Vela X-1: Wind Accretion?
Two different "solutions" can be seen in this simulation...
Low X-ray Luminosity
- The low X-ray flux does not significantly influence the stellar wind,
and only a small amount of wind is captured. There is no (or very small) net
accretion of angular momentum.
- High X-ray Luminosity
- A high X-ray luminosity quenches the stellar wind at a small radius.
The stalled wind is strongly focussed along the line of centers by the
binary gravitational potential, leading to a high mass accretion rate with
a constant sign in the accreted angular momentum.
