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E. Grundstrom, D. R. Gies (Georgia State Univ.), M. V. McSwain (Yale Univ.)
The remarkable binary RY Scuti (HD 169515) is a unique representative of the advanced evolutionary stages in massive binaries. This system consists of a bright component (O9.7 Ibpe var) and a fainter star which orbit with a period of 11.1 days. The system is an eclipsing binary, and light curve solutions indicate that the stars are either in contact or very close to filling their Roche lobes. In recent papers, Gehrz et al. and Smith et al. have presented high resolution maps that show that binary is surrounded by a double-torus feature with an outer radius of some 2000 AU. Here we present a series of H-alpha spectra of RY Scuti that we are analyzing to study the geometry of the gas outflow into the torus. These 42 moderate resolution spectra were obtained with the KPNO Coude Feed telescope and they cover several orbital cycles. We discuss the orbital phase variations in emission strength caused by the varying continuum flux of the eclipsing binary, and we analyze the component of H-alpha variations due to emission from the binary itself.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 37 #2
© 2005. The American Astronomical Soceity.