Catalogue of particle-accelerating colliding-wind binaries
De Becker M. & Raucq F.
Department of Astrophysics, Geophysics and Oceanography, University of Liège, Belgium
Massive systems made of two or more stars are known to be the site for interesting physical processes - including at least in some cases - particle acceleration. Over the past decade, this topic motivated a particular effort to unveil the properties of these systems and characterize the circumstances responsible for the acceleration of particles and the potential role of pre-supernova massive stars in the production of high energy particles in our Galaxy. Although previous studies on this topic were mostly devoted to processes in general, or to a few individual objects in particular, a unified target-oriented census of particle-accelerating colliding-wind binaries (hereafter PACWBs) does not exist yet. This paper aims at making a general and unified census of these systems, emphasizing their main properties. A general discussion includes energetic considerations along with wind properties in relation with non-thermal emission processes that are likely at work in colliding-wind binaries. Finally, some guidelines for future observational and theoretical studies are drawn.
Reference: Astronomy & Astrophysics (in press)
Status: Manuscript has been accepted
Weblink: http://hdl.handle.net/2268/154330
Comments: A&A forthcoming paper link:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201322074
Email: debecker@astro.ulg.ac.be