Discovery of a massive equatorial torus in the η Carinae stellar system

P. W. Morris (), L. B. F. M. Waters, M. J. Barlow, T. Lim, A. de Koter, R. H. M. Voors, P. Cox, Th. de Graauw, Th. Henning, S. Hony, H. J. G. L. M. Lamers, H. Mutschke and N. R. Trams
Additional contact information
P. W. Morris: Astronomical Institute “Anton Pannekoek”, University of Amsterdam
L. B. F. M. Waters: Astronomical Institute “Anton Pannekoek”, University of Amsterdam
M. J. Barlow: University College London
T. Lim: Rutherford Appleton Laboratories
A. de Koter: Astronomical Institute “Anton Pannekoek”, University of Amsterdam
R. H. M. Voors: Astronomical Institute “Anton Pannekoek”, University of Amsterdam
P. Cox: Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale, Bâtiment 121, Université de Paris XI
Th. de Graauw: SRON Laboratory for Space Research Groningen, PO Box 800
Th. Henning: Astrophysical Institute and University Observatory, Friedrich Schiller University
S. Hony: Astronomical Institute “Anton Pannekoek”, University of Amsterdam
H. J. G. L. M. Lamers: SRON Laboratory for Space Research
H. Mutschke: Astrophysical Institute and University Observatory, Friedrich Schiller University
N. R. Trams: INTEGRAL Science Operations Centre, ESTEC, PO Box 299

Nature, 1999, vol. 402, issue 6761, 502-504

Abstract: Abstract The enigmatic object η Carinae is believed to represent an important, but short-lived, unstable phase in the life of the most massive stars, occurring shortly before they explode as supernovae or collapse directly to black holes. The putative binary1,2 system believed to constitute η Carinae survived an outburst in the previous century that lasted 20 years; and which created a nebula with pronounced bipolar lobes that together contain about 2.5 solar masses of material. The nebula also exhibits an equatorial ‘waist’ containing about 0.5 solar masses3. The physical mechanisms responsible for the outburst and the bipolar geometry are not understood. Here we report infrared observations (spectroscopy and imaging) that reveal the presence of about 15 solar masses of material, located in an equatorial torus. The massive torus may have been created through highly non-conservative mass transfer, which removed the entire envelope of one of the stars, leaving an unstable core that erupted in the nineteenth century. The collision of the erupted material with the pre-existing torus provides a natural explanation for the bipolar shape of the nebula.

Date: 1999
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DOI: 10.1038/990048

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