Why a Single‐Star Model Cannot Explain the Bipolar Nebula of η Carinae

2004/03/31 by Noam Soker · 7 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Accretion (finance) #Angular momentum #Astronomy #Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations #Astrophysics #Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies #Classical mechanics #Envelope (radar) #Nebula #Physics #Planetary nebula #Star (game theory) #Star formation #Stars #Stellar evolution #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies #Young stellar object #astro-ph

paper · pdf · doi:10.1086/422599

published as Astrophys.J. 612 (2004) 1060-1064 · ApJ, in press. New references and segments were added

arxiv created 2004/05/16 · openalex publication_date 2004/09/10 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05

Abstract

I examine the angular momentum evolution during the 1837-1856 Great Eruption of the massive star η Carinae. I find that the new estimate of the mass blown during that eruption implies that the envelope of η Car substantially spun down during the 20 yr eruption. Single-star models, most of which require the envelope to rotate at close to the break-up velocity, cannot account for the bipolar nebula—the Homunculus—formed from matter expelled in that eruption. The kinetic energy and momentum of the Homunculus further constrain single-star models. I discuss how η Car can fit into a unified model for the formation of bipolar lobes in which two oppositely ejected jets inflate two lobes (or bubbles). These jets are blown by an accretion disk, which requires stellar companions in the case of bipolar nebulae around stellar objects.

Citations

• η Carinae: Binarity Confirmed
• Physical Structure of Planetary Nebulae. I. The Owl Nebula
• Presupernova Evolution of Rotating Massive Stars. II. Evolution of the Surface Properties
• The departure of Carinae from axisymmetry and the binary hypothesis
• Solar Models: Current Epoch and Time Dependences, Neutrinos, and Helioseismological Properties
• Stellar evolution with rotation

Cited by

• Accretion and Recovery in Giant Eruptions of Massive Stars
• Spitzer Spectroscopy of Dusty Disks around B[e] Hypergiants in the Large Magellanic Cloud
• PERIASTRON PASSAGE TRIGGERING OF THE 19TH CENTURY ERUPTIONS OF ETA CARINAE
• Doppler tomography of the Little Homunculus: high-resolution spectra of [Fe II] 16 435 around Eta Carinae
• The Structure of the Homunculus. III. Forming a Disk and Bipolar Lobes in a Rotating Surface Explosion
• On the 3D structure of the nebula around η-Carinae
• Comparing η Carinae with the Red Rectangle