The Asymmetrical Wind of the Candidate Luminous Blue Variable MWC 314

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Anatoly S. Miroshnichenko, Professor (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/

Abstract: We present the results of long-term spectropolarimetric and spectroscopic monitoring of MWC 314, a candidate Luminous Blue Variable star. We detect the first evidence of Ha variability in MWC 314, and find no apparent periodicity in this emission. The total R-band polarization is observed to vary between 2.21% and 3.00% at a position angle consistently around —0' , indicating the presence of a time-variable intrinsic polarization component, hence an asymmetrical circumstellar envelope. We find suggestive evidence that MWC 314’s intrinsic polarization exhibits a wavelength-independent magnitude varying between 0.09% and 0.58% at a wavelength-independent position angle covering all four quadrants of the Stokes Q-U plane. Electron scattering off of density clumps in MWC 314’s wind is considered as the probable mechanism responsible for these variations.

Additional Information

Publication
arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0605602v1 23 May 2006
Language: English
Date: 2006
Keywords
Circumstellar matter stars, Individual (MWC314) techniques, Polarimetric techniques, Spectroscopic

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