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Relaxation Oscillations in Red-Giant Envelopes and the Symbiotic Stars

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 April 2016

P. R. Wood*
Affiliation:
Mount Stromlo and Siding Spring Observatory, The Australian National University

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:

  1. (a) the symbiotic stars are binaries consisting of a hot and cool component.

  2. (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.

  3. (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).

Type
Contributions
Copyright
Copyright © Astronomical Society of Australia 1973

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