The eccentric short-period orbit of the supergiant fast X-ray transient HD 74194 (=LM Vel) [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/1510.06584


Aims. We present the first orbital solution for the O-type supergiant star HD 74194, which is the optical counterpart of the supergiant fast X-ray transient IGR J08408-4503. Methods. We measured the radial velocities in the optical spectrum of HD 74194, and we determined the orbital solution for the first time. We also analysed the complex H{\alpha} profile. Results. HD 74194 is a binary system composed of an O-type supergiant and a compact object in a short-period ($P=9.5436\pm0.0002$ d) and high-eccentricity ($e=0.63\pm0.03$) orbit. The equivalent width of the H{\alpha} line is not modulated entirely with the orbital period, but seems to vary in a superorbital period ($P=285\pm10$ d) nearly 30 times longer than the orbital one.

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R. Gamen, R. Barba, N. Walborn, et. al.
Fri, 23 Oct 15
59/63

Comments: 4 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in A&A