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| Paper: |
The Outer Ejecta of Eta Carinae |
| Volume: |
332, The Fate of the Most Massive Stars |
| Page: |
271 |
| Authors: |
Weis, K. |
| Abstract: |
The nebula around η Carinae consists of two distinct parts: the Homunculus and the outer ejecta. The outer ejecta are mainly a collection of numerous filaments, shaped irregularly and distributed over an area of 1′ × 1′. While the Homunculus is mainly a reflection nebula, the outer ejecta are an emission nebula. Kinematic analysis of the outer ejecta (as the Homunculus) show their bi-directional expansion. Radial velocities in the outer ejecta reach up to >2000 kms−1 and the gas gives rise to X-ray emission. The temperature of the X-ray gas is of the order of 0.65 keV. These shock temperatures indicate velocities of the shocking gas of 750 kms−1, about what was found for the average expansion velocity of the outer ejecta. HST/STIS data from the strings, long, highly collimated structures in the outer ejecta, show that the electron density of the strings is of the order of 104 cm−3. Other structures in the outer ejecta show similar values. String 1 has a mass of about 3 × 10−4MSolar, a density gradient along the strings or a denser leading head was not found. |
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