae: an X-ray determination of the wind parameters. A&A. 383, 636–647 (2002)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  41. N. Smith, Dissecting the Homunculus Nebula around Eta Carinae with spatially resolved near-infrared spectroscopy. MNRAS. 337, 1252–1268 (2002)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  42. N. Smith, this volume, 145–169 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  43. N. Smith, K. Davidson, T.R. Gull, et al., Latitude-dependent effects in the stellar wind of η Carinae. ApJ. 586, 432–450 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  44. N. Smith, J.A. Morse, T.R. Gull, et al., Kinematics and ultraviolet to infrared morphology of the inner Homunculus of η Carinae. ApJ. 605, 405–424 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  45. R. van Boekel, P. Kervella, M. Schöller, et al., Direct measurement of the size and shape of the present-day stellar wind of Eta Carinae. A&A. 410, L37–L40 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  46. A.M. van Genderen, C. Sterken, W.H. Allen, et al., An overview of the photometric events, trends and brightenings of Eta Carinae. JAD. 12, 1–41 (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  47. G. Weigelt, Modified astronomical speckle interferometry ‘speckle masking’. Opt. Commun. 21, 55–59 (1977)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  48. G. Weigelt, J. Ebersberger, Eta Carinae resolved by speckle interferometry. A&A. 163, L5–L6 (1986)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  49. G. Weigelt, B. Wirnitzer, B., Image reconstruction by the speckle-masking method. Opt. Lett. 8, 389–391 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  50. G. Weigelt, R. Albrecht, C. Barbieri, et al., HST FOC observations of Eta Carinae. in The Eta Carinae Region: A Laboratory of Stellar Evolution, ed. by V. Niemela, N. Morrell, A. Feinstein. Revista Mexicana de Astronomia y Astrofisica Serie de Conferencias, Vol. 2 (Instituto de Astronomia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico, 1995), pp. 11–16

    Google Scholar 

  51. G. Weigelt, S. Kraus, T. Driebe, et al., Near-infrared interferometry of η Carinae with spectral resolutions of 1,500 and 12,000 using AMBER/VLTI. A&A. 464, 87–106 (2007)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  52. P.A. Whitelock, M.W. Feast, F. Marang, et al., The 2003 shell event in η Carinae. MNRAS. 352, 447–456 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gerd Weigelt .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Weigelt, G., Kraus, S. (2012). High-Resolution Studies of Eta Carinae’s Ejecta and Stellar Wind. In: Davidson, K., Humphreys, R. (eds) Eta Carinae and the Supernova Impostors. Astrophysics and Space Science Library, vol 384. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-2275-4_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-2275-4_6

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-2274-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-2275-4

  • eBook Packages: Physics and AstronomyPhysics and Astronomy (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics