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The asymmetric wind of R127We present optical, linear polarimetry in broad-band UBVRI filters plus narrow-band filters centered on the emission lines of H-alpha and the red forbidden N II and spectropolarimetry in the wavelength range from 4120 A to 6770 A of the luminous blue variable R127 in the LMC. Both observations display a decrease of the percentage polarization across the H-alpha emission line with respect to the continuum. We assume that H-alpha is recombination-line dominated and thus intrinsically unpolarized, and we use the continuum subtracted line polarization to estimate the interstellar foreground polarization. The resulting amount of intrinsic continuum polarization of R127 is very large, of order 1-1.5 percent, implying both the presence of copious free electrons and a considerable asphericity in their distribution. The two data sets, taken two months apart, display significant variations in the continuum polarization, which confirms that the stellar-wind properties of R127 are time-dependent in the maximum state. We discuss several possible wind geometries and present arguments favoring a clumpy, axisymmetric outflow.
Document ID
19930050800
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Schulte-Ladbeck, R. E.
(Pittsburgh Univ. PA, United States)
Leitherer, C.
(Space Telescope Science Inst. Baltimore, MD, United States)
Clayton, G. C.
(Colorado Univ. Boulder, United States)
Robert, C.
(Space Telescope Science Inst. Baltimore, MD, United States)
Meade, M. R.
(Wisconsin Univ. Madison, United States)
Drissen, L.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Nota, A.
(Space Telescope Science Inst. Baltimore, MD, United States)
Schmutz, W.
(Zuerich Eidgenoessische Technische Hochschule, Zurich, Switzerland)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
April 20, 1993
Publication Information
Publication: Astrophysical Journal, Part 1
Volume: 407
Issue: 2
ISSN: 0004-637X
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
93A34797
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS2-56777
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-2238
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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