Binary Systems with Wolf–Rayet Stars: Wind–Wind Collision and Optical Light Curves

We present a light curves synthesis method for a model of a binary system consisting of two components with powerful stellar winds. The model takes into account the wind–wind collision and the influence of the Coriolis force on the geometry of the wind–wind interaction region. The method was used for a preliminary analysis of light curves of two eclipsing binaries containing WR stars: V444 Cyg (WN5 + O II-V) and WR20a (WN6ha + WN6ha). It has been shown that the method successfully fits observational light curves including their features that cannot be fit in the standard Roche model. It was also shown that taking into account the absorption in winds is mandatory for systems that include massive hot stars with powerful stellar winds.