The origin of the strings in the outer regions of Eta Carinae


Abstract in English

The narrow optical filaments (`strings or `spikes) emerging from the Homunculus of Eta Carinae are modelled as resulting from the passage of ballistic `bullets of material through the dense circumstellar environment. In this explanation, the string is the decelerating flow of ablated gas from the bullet. An archive HST image and new forbidden line profiles of the most distinct of the strings are presented and discussed in terms of this simple model.

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