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Relaxation Oscillations in Red-Giant Envelopes and the Symbiotic Stars
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 April 2016
Extract
The spectrum of a symbiotic star consists of an M-type absorption spectrum, a B-type shell spectrum and nebula emission lines, the relative contributions of these three components varying with time. The light curves of the symbiotic stars vary with a semi-regular period typically 200-800 days while larger eruptions occur on a timescale of ~ 3.5 years. Some suggestions which have been advanced to explain the combination spectrum, variability and eruptive behaviour of the symbiotic stars are:
(a) the symbiotic stars are binaries consisting of a hot and cool component.
(b) the symbiotic stars consist of a single hot star surrounded by a large optically thick envelope giving the appearance of a hot continuum with the absorption spectrum of a cool star superimposed on it.
(c) the symbiotic stars are single stars surrounded by a shock wave heated chromosphere.
Although some of the symbiotic stars are undoubtedly binaries (for example, T Coronae Borealis), observatienal evidence suggests that others may be explained by hypothesis (c) above. The calculations described below provide an explanation of the symbiotic stars in conjunction with hypothesis (c).
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- Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia , Volume 2 , Issue 4 , October 1973 , pp. 198 - 200
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- Copyright © Astronomical Society of Australia 1973
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