Flickering in AGB stars: probing the nature of accreting companions

S. Snaid; Albert Zijlstra; Iain Mcdonald; Helen Barker; T. R.  Marsh; V. S. Dhillon

doi:10.1093/mnras/sty660

Flickering in AGB stars: probing the nature of accreting companions

S. Snaid, Albert Zijlstra, Iain Mcdonald, Helen Barker, T. R. Marsh , V. S. Dhillon

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Abstract

Binary companions to asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars are an important aspect of their evolution. Few AGB companions have been detected, and in most cases it is difficult to distinguish between main-sequence and white dwarf companions. Detection of photometric flickering, a tracer of compact accretion disks around white dwarfs, can help identify the nature of these companions. In this work, we searched for flickering in four AGB stars suggested to have likely accreting companions. We found no signs for flickering in two targets: R Aqr and V1016 Cyg. Flickering was detected in the other two stars: Mira and Y Gem. We investigated the true nature of Mira’s companion using three different approaches. Our results for Mira strongly suggest that its companion is a white dwarf.

Original language	English
Journal	Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Early online date	14 Mar 2018
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/sty660
Publication status	Published - 2018

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1803.04338Accepted author manuscript, 1.66 MB

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title = "Flickering in AGB stars: probing the nature of accreting companions",

abstract = "Binary companions to asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars are an important aspect of their evolution. Few AGB companions have been detected, and in most cases it is difficult to distinguish between main-sequence and white dwarf companions. Detection of photometric flickering, a tracer of compact accretion disks around white dwarfs, can help identify the nature of these companions. In this work, we searched for flickering in four AGB stars suggested to have likely accreting companions. We found no signs for flickering in two targets: R Aqr and V1016 Cyg. Flickering was detected in the other two stars: Mira and Y Gem. We investigated the true nature of Mira{\textquoteright}s companion using three different approaches. Our results for Mira strongly suggest that its companion is a white dwarf.",

author = "S. Snaid and Albert Zijlstra and Iain Mcdonald and Helen Barker and Marsh, {T. R.} and Dhillon, {V. S.}",

year = "2018",

doi = "10.1093/mnras/sty660",

language = "English",

journal = "Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society",

issn = "1365-2966",

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T1 - Flickering in AGB stars: probing the nature of accreting companions

AU - Snaid, S.

AU - Zijlstra, Albert

AU - Mcdonald, Iain

AU - Barker, Helen

AU - Marsh , T. R.

AU - Dhillon , V. S.

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - Binary companions to asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars are an important aspect of their evolution. Few AGB companions have been detected, and in most cases it is difficult to distinguish between main-sequence and white dwarf companions. Detection of photometric flickering, a tracer of compact accretion disks around white dwarfs, can help identify the nature of these companions. In this work, we searched for flickering in four AGB stars suggested to have likely accreting companions. We found no signs for flickering in two targets: R Aqr and V1016 Cyg. Flickering was detected in the other two stars: Mira and Y Gem. We investigated the true nature of Mira’s companion using three different approaches. Our results for Mira strongly suggest that its companion is a white dwarf.

AB - Binary companions to asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars are an important aspect of their evolution. Few AGB companions have been detected, and in most cases it is difficult to distinguish between main-sequence and white dwarf companions. Detection of photometric flickering, a tracer of compact accretion disks around white dwarfs, can help identify the nature of these companions. In this work, we searched for flickering in four AGB stars suggested to have likely accreting companions. We found no signs for flickering in two targets: R Aqr and V1016 Cyg. Flickering was detected in the other two stars: Mira and Y Gem. We investigated the true nature of Mira’s companion using three different approaches. Our results for Mira strongly suggest that its companion is a white dwarf.

U2 - 10.1093/mnras/sty660

DO - 10.1093/mnras/sty660

M3 - Article

SN - 1365-2966

JO - Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

JF - Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

ER -

Flickering in AGB stars: probing the nature of accreting companions

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