2014MNRAS.442.3316S

We investigate, using the modelling code shape, the three-dimensional structure of the bipolar Homunculus nebula surrounding Eta Carinae as mapped by new ESO Very Large Telescope/X-Shooter observations of the H2 λ = 2.12125µm emission line. Our results reveal for the first time important deviations from the axisymmetric bipolar morphology: (1) circumpolar trenches in each lobe positioned point symmetrically from the centre and (2) off-planar protrusions in the equatorial region from each lobe at longitudinal ( ∼ 55°) and latitudinal (10°-20°) distances from the projected apastron direction of the binary orbit. The angular distance between the protrusions ( ∼ 110°) is similar to the angular extent of each polar trench ( ∼ 130°) and nearly equal to the opening angle of the wind-wind collision cavity ( ∼ 110°). As in previous studies, we confirm a hole near the centre of each polar lobe and no detectable near-IR H2 emission from the thin optical skirt seen prominently in visible imagery. We conclude that the interaction between the outflows and/or radiation from the central binary stars and their orientation in space has had, and possibly still has, a strong influence on the Homunculus. This implies that prevailing theoretical models of the Homunculus are incomplete as most assume a single-star origin that produces an axisymmetric nebula. We discuss how the newly found features might be related to the Homunculus ejection, the central binary, and the interacting stellar winds.