Issue |
A&A
Volume 659, March 2022
|
|
---|---|---|
Article Number | A168 | |
Number of page(s) | 6 | |
Section | Astrophysical processes | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202142020 | |
Published online | 22 March 2022 |
Numerical simulations of the great eruption of η Carinae from the 1840s
I. Revisiting the explosion scenario
1
Instituto de Radioastronomía y Astrofísica (UNAM), A.P. 3-72, 58190 Morelia, Michoacán, México
e-mail: rf.gonzalez@irya.unam.mx
2
Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares (UNAM), A.P. 70-543, 04510 México, México
3
Instituto de Astronomía (UNAM), A.P. 70-264, 04510 México, México
4
Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas (IAG-USP), Rua do Matão, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil
Received:
14
August
2021
Accepted:
4
December
2021
In this work, we present new 2D hydrodynamical simulations of the major eruption of η Car in the 1840s, which resulted in the formation of a bipolar nebula that is commonly known as the large Homunculus. In our numerical models, we have included the high-speed component of 10 000 km s−1, which was detected in recent observations, providing direct evidence of an explosive event. Here, we investigate whether such a violent explosion is able to explain both the shape and the dynamical evolution of η Car’s nebula. As in our previous work, we have assumed a two-stage scenario for η Car’s eruption: a slow outflow phase for a few decades before the eruption, followed by the explosive event. From the collision of these outflow phases, the large Homunculus is produced. Our numerical simulations show that such a scenario does not resemble some of the observed physical features and the expansion of the nebula. Notwithstanding, we also explore other injection parameters (mass-loss rate and ejection velocity) for these outflow phases. In particular, we find that an explosion with an intermediate speed of 1000 km s−1 is able to reproduce the morphology and the kinematical age of the large Homunculus.
Key words: stars: individual: η Carinae / stars: winds, outflows / hydrodynamics / shock waves
© ESO 2022
Current usage metrics show cumulative count of Article Views (full-text article views including HTML views, PDF and ePub downloads, according to the available data) and Abstracts Views on Vision4Press platform.
Data correspond to usage on the plateform after 2015. The current usage metrics is available 48-96 hours after online publication and is updated daily on week days.
Initial download of the metrics may take a while.