TESS observations of Be stars: a new interpretation


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Balona L. A., ÖZUYAR D.

MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, cilt.493, sa.2, ss.2528-2544, 2020 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 493 Sayı: 2
  • Basım Tarihi: 2020
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1093/mnras/staa389
  • Dergi Adı: MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Aerospace Database, Applied Science & Technology Source, Communication Abstracts, INSPEC, Metadex, zbMATH, DIALNET, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.2528-2544
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: stars: emission-line, Be, stars: oscillations, stars: rotation, DRIVEN STELLAR WINDS, DYNAMICAL SIMULATIONS, PHOTOMETRIC VARIABILITY, ROTATIONAL MODULATION, INTENSIVE PHOTOMETRY, MAGNETIC-FIELD, MASSIVE STARS, SOUTHERN, CATALOG, STATISTICS
  • Ankara Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Light curves of 57 classical Be stars in TESS sectors 1-15 are examined. In most Be stars, the periodogram shows groups at a fundamental and one or more harmonics, which we attribute to rotation. In about 40 per cent of the stars, the group is just a single narrow or slightly broadened peak. In about 30 per cent, it consists of a multiple, closely spaced peaks. These groups can be interpreted as non-coherent variations most likely associated with photospheric gas clouds. Approximate rotational frequencies for about 74 per cent of the stars can be derived. Comparison with the projected rotational velocities shows that the photometric frequency is consistent with rotation. The first harmonic plays a prominent role in many Be stars and manifests itself in either single-wave or double-wave light curves. The reduction in amplitude of beta Cep pulsations in a few Be stars during an outburst and their subsequent recovery is most likely an obscuration effect. Other instances of possible obscuration of the photosphere are suspected. A simple model, which attempts to explain these observations and other general properties of Be stars, is proposed.