Abstract
A high-resolution 5-GHz map of the Wolf-Rayet star WR 146 with the MERLIN array resolves the source into two components separated by 116 mas. The weaker component is identified with thermal emission by the WR stellar wind, and fits a Snu varies as nu0.78 wind spectrum with infrared and millimetre observations. The stronger component, which has Tb approx. 106 K, is identified as the non-thermal source. Optical spectroscopy reveals the presence of Balmer absorption lines superimposed on the diluted WR emission spectrum, indicating the presence of an O star companion to the WC6 star in WR146. We suggest that the non-thermal emission arises from the interaction of the WR wind with that of the newly detected companion.
