Cygnus X-3 with ISO: investigating the wind

Abstract

We observed the energetic binary Cygnus X-3 in both quiescent and flaring states between 4 and 16 microns using the ISO satellite. We find that the quiescent source shows the thermal free-free spectrum typical of a hot, fast stellar wind, such as from a massive helium star. The quiescent mass-loss rate due to a spherically symmetric, non-accelerating wind is found to be in the range 0.4-2.9 x 10E-4 solar masses per year, consistent with other infrared and radio observations, but considerably larger than the 10E-5 solar masses per year deduced from both the orbital change and the X-ray column density. There is rapid, large amplitude flaring at 4.5 and 11.5 microns at the same time as enhanced radio and X-ray activity, with the infrared spectrum apparently becoming flatter in the flaring state. We believe non-thermal processes are operating, perhaps along with enhanced thermal emission.

Accepted for publication in MNRAS, 11 pages, 6 figures

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• The radio luminosity of persistent X-ray binaries
• Axisymmetry in proto-planetary nebulae: using imaging polarimetry to investigate envelope structure
• Giant repeated ejections from GRS 1915+105
• BeppoSAX observations of three distant, highly luminous clusters of galaxies: RXJ1347-1145, Z3146 and A2390

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• Doppler Modulation of X-ray lines in Cygnus X-3
• Near-IR and X-ray Variability of Cyg X-3: Evidence for a Compact IR Source and Complex Wind Structures
• Jet radio emission in Cygnus X-1 and its orbital modulation
• A 2.4 - 12 microns spectrophotometric study with ISO of Cygnus X-3 in quiescence
• Connection between accretion disk and superluminal radio jets and the role of radio plateau state in GRS 1915+105
• Radio flares and plasmon size in Cygnus X-3
• Extended Emission from Cygnus X-3 Detected with Chandra
• Broadband Emission Spectra from the Cygnus X-3 Jet in the Soft Spectral State