TY  - JOUR
A1  - Sander, Andreas Alexander Christoph
A1  - Fürst, F.
A1  - Kretschmar, P.
A1  - Oskinova, Lida
A1  - Todt, Helge Tobias
A1  - Hainich, Rainer
A1  - Shenar, Tomer
A1  - Hamann, Wolf-Rainer
T1  - Coupling hydrodynamics with comoving frame radiative transfer
T2  - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal
N2  - Aims. To gain a realistic picture of the donor star in Vela X-1, we constructed a hydrodynamically consistent atmosphere model describing the wind stratification while properly reproducing the observed donor spectrum. To investigate how X-ray illumination affects the stellar wind, we calculated additional models for different X-ray luminosity regimes. Methods. We used the recently updated version of the Potsdam Wolf-Rayet code to consistently solve the hydrodynamic equation together with the statistical equations and the radiative transfer. Results. The wind flow in Vela X-1 is driven by ions from various elements, with Fe III and S III leading in the outer wind. The model-predicted mass-loss rate is in line with earlier empirical studies. The mass-loss rate is almost unaffected by the presence of the accreting NS in the wind. The terminal wind velocity is confirmed at u(infinity) approximate to 600 km s(-1). On the other hand, the wind velocity in the inner region where the NS is located is only approximate to 100 km s(-1), which is not expected on the basis of a standard beta-velocity law. In models with an enhanced level of X-rays, the velocity field in the outer wind can be altered. If the X-ray flux is too high, the acceleration breaks down because the ionization increases. Conclusions. Accounting for radiation hydrodynamics, our Vela X-1 donor atmosphere model reveals a low wind speed at the NS location, and it provides quantitative information on wind driving in this important HMXB.
KW  - stars: mass-loss
KW  - stars: winds, outflows
KW  - stars: early-type
KW  - stars: atmospheres
KW  - stars: massive
KW  - X-rays: binaries
Y1  - 2018
UR  - https://publishup.uni-potsdam.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/53498
SN  - 1432-0746
VL  - 610
PB  - EDP Sciences
CY  - Les Ulis
ER  -