An interferometric study of B star multiplicity

Fuente: arXiv
Guardado en:
Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Frost, A. J., Sana, H., Bouquin, J-B Le, Perets, H. B., Bodensteiner, J., Igoshev, A. P., Banyard, G., Mahy, L., Mérand, A., Ramírez-Agudelo, O. H.
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2025
Materias:
Acceso en línea:
Etiquetas: Agregar Etiqueta
Sin Etiquetas, Sea el primero en etiquetar este registro!
_version_ 1866914095666561024
author Frost, A. J.
Sana, H.
Bouquin, J-B Le
Perets, H. B.
Bodensteiner, J.
Igoshev, A. P.
Banyard, G.
Mahy, L.
Mérand, A.
Ramírez-Agudelo, O. H.
author_facet Frost, A. J.
Sana, H.
Bouquin, J-B Le
Perets, H. B.
Bodensteiner, J.
Igoshev, A. P.
Banyard, G.
Mahy, L.
Mérand, A.
Ramírez-Agudelo, O. H.
contents Massive stars can have extreme effects on their environments from local to galactic scales. While O star multiplicity has been studied over a broad separation range (to the point where absolute masses of these systems have been determined and investigations into multiple system formation and interactions have been performed), studies of B star multiplicity are lacking. Using interferometry, we investigated the multiplicity of a statistically significant sample of B stars over a range of separations (~0.5-35 au, given that the average distance to our sample is 412 pc). We analysed high angular resolution interferometric data taken with VLTI/PIONIER for a sample of 32 B stars. Using parametric modelling of the closure phases and visibilities, we determined best-fitting models to each of the systems and investigated whether each source was best represented by a single star or a higher-order system. The detection limits were calculated for companions to determine whether they were significant. We then combined our findings from the interferometric data with results from a literature search to determine whether other companions were reported at different separation ranges. Within the interferometric range 72+/-8% of the B stars are resolved as multiple systems. The most common type of system is a binary system, followed by single stars, triple systems, and quadruple systems. The interferometric companion fraction derived for the sample is 1.88+/-0.24. When we accounted for spectroscopic companions that have been confirmed in the literature and wide companions inferred from Gaia data in addition to the companions we found with interferometry, we obtain multiplicity and companion fractions of 0.88+/-0.06 and 2.31+/-0.27, respectively, for our sample. The number of triple systems increases to the second-most populous type of system when accounting for spectroscopic companions.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2505_02300
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle An interferometric study of B star multiplicity
Frost, A. J.
Sana, H.
Bouquin, J-B Le
Perets, H. B.
Bodensteiner, J.
Igoshev, A. P.
Banyard, G.
Mahy, L.
Mérand, A.
Ramírez-Agudelo, O. H.
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Massive stars can have extreme effects on their environments from local to galactic scales. While O star multiplicity has been studied over a broad separation range (to the point where absolute masses of these systems have been determined and investigations into multiple system formation and interactions have been performed), studies of B star multiplicity are lacking. Using interferometry, we investigated the multiplicity of a statistically significant sample of B stars over a range of separations (~0.5-35 au, given that the average distance to our sample is 412 pc). We analysed high angular resolution interferometric data taken with VLTI/PIONIER for a sample of 32 B stars. Using parametric modelling of the closure phases and visibilities, we determined best-fitting models to each of the systems and investigated whether each source was best represented by a single star or a higher-order system. The detection limits were calculated for companions to determine whether they were significant. We then combined our findings from the interferometric data with results from a literature search to determine whether other companions were reported at different separation ranges. Within the interferometric range 72+/-8% of the B stars are resolved as multiple systems. The most common type of system is a binary system, followed by single stars, triple systems, and quadruple systems. The interferometric companion fraction derived for the sample is 1.88+/-0.24. When we accounted for spectroscopic companions that have been confirmed in the literature and wide companions inferred from Gaia data in addition to the companions we found with interferometry, we obtain multiplicity and companion fractions of 0.88+/-0.06 and 2.31+/-0.27, respectively, for our sample. The number of triple systems increases to the second-most populous type of system when accounting for spectroscopic companions.
title An interferometric study of B star multiplicity
topic Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.02300