Really focused stellar winds in X-ray binaries

TL;DR

This paper models anisotropic stellar winds in high-mass X-ray binaries using 3D radiation hydrodynamics, revealing the significant effects of Coriolis force and gravitational focusing on accretion processes.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive 3D radiation hydrodynamic model that accounts for Coriolis force and Roche potential effects on stellar wind anisotropy in X-ray binaries.

Findings

Coriolis force significantly affects mass loss and accretion rates.

Gravitational focusing creates a gaseous tail behind the compact companion.

Wind anisotropy influences accretion dynamics in high-mass X-ray binaries.

Abstract

We investigate the anisotropy of stellar winds in binaries to improve the models of accretion in high-mass X-ray binaries. We model numerically the stellar wind from a supergiant component of a binary in radial and three-dimensional radiation hydrodynamic approximation taking into account the Roche potential, Coriolis force, and radiative pressure in the continuum and spectral lines. The Coriolis force influences substantially the mass loss and thus also the accretion rate. The focusing of the stellar wind by the gravitational field of the compact companion leads to the formation of a gaseous tail behind the companion.