The symbiotic star CH Cygni - I. Non-thermal bipolar jets

M. M. Crocker, R. J. Davis, S.p.s. Eyres, M. F. Bode, A. R. Taylor, A. Skopal, H.t. Kenny

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Very Large Array surface brightness and spectral index maps of the evolving extended emission of the triple symbiotic star CH Cygni are presented. These are derived from observations at 4.8, 8.4 and 14 GHz between 1985 and 1999. The maps are dominated by thermal emission around the central bright peak of the nebula, but we also find unambiguous non-thermal emission associated with the extended regions. Our observations confirm that this is a jet. The central region has been associated with the stellar components through Hubble Space Telescope imaging. If the jets are the result of ejection events at outburst, expansion velocities are consistent with those from other measurement methods. We propose that the non-thermal emission is caused by material ejected in the bipolar jets interacting with the circumstellar wind envelope. The resulting shocks lead to local enhancements in the magnetic field from the compact component of the order of 3 mG.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)781-787
JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Volume326
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sep 2001

Keywords

  • binaries: symbiotic
  • circumstellar matter
  • stars: imaging
  • stars: individual: CH Cygni
  • stars: late-type
  • radio continuum: stars

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The symbiotic star CH Cygni - I. Non-thermal bipolar jets'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this