Phase-resolved X-ray and optical spectroscopy of the massive binary HD93403

We report the first results of a campaign aimed at the study of early-type binaries with the XMM-Newton observatory. Phase-resolved EPIC spectroscopy of the eccentric binary HD 93403 reveals a clear orbital modulation of the X-ray luminosity as a function of the orbital phase. Below 1.0 keV, the observed X-ray flux is modulated by the opacity of the primary wind. Above 1.0 keV, the observed variation of the X-ray flux is roughly consistent with a 1/r dependence expected for an adiabatic colliding wind interaction. HD 93403 appears less overluminuous in X-rays than previously thought and a significant fraction of the total X-ray emission arises probably within the winds of the individual components of the binary. Optical monitoring of the system reveals strong variability of the He {II} lambda 4686 and Hα line profiles. The He {II} lambda 4686 line displays a broad asymmetrical emission component which is found to be significantly stronger between phases 0.80 and 0.15 than around apastron. This suggests that part of the emission arises in the interaction region and most probably in the trailing arm of a shock cone wrapped around the secondary. Some absorption lines of the secondary's spectrum display equivalent width variations reminiscent of the so-called Struve-Sahade effect. The differences in behaviour between individual lines suggest that the temperature may not be the only relevant parameter that controls this effect. Based on observations with XMM-Newton, an ESA Science Mission with instruments and contributions directly funded by ESA Member states and the USA (NASA). Also based on observations collected at the European Southern Observatory (La Silla, Chile).status: publishe