SS 433: flares in H alpha, GRAVITY observations & L2 ejection

TL;DR

This paper investigates the flaring activity of the microquasar SS 433, revealing plasma ejection through the L2 point and mapping the expelled plasma's rotation using GRAVITY observations, challenging previous accretion disk interpretations.

Contribution

It demonstrates that SS 433's flares originate from plasma expelled via the L2 point, not from an accretion disk, and provides detailed mapping of the expelled plasma's rotation.

Findings

Flares are linked to plasma ejection through L2 point.

Expelled plasma retains orbital phase information.

GRAVITY observations reveal strong rotation in the ejected plasma.

Abstract

Abstract The microquasar SS 433 exhibits in H alpha intermittent flares, Doppler shifted to both the red and the blue. The mean remembers the orbital phase of the compact object. I show that the flares are not intermittent sightings of an accretion disk; rather, plasma must be expelled through the L2 point, thus remembering the phase of the orbit as it invades the space beyond the system. That space has been mapped with GRAVITY observations of a similar flare, revealing a strong rotation component.