Symmetrical jet action in the R Aquarii binary system

Abstract

Collimated mass flow in opposite directions is detected in the R Aqr binary-system jet by means of high-resolution long-slit spectroscopy of several optical emission lines. Also presented are images of the jet structure in the forbidden line of O III, which clearly show bipolar symmetry extending to distances of about 2750 AU on either side of the central Mira variable. The Mira light was greatly reduced by utilization of a vignetting disk on the window of the imaging CCD. This result confirms the recent report of morphological evidence for an R Aqr jet from the detection of bipolar radio continuum emission at 6 cm, and provides the necessary kinematical evidence to show that jet action is actually taking place.