1. The VLT-FLAMES Tarantula Survey: V. The peculiar B[e]-like supergiant, VFTS698, in 30 Doradus.
- Author
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Dunstall, P. R., Fraser, M., Clark, J. S., Crowther, P. A., Dufton, P. L., Evans, C. J., Lennon, D. J., Soszyński, I., Taylor, W. D., and Vink, J. S.
- Subjects
B stars ,MAGELLANIC clouds ,DWARF galaxies ,OPTICAL spectroscopy ,INFRARED photography - Abstract
Aims. We present an analysis of a peculiar supergiant B-type star (VFTS698/Melnick 2/Parker 1797) in the 30 Doradus region of the Large Magellanic Cloud which exhibits characteristics similar to the broad class of B[e] stars. Methods. We analyse optical spectra from the VLT-FLAMES survey, together with archival optical and infrared photometry and X-ray imaging to characterise the system. Results. We find radial velocity variations of around 400 km s
-1 in the high excitation Si iv, N iii and He ii spectra, and photometric variability of ∼0.6 mag with a period of 12.7 d. In addition, we detect long-term photometric variations of ∼0.25 mag, which may be due to a longer-term variability with a period of ∼400 d. Conclusions. We conclude that VFTS698 is likely an interacting binary comprising an early B-type star secondary orbiting a veiled, more massive companion. Spectral evidence suggests a mid-to-late B-type primary, but this may originate from an optically-thick accretion disc directly surrounding the primary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2012
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