TY  - JOUR
A1  - Shenar, Tomer
A1  - Hainich, Rainer
A1  - Todt, Helge Tobias
A1  - Moffat, Anthony F. J.
A1  - Sander, Andreas Alexander Christoph
A1  - Oskinova, Lida
A1  - Ramachandran, Varsha
A1  - Munoz, M.
A1  - Pablo, H.
A1  - Sana, Hugues
A1  - Hamann, Wolf-Rainer
T1  - The shortest-period Wolf-Rayet binary in the small magellanic cloud
T2  - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal
N2  - Context. SMC AB6 is the shortest-period (P = 6.5 d) Wolf-Rayet (WR) binary in the Small Magellanic Cloud. This binary is therefore a key system in the study of binary interaction and formation of WR stars at low metallicity. The WR component in AB6 was previously found to be very luminous (log L = 6.3 [L-circle dot]) compared to its reported orbital mass (approximate to 8 M-circle dot), placing it significantly above the Eddington limit. Aims. Through spectroscopy and orbital analysis of newly acquired optical data taken with the Ultraviolet and Visual Echelle Spectrograph (UVES), we aim to understand the peculiar results reported for this system and explore its evolutionary history. Methods. We measured radial velocities via cross-correlation and performed a spectral analysis using the Potsdam Wolf-Rayet model atmosphere code. The evolution of the system was analyzed using the Binary Population and Spectral Synthesis evolution code. Results. AB6 contains at least four stars. The 6.5 d period WR binary comprises the WR primary (WN3:h, star A) and a rather rapidly rotating (v(eq) = 265 km s(-1)) early O-type companion (O5.5 V, star B). Static N III and N IV emission lines and absorption signatures in He lines suggest the presence of an early-type emission line star (O5.5 I(f), star C). Finally, narrow absorption lines portraying a long-term radial velocity variation show the existence of a fourth star (O7.5 V, star D). Star D appears to form a second 140 d period binary together with a fifth stellar member, which is a B-type dwarf or a black hole. It is not clear that these additional components are bound to the WR binary. We derive a mass ratio of M-O/M-WR = 2.2 +/- 0.1. The WR star is found to be less luminous than previously thought (log L = 5.9 [L-circle dot]) and, adopting M-O = 41 M-circle dot for star B, more massive (M-WR = 18 M-circle dot). Correspondingly, the WR star does not exceed the Eddington limit. We derive the initial masses of M-i,M-WR = 60 M-circle dot and M-i,M-O = 40 M-circle dot and an age of 3.9 Myr for the system. The WR binary likely experienced nonconservative mass transfer in the past supported by the relatively rapid rotation of star B. Conclusions. Our study shows that AB6 is a multiple - probably quintuple - system. This finding resolves the previously reported puzzle of the WR primary exceeding the Eddington limit and suggests that the WR star exchanged mass with its companion in the past.
KW  - stars: massive
KW  - binaries: spectroscopic
KW  - stars: Wolf-Rayet
KW  - Magellanic Clouds
KW  - stars: individual: SMC AB 6
KW  - stars: atmospheres
Y1  - 2018
UR  - https://publishup.uni-potsdam.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/52156
SN  - 1432-0746
SN  - 0004-6361
VL  - 616
PB  - EDP Sciences
CY  - Les Ulis
ER  -