scholarly journals Short-term variability and mass loss in Be stars

2018 ◽  
Vol 610 ◽  
pp. A70 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Baade ◽  
A. Pigulski ◽  
Th. Rivinius ◽  
A. C. Carciofi ◽  
D. Panoglou ◽  
...  

Context. Be stars are important reference laboratories for the investigation of viscous Keplerian discs. In some cases, the disc feeder mechanism involves a combination of non-radial pulsation (NRP) modes. Aims. We seek to understand whether high-cadence photometry can shed further light on the role of NRP modes in facilitating rotation-supported mass loss. Methods. The BRITE-Constellation of nanosatellites obtained mmag photometry of 28 Cygni for 11 months in 2014–2016. We added observations with the Solar Mass Ejection Imager (SMEI) in 2003–2010 and 118 Hα line profiles, half of which were from 2016. Results. For decades, 28 Cyg has exhibited four large-amplitude frequencies: two closely spaced frequencies of spectroscopically confirmed g modes near 1.5 c/d, one slightly lower exophotospheric (Štefl) frequency, and at 0.05 c/d the difference (Δ) frequency between the two g modes. This top-level framework is indistinguishable from η Cen (Paper I), which is also very similar in spectral type, rotation rate, and viewing angle. The circumstellar (Štefl) frequency alone does not seem to be affected by the Δ frequency. The amplitude of the Δ frequency undergoes large variations; around maximum the amount of near-circumstellar matter is increased and the amplitude of the Štefl frequency grows by a factor of a few. During such brightenings dozens of transient spikes appear in the frequency spectrum; these spikes are concentrated into three groups. Only 11 frequencies were common to all years of BRITE observations. Conclusions. Be stars seem to be controlled by several coupled clocks, most of which are not very regular on timescales of weeks to months but function for decades. The combination of g modes to the slow Δ variability and/or the atmospheric response to it appears significantly non-linear. As in η Cen, the Δ variability seems to be mainly responsible for the modulation of the star-to-disc mass transfer in 28 Cyg. A hierarchical set of Δ frequencies may reach the longest known timescales of the Be phenomenon.

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernard V. Jackson ◽  
Andrew Buffington ◽  
P. P. Hick

Icarus ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 203 (1) ◽  
pp. 124-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Buffington ◽  
Mario M. Bisi ◽  
John M. Clover ◽  
P. Paul Hick ◽  
Bernard V. Jackson ◽  
...  

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Kahler ◽  
David Webb ◽  
M. Maksimovic ◽  
K. Issautier ◽  
N. Meyer-Vernet ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 613 ◽  
pp. A70 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Semaan ◽  
A. M. Hubert ◽  
J. Zorec ◽  
J. Gutiérrez-Soto ◽  
Y. Frémat ◽  
...  

Context. The class of Be stars are the epitome of rapid rotators in the main sequence. These stars are privileged candidates for studying the incidence of rotation on the stellar internal structure and on non-radial pulsations. Pulsations are considered possible mechanisms to trigger mass-ejection phenomena required to build up the circumstellar disks of Be stars. Aims. Time series analyses of the light curves of 15 faint Be stars observed with the CoRoT satellite were performed to obtain the distribution of non-radial pulsation (NRP) frequencies in their power spectra at epochs with and without light outbursts and to discriminate pulsations from rotation-related photometric variations. Methods. Standard Fourier techniques were employed to analyze the CoRoT light curves. Fundamental parameters corrected for rapid-rotation effects were used to study the power spectrum as a function of the stellar location in the instability domains of the Hertzsprung–Russell (H-R) diagram. Results. Frequencies are concentrated in separate groups as predicted for g-modes in rapid B-type rotators, except for the two stars that are outside the H-R instability domain. In five objects the variations in the power spectrum are correlated with the time-dependent outbursts characteristics. Time-frequency analysis showed that during the outbursts the amplitudes of stable main frequencies within 0.03 c d−1 intervals strongly change, while transients and/or frequencies of low amplitude appear separated or not separated from the stellar frequencies. The frequency patterns and activities depend on evolution phases: (i) the average separations between groups of frequencies are larger in the zero-age main sequence (ZAMS) than in the terminal age main sequence (TAMS) and are the largest in the middle of the MS phase; (ii) a poor frequency spectrum with f ≲ 1 cd−1 of low amplitude characterizes the stars beyond the TAMS; and (iii) outbursts are seen in stars hotter than B4 spectral type and in the second half of the MS. Conclusions. The two main frequency groups are separated by δf = (1.24 ± 0.28) × frot in agreement with models of prograde sectoral g-modes (m = −1, −2) of intermediate-mass rapid rotators. The changes of amplitudes of individual frequencies and the presence of transients correlated with the outburst events deserve further studies of physical conditions in the subatmospheric layers to establish the relationship between pulsations and sporadic mass-ejection events.


Eos ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
pp. 33 ◽  
Author(s):  
David F. Webb ◽  
Janet C. Johnston ◽  
Richard R. Radick ◽  

1996 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. V. Jackson ◽  
A. Buffington ◽  
P. L. Hick ◽  
S. W. Kahler ◽  
R. C. Altrock ◽  
...  

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document