Issue |
A&A
Volume 400, Number 2, March III 2003
|
|
---|---|---|
Page(s) | 655 - 658 | |
Section | Stellar structure and evolution | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20030017 | |
Published online | 03 March 2003 |
Near IR spectroscopy of the X-ray binary Circinus X-1
1
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
2
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
Corresponding author: J. S. Clark, jsc@star.ucl.ac.uk
Received:
5
December
2002
Accepted:
6
January
2003
We report on new K band spectroscopy of the X-ray binary Cir X-1, which reveals the spectrum to be dominated by emission from H i, He i and low-excitation metals. No features of photospheric origin are identifiable in the spectrum, preventing an unambiguous classification of the mass donor within the system. While the spectrum superficially resembles that of a high-luminosity mid-B supergiant we consider that the magnitude and timescale of the photometric and spectroscopic variability renders such an identification highly unlikely. Instead we favour an explanation where the spectrum is dominated by emission from an accretion disc and/or accretion driven outflow(s), hence obscuring the spectrum of the underlying star.
Key words: stars: binaries: general / infrared: stars / stars: Individual: Cir X-1
© ESO, 2003
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