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Carina OB stars: X-ray signatures of wind shocks and magnetic fields

  • Marc Gagné
  • , Garrett Fehon
  • , Michael R. Savoy
  • , David H. Cohen
  • , Leisa K. Townsley
  • , Patrick S. Broos
  • , Matthew S. Povich
  • , Michael F. Corcoran
  • , Nolan R. Walborn
  • , Nancy Remage Evans
  • , Anthony F.J. Moffat
  • , Yal Nazé
  • , Lida M. Oskinova

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The Chandra Carina Complex contains 200 known O- and B-type stars. The Chandra survey detected 68 of the 70 O stars and 61 of 127 known B0-B3 stars. We have assembled a publicly available optical/X-ray database to identify OB stars that depart from the canonical L X/L bol relation or whose average X-ray temperatures exceed 1keV. Among the single O stars with high kT we identify two candidate magnetically confined wind shock sources: Tr16-22, O8.5 V, and LS 1865, O8.5 V((f)). The O4 III(fc) star HD 93250 exhibits strong, hard, variable X-rays, suggesting that it may be a massive binary with a period of >30days. The visual O2 If* binary HD 93129A shows soft 0.6keV and hard 1.9keV emission components, suggesting embedded wind shocks close to the O2 If* Aa primary and colliding wind shocks between Aa and Ab. Of the 11 known O-type spectroscopic binaries, the long orbital-period systems HD 93343, HD 93403, and QZ Car have higher shock temperatures than short-period systems such as HD 93205 and FO 15. Although the X-rays from most B stars may be produced in the coronae of unseen, low-mass pre-main-sequence companions, a dozen B stars with high L X cannot be explained by a distribution of unseen companions. One of these, SS73 24 in the Treasure Chest cluster, is a new candidate Herbig Be star.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number5
JournalAstrophysical Journal, Supplement Series
Volume194
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2011

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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