The Herbig B0e star HD 53367: circumstellar activity and evidence of binarity

Abstract

Aims. We investigate the spectroscopic behaviour of the young B0e star HD 53367 within a cooperative observing programme conducted from 1994 to 2005. Methods. The data include more than 100 high-resolution spectra collected at the Crimean Astronomical Observatory (CrAO) near Results. We confirm that the long-term photometric variability of HD 53367 is related to the alternation of two states of this object when the gaseous circumstellar envelope disappears and rises again. Both these processes start near the star and spread to the outlying parts of the envelope. We find that the radial velocities of He i and O ii photospheric lines demonstrate a cyclic variability with a period of P = 183.7 days and semi-amplitude K = 19 km s −1 . The radial velocity change is interpreted in the framework of a model in which the star is a component of an eccentric binary system. An orbital solution is derived and the system's parameters estimated. We find that the orbital eccentricity is e = 0.28, and the mean companion separation is 1.7 AU. Conclusions. Based on the estimated parameters, we conclude that the system consists of a massive (∼20 M ) main sequence primary B0e star, and a secondary which is most likely a 5 solar mass pre-main sequence object. We found evidence that the main part of the circumstellar gas in this system is concentrated near the secondary companion. Although the young age of HD 53367, its evolved primary B0e star seems to have already became a classical Be star exhibiting a specific alternation of the B-Be stages.

HD 52721 - A close binary system among the Ae/Be Herbig stars

“…The line has a broad single profile with a slight two-peak structure at the maximum. It is interesting that a similar Hα profile has been observed in another massive young star in the same star-formation complex, HD 53367 [9] at the times of its maximum brightness, when its gas shell is sufficiently developed. Big changes in the line intensity can be seen over times of a few days.…”

“…An example of such an effect is described by Pogodin, et al. [9], on another young massive Be-star in an CMa-complex, HD 53367 (B0IV-Ve adequate arguments for initial rejection of the model of two hot Be-star twins that form a binary system with an orbital period P ~ 1 d .610.…”

Structure of Herbig AeBe disks at the milliarcsecond scale

“…For T Ori see Shevchenko & Vitrichenko (1994); for HD 53367 see Pogodin et al (2006); for HD 104237 see Cowley et al (2013); for AK Sco see Andersen et al (1989); concerning VV Ser, Eisner et al (2004) mention that their data do not rule out a binary model; binarity is not supported by our (more extensive) data. HD 36917 is often quoted as SB2, referring to Levato & Abt (1976), who actually mention a composite spectrum, which is not confirmed by Alecian et al (2013).…”

Astrophysics in 2006

“…• The Herbig Ae/Be stars, more massive relatives of the T Tauris, grade into ordinary Be stars say Pogodin et al (2006) concerning HD 52267 which is a binary consisting of a 20 M B0e main sequence star and a 5 M pre-MS companion.…”