A VLT/FLAMES survey for massive binaries in Westerlund 1: II. Dynamical constraints on magnetar progenitor masses from the eclipsing binary W13

TL;DR

This study uses spectroscopic and photometric data of the eclipsing binary W13 in Westerlund 1 to constrain the progenitor mass of a magnetar, providing the first dynamical mass estimate for such progenitors.

Contribution

It presents the first dynamical constraint on a magnetar progenitor mass using binary star observations, linking stellar evolution models with magnetar formation.

Findings

Lower mass limits for W13 components: 21.4 and 32.8 solar masses.

Progenitor mass of the magnetar exceeds 35 solar masses.

Supports high-mass progenitor scenario for magnetar formation.

Abstract

Westerlund 1 is a young, massive Galactic starburst cluster that contains a rich coeval population of Wolf-Rayet stars, hot- and cool-phase transitional supergiants, and a magnetar. We use spectroscopic and photometric observations of the eclipsing double-lined binary W13 to derive dynamical masses for the two components, in order to determine limits for the progenitor masses of the magnetar CXOU J164710.2-455216 and the population of evolved stars in Wd1. W13 has an orbital period of 9.2709+/-0.0015 days and near-contact configuration. The shallow photometric eclipse rules out an inclination greater than 65 degrees, leading to lower limits for the masses of the emission-line optical primary and supergiant optical secondary of 21.4+/-2.6Msun and 32.8+/-4.0Msun respectively, rising to 23.2 +3.3/-3.0Msun and 35.4 +5.0/-4.6 Msun for our best-fit inclination 62 +3/-4 degrees. Comparison with theoretical models of Wolf-Rayet binary evolution suggest the emission-line object had an initial mass in excess of 35Msun, with the most likely model featuring highly non-conservative late-Case-A/Case-B mass transfer and an initial mass in excess of 40Msun. This confirms the high magnetar progenitor mass inferred from its membership in Wd1, and represents the first dynamical constraint on the progenitor mass of any magnetar. The red supergiants in Wd1 must have similar progenitor masses to W13 and are therefore amongst the most massive stars to undergo a red supergiant phase, representing a challenge for population models that suggest stars in this mass range end their redwards evolution as yellow hypergiants. [ABRIDGED]