Optical Multicolor Observations of the SS 433=V 1343 Aql Microquasar

TL;DR

This study presents multicolor optical observations of the SS 433 microquasar over several years, revealing how its light and color vary with orbital and precession cycles, and indicating active gaseous flow and mass transfer.

Contribution

First detailed multicolor photometry covering multiple orbital and precession cycles, analyzing the system's light curves, color variations, and mass transfer activity.

Findings

Optical component fills its Roche lobe and loses mass.

Gaseous flow activity varies with precession phase.

Light curves and color diagrams show systematic variations.

Abstract

We report BVR photometry of the V1343 Aql= SS 433 microquasar at different phases of the 13-day orbital cycle for the 1986-1990 observing seasons. The data include five complete cycles of the 163$^{d}$ precession period of the system. We obtain mean light curves and color-color diagrams with the orbital period for all intervals of precession phases. The optical component of the close binary system (CBS) fills its critical Roche lobe and loses mass on the thermal relaxation time scale. Gaseous flow show up actively in the system and activity manifestations differ substantially at different precession phases.