HD 156324: a tidally locked magnetic triple spectroscopic binary with a disrupted magnetosphere. Issue 1 (20th December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shultz, M; Rivinius, Th; Wade, G A; Alecian, E; Petit, V
• Is Part Of: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Volume 475:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 839
• Page End: 852
• Publication Date: 2017-12-20
• Subjects: binaries: close -- stars: early-type -- stars: individual: HD 156324 -- stars: magnetic field -- stars: massive; Astronomy -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 520.5
• DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stx3238
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0035-8711

Abstract

Abstract: HD 156324 is an SB3 (B2V/B5V/B5V) system in the Sco OB4 association. The He-strong primary possesses both a strong magnetic field and Hα emission believed to originate in its centrifugal magnetosphere. We analyse a large spectroscopic and high-resolution spectropolarimetric data set. The radial velocities (RVs) indicate that the system is composed of two subsystems, which we designate A and B. Period analysis of the RVs of the three components yields orbital periods P orb = 1.5806(1) d for the Aa and Ab components, and P orb = 6.67(2) d for the B component, a PGa star. Period analysis of the longitudinal magnetic field 〈 Bz 〉 and Hα equivalent widths, which should both be sensitive to the rotational period P rot of the magnetic Aa component, both yield ∼1.58 d. Since P orb = P rot Aa and Ab must be tidally locked. Consistent with this, the orbit is circularized, and the rotational and orbital inclinations are identical within uncertainty, as are the semimajor axis and the Kepler corotation radius. The star's Hα emission morphology differs markedly from both theoretical and observational expectations in that there is only one, rather than two, emission peaks. We propose that this unusual morphology may be a consequence of modification of the gravitocentrifugal potential by the presence of the close stellar companion. We also obtain upper limits on the magnetic dipole strength B d for the Ab and B components, respectively, finding B d < 2.6 and <0.7 kG.