Open AccessWR 143: a Wolf–Rayet binary
Author(s) -
Varricatt Watson P.,
Ashok Nagarhalli M.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2005.09693.x
Subject(s) - physics , wolf–rayet star , astrophysics , photometry (optics) , astronomy , emission spectrum , be star , spectral energy distribution , spectroscopy , o type star , spectral line , stars
Near‐infrared spectroscopy and photometry of the Wolf–Rayet star WR 143 (HD 195177) were obtained in the JHK photometric bands. High‐resolution spectra observed in the J and H bands exhibit a narrow 1.083‐μm He i line and the H i Paβ and Brackett series lines in emission superposed on the broad emission‐line spectrum of the Wolf–Rayet star, giving strong indications of the presence of a companion. From the narrow emission lines observed, the companion is identified to be an early‐type Be star. The photometric magnitudes exhibit variations in the JHK bands, which are probably due to the variability of the companion star. The flux density distribution is too steep for a Wolf–Rayet atmosphere. This is identified to be mainly due to the increasing contribution from the early‐type companion star towards shorter wavelengths.