Spectroscopic analysis of BPS CS 22940-0009: connecting evolved helium stars [SSA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2208.07720


BPS CS 22940-0009 is a helium-rich B-star that shares characteristics with both helium-rich B subdwarfs and extreme helium stars. The optical spectrum of BPS CS 22940-0009 has been analysed from SALT observations. The atmospheric parameters were found to be $T_{\rm eff} = 34970 \pm 370$ K, $\log g/{\rm cm \, s^{-2}} = 4.79 \pm 0.17$, $n_{\rm H}/n_{\rm He} \simeq 0.007$, $n_{\rm C}/n_{\rm He} \simeq 0.007$, $n_{\rm N}/n_{\rm He} \simeq 0.002$, although further improvement to the helium line fits would be desirable. This places the star as a link between the He-sdB and EHe populations in $g$-$T$ space. The abundance profile shows enrichment of N from CNO-processing, and C from $3\alpha$ burning. Depletion of Al, Si, S and a low upper limit for Fe show the star to be intrinsically metal-poor. The results are consistent with BPS CS 22940-0009 having formed from the merger of two helium white dwarfs and currently evolving toward the helium main sequence.

Read this paper on arXiv…

E. Snowdon, L. Scott, C. Jeffery, et. al.
Wed, 17 Aug 22
10/58

Comments: 16 pages, 8 figures, to be published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society