[en] V444 Cyg is a short-period (4 d) binary composed of two massive objects, a WN star and an O star. The winds of the two massive components collide, generating X-ray emission. A monitoring campaign in the high-energy domain was performed using Swift and XMM-Newton, with surprising results on the collision geometry (wide shock opening angle, clear Coriolis deflection). Polarimetric data further help to understand the system properties. This new information places strong constraints on the physical parameters of the two stars.
Disciplines :
Space science, astronomy & astrophysics
Author, co-author :
Nazé, Yaël ; Université de Liège - ULiège > GAPHE : Astrophysique observationnelle (sol et espace)
Lomax, J.; Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Oklahoma, 440 W Brooks St., Norman, OK, 73019, USA
Hoffman, J.; Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Denver, 2112 E. Wesley Ave., Denver, CO, 80208, USA)
Language :
English
Title :
An unexpected result for the V444 Cyg binary
Publication date :
01 February 2013
Event name :
Setting a new standard in the analysis of binary stars