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We have observed the symbiotic stellar system R Aqr, aiming to describe thegravitational interaction between the white dwarf (WD) and the wind from theMira star, the key phenomenon driving the symbiotic activity and the formationof nebulae in such systems. We present high-resolution ALMA maps of the 12COand 13CO J=3-2 lines, the 0.9 mm continuum distribution, and somehigh-excitation molecular lines in R Aqr. The maps, which have resolutionsranging between 40 milliarcsecond (mas) and less than 20 mas, probe thecircumstellar regions at suborbital scales as the distance between the stars is~ 40 mas. Our observations show the gravitational effects of the secondary onthe stellar wind. The AGB star was identified in our maps from the continuumand molecular line data, and we estimated the probable position of thesecondary from a new estimation of the orbital parameters. The (preliminary)comparison of our maps with theoretical predictions is surprisinglysatisfactory and the main expected gravitational effects are directly mappedfor the first time. We find a strong focusing in the equatorial plane of theresulting wind, which shows two plumes in opposite directions that havedifferent velocities and very probably correspond to the expected double spiraldue to the interaction. Our continuum maps show the very inner regions of thenascent bipolar jets, at scales of some AU. Continuum maps obtained with thehighest resolution show the presence of a clump that very probably correspondsto the emission of the ionized surroundings of the WD and of a bridge ofmaterial joining both stars, which is likely material flowing from the AGBprimary to the accretion disk around the WD secondary.

High-resolution observations of the symbiotic system R Aqr. Direct imaging of the gravitational effects of the secondary on the stellar wind