BD+46 442 optical spectra

In order to image the accretion disk around the companion of BD+46 442, we applied the technique of Doppler tomography. Results: The orbital phase-dependent variations in the H{alpha} profile can be related to an accretion disk around the companion, from which a high-velocity outflow or jet is launched. Our model shows that there is a clear correlation between the inclination angle and the jet opening angle.

The latitudinally dependent velocity structure of our jet model shows a good correspondence to the data, with outflow velocities at least higher than 400km/s. The intensity peak in the Doppler map might be partly caused by a hot spot in the disk, or a larger asymmetrical structure in the disk. We show that BD+46 442, is a result of a binary interaction channel.

The origin of the fast outflow in this system can be attributed to a gaseous disk around the secondary component, which is most likely a main sequence star. Our analysis suggests the outflow to have a rather wide opening angle instead of being strongly collimated. Our time resolved spectral monitoring reveals the launching site of the jet in the binary BD+46 442.

Similar orbital phase-dependent H{alpha} profiles are commonly observed in post-AGB binaries. Post-AGB binaries provide ideal test bets to study jet formation and launching mechanisms over a wide range of orbital conditions.