Bibcode
Caballero-Nieves, S. M.; Gies, D. R.; Bolton, C. T.; Hadrava, P.; Herrero, A.; Hillwig, T. C.; Howell, S. B.; Huang, W.; Kaper, L.; Koubský, P.; McSwain, M. V.
Bibliographical reference
The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 701, Issue 2, pp. 1895-1905 (2009).
Advertised on:
8
2009
Journal
Citations
52
Refereed citations
46
Description
We present an examination of high-resolution, ultraviolet (UV)
spectroscopy from Hubble Space Telescope of the photospheric spectrum of
the O-supergiant in the massive X-ray binary HD 226868 = Cyg X-1. We
analyzed this and ground-based optical spectra to determine the
effective temperature and gravity of the O9.7 Iab supergiant. Using
non-LTE, line-blanketed, plane-parallel models from the TLUSTY grid, we
obtain T eff = 28.0 ± 2.5 kK and log g gsim 3.00
± 0.25, both lower than in previous studies. The optical spectrum
is best fit with models that have enriched He and N abundances. We fit
the model spectral energy distribution for this temperature and gravity
to the UV, optical, and infrared (IR) fluxes to determine the angular
size and extinction toward the binary. The angular size then yields
relations for the stellar radius and luminosity as a function of
distance. By assuming that the supergiant rotates synchronously with the
orbit, we can use the radius-distance relation to find mass estimates
for both the supergiant and black hole (BH) as a function of the
distance and the ratio of stellar to Roche radius. Fits of the orbital
light curve yield an additional constraint that limits the solutions in
the mass plane. Our results indicate masses of 23+8
-6 M sun for the supergiant and 11+5
-3 M sun for the BH.
Based on observations with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope obtained
at the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by the
Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under NASA
contract NAS5-26555. These observations are associated with programs
GO-9646 and GO-9840.
Related projects
Physical properties and evolution of Massive Stars
This project aims at the searching, observation and analysis of massive stars in nearby galaxies to provide a solid empirical ground to understand their physical properties as a function of those key parameters that gobern their evolution (i.e. mass, spin, metallicity, mass loss, and binary interaction). Massive stars are central objects to
Sergio
Simón Díaz