1. Watching a Volatile Stellar Relationship
X-rays
Watching a Volatile Stellar Relationship
Chandra-detected X-rays reveal historical record of jet ejection from the R Aquarii symbiotic binary and a connection to its orbit. #aas230
Rodolfo Montez Jr. (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory)
with collaborators:
Margarita Karovska, Joy Nichols, and Vinay Kashyap
Optical Image Credit: Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona

2. Watching a Volatile Stellar Relationship Symbiotic Binary System
Red Giant WD +
Symbiotic Binary System
WD ~ solar masses
Red Giant ~ solar masses
43.6 year orbital period
Mass lost by the Red Giant transfers to the WD; can trigger outburst events.
Optical Image Credit: Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona

3. Watching a Volatile Stellar Relationship
Historical record based on optical observations of the nebula.
Large surrounding nebula is biconical shell traced back near the time of a nova-like eruption around 1070’s.
Optical Image Credit: Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona

4. Watching a Volatile Stellar Relationship
Historical record based on optical observations of the nebula.
Large surrounding nebula is biconical shell traced back near the time of a nova-like eruption around 1070’s.
Optical Image Credit: Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona

5. Watching a Volatile Stellar Relationship
Historical record based on optical observations of the nebula.
Large surrounding nebula is biconical shell traced back near the time of a nova-like eruption around 1070’s.
Optical Image Credit: Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona

6. Watching a Volatile Stellar Relationship
Historical record based on optical observations of the nebula.
Large surrounding nebula is biconical shell traced back near the time of a nova-like eruption around 1070’s.
Optical Image Credit: Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona

7. Watching a Volatile Stellar Relationship
Historical record based on optical observations of the nebula.
The inner central nebula structure was formed around 1770’s.
Optical Image Credit: Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona

8. Watching a Volatile Stellar Relationship
Historical record based on optical observations of the nebula.
What do X-ray observations provide?
R Aquarii was first observed by Chandra in 2000 (shortly after Chandra launched).
Then it was observed again at the end of 2003 and near the end of 2005.
Optical Image Credit: Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona

9. Watching a Volatile Stellar Relationship
Historical record based on optical observations of the nebula.
What do X-ray observations provide?
R Aquarii was first observed by Chandra in 2000 (shortly after Chandra launched).
Then it was observed again at the end of 2003 and near the end of 2005.
X-rays
Optical Image Credit: Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona

10. Watching a Volatile Stellar Relationship
X-ray observations provide new evidence on the volatility of the stellar relationship.
What do X-ray observations provide?
R Aquarii was first observed by Chandra in 2000 (shortly after Chandra launched).
Then it was observed again at the end of 2003 and near the end of 2005.
X-rays
Optical Image Credit: Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona

11. Watching a Volatile Stellar Relationship
X-ray observations provide new evidence on the volatility of the stellar relationship.
What do X-ray observations provide?
R Aquarii was first observed by Chandra in 2000 (shortly after Chandra launched).
Then it was observed again at the end of 2003 and near the end of 2005.
Optical Image Credit: Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona

12. Watching a Volatile Stellar Relationship
X-ray observations provide new evidence on the volatility of the stellar relationship.
Previously-studied main northern jet expands at 630 km/s (1.4 million mph).
Newly uncovered large northern jet expands at 850 km/s (1.9 million mph; 30% faster than main northern jet).
Optical Image Credit: Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona

13. Watching a Volatile Stellar Relationship
Main Jet
Compact Jet
Large Jet
Nichols et al. 2007
Kellogg et al. 2007
This work
1960
1980
2000
2020
1770
1070
Inner Nebula
Solf & Ulrich (1985)
Outer Nebula
Yang et al. (2005)
p - periastron
CXO Observations
Watching a Volatile Stellar Relationship
Updated historical record brings us closer to understanding the symbiotic relationship
Jets emerge on year timescales; possibly connected to orbital configurations with intense mass transfer.
Future direct observations of the jet formation process and its role in the late stage evolution of binary systems.
X-rays
Optical Image Credit: Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona

14. Watching a Volatile Stellar Relationship
Main Jet
Compact Jet
Large Jet
Nichols et al. 2007
Kellogg et al. 2007
This work
1960
1980
2000
2020
1770
1070
Inner Nebula
Solf & Ulrich (1985)
Outer Nebula
Yang et al. (2005)
p - periastron
CXO Observations
Watching a Volatile Stellar Relationship
Chandra-detected X-rays reveal historical record of jet ejection from the R Aquarii symbiotic binary and a connection to its orbit. #aas230
Rodolfo Montez Jr. (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory)
with collaborators:
Margarita Karovska, Joy Nichols, and Vinay Kashyap
X-rays
Optical Image Credit: Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona

15. X-rays 2005-10-09 2003-12-31 2000-09-10 Dec Offset (arcseconds)
RA Offset (arcseconds)
Different kinematics.
850 km/s vs. 630 km/s
(1.9 million mph vs. 1.4 million mph)
X-rays
Optical Image Credit: Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona

16. Watching a Volatile Stellar Relationship
X-ray observations provide new evidence on the volatility of the stellar relationship.
What do X-ray observations provide?
R Aquarii was first observed by Chandra in 2000 (shortly after Chandra launched).
Then it was observed again at the end of 2003 and near the end of 2005.
Optical Image Credit: Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona

17. Watching a Volatile Stellar Relationship
X-ray observations provide new evidence on the volatility of the stellar relationship.
What do X-ray observations provide?
R Aquarii was first observed by Chandra in 2000 (shortly after Chandra launched).
Then it was observed again at the end of 2003 and near the end of 2005.
Optical Image Credit: Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona

18. Watching a Volatile Stellar Relationship
X-ray observations provide new evidence on the volatility of the stellar relationship.
What do X-ray observations provide?
R Aquarii was first observed by Chandra in 2000 (shortly after Chandra launched).
Then it was observed again at the end of 2003 and near the end of 2005.
Optical Image Credit: Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona