First measurement of wind line formation regions in an early O-type star

TL;DR

This study empirically measures the formation regions of UV resonance lines in an early O-type star's wind, providing benchmarks for stellar atmosphere models and insights into wind structure.

Contribution

First empirical measurement of resonance line formation regions in an early O-type star, aiding validation of stellar wind models.

Findings

Resonance lines form up to 316 solar radii in the wind.

Line profile changes are caused by wind eclipsing the secondary star.

A beta=0.5 velocity law fits the primary's wind better than beta=0.8.

Abstract

Massive stars with their strong ionizing radiation and strong stellar winds are the key feedback agents of the universe. Stellar winds of massive stars are often measured by fitting resonance lines in the UV using non-LTE stellar atmosphere models. So far, the line formation regions of these lines have not been measured empirically, preventing a comparison to the model's structures. We aim to conduct the first measurement of the resonance line formation regions in an early-type eclipsing binary in the SMC, namely AzV 75. We employ TESS and ASAS-SN photometry in combination with radial velocity measurements from multi-epoch HST UV spectra to derive the ephemeris. We examine the intensity changes in the C IV and N V resonance lines in the UV and combine them with a light-curve analysis to estimate the region in the wind where these lines are formed. AzV 75 has an orbital period P=165.66d, eccentricity e=0.42, mass ratio q=0.72, and inclination i=85.77{\deg}. With this orbital configuration, no secondary eclipse is expected. We report that the optically thick UV resonance lines exhibit flattening and shortening of the absorption trough, and weakening of their emission features, as they approach the phase of the expected secondary eclipse, while the continuum UV flux appears to remain unaffected. We illustrate that this can be explained by the primary's optically thick wind eclipsing the secondary star. The C IV and N V resonance line formation regions in the primary star extend up to 316 Rsol. The measured extend of the formation regions of resonance lines in a stellar wind are important benchmarks for 1D as well as 3D non-LTE stellar atmosphere models. A first comparison to 1D-stellar atmosphere models indicates that a classical beta-law with an exponent of beta=0.5 instead of beta=0.8 might be favoured for the primary star's velocity field.