A remarkable change of the spectrum of the magnetic Of?p star HD 148937 reveals evidence of an eccentric, high-mass binary. Issue 2 (6th December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wade, G A; Smoker, J V; Evans, C J; Howarth, I D; Barba, R; Cox, N L J; Morrell, N; Nazé, Y; Cami, J; Farhang, A; Walborn, N R; Arias, J; Gamen, R
• Is Part Of: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Volume 483:Issue 2(2019)
• Page Start: 2581
• Page End: 2591
• Publication Date: 2018-12-06
• Subjects: binaries: spectroscopic -- stars: massive -- stars: rotation; Astronomy -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 520.5
• DOI: 10.1093/mnras/sty3304
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0035-8711

Abstract

ABSTRACT: We report new spectroscopic observations of the magnetic Of?p star HD 148937 obtained since 2015 that differ qualitatively from its extensive historical record of weak, periodic spectral variations. This remarkable behaviour represents clear evidence for an unprecedented change in the character of variability of the star. In this paper, we describe the new spectral properties and compare them to the previous line profiles. Based on measurements of the radial velocities of the C iii /N iii emission lines near 4640 Å and the C iv absorption lines near 5800 Å, we infer that HD 148937 is likely a high-mass, double-lined spectroscopic binary. Combining the spectroscopic orbit with an archival interferometric measurement of the apparent separation of the equal brightness components, we tentatively conclude that HD 148937 consists of two O-type stars with masses of approximately 34 and 49 M⊙, orbiting in an eccentric ( e = 0.75), long-period ( P orb ∼ 26 yr) orbit. We discuss the potential relationship of the binary system to the peculiar properties of HD 148937, and propose future observations to refine the orbital and stellar properties.