The transiting dust clumps in the evolved disc of the Sun-like UXor RZ Psc
View/ Open
Author
Kennedy, Grant M.
Kenworthy, Matthew A.
Pepper, Joshua
Siverd, Robert J.
Stassun, Keivan G.
Wyatt, Mark C.
Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.160652Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Kennedy, Grant M., Matthew A. Kenworthy, Joshua Pepper, Joseph E. Rodriguez, Robert J. Siverd, Keivan G. Stassun, and Mark C. Wyatt. 2017. “The transiting dust clumps in the evolved disc of the Sun-like UXor RZ Psc.” Royal Society Open Science 4 (1): 160652. doi:10.1098/rsos.160652. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsos.160652.Abstract
RZ Psc is a young Sun-like star, long associated with the UXor class of variable stars, which is partially or wholly dimmed by dust clumps several times each year. The system has a bright and variable infrared excess, which has been interpreted as evidence that the dimming events are the passage of asteroidal fragments in front of the host star. Here, we present a decade of optical photometry of RZ Psc and take a critical look at the asteroid belt interpretation. We show that the distribution of light curve gradients is non-uniform for deep events, which we interpret as possible evidence for an asteroidal fragment-like clump structure. However, the clumps are very likely seen above a high optical depth midplane, so the disc’s bulk clumpiness is not revealed. While circumstantial evidence suggests an asteroid belt is more plausible than a gas-rich transition disc, the evolutionary status remains uncertain. We suggest that the rarity of Sun-like stars showing disc-related variability may arise because (i) any accretion streams are transparent and/or (ii) turbulence above the inner rim is normally shadowed by a flared outer disc.Other Sources
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5319332/pdf/Terms of Use
This article is made available under the terms and conditions applicable to Other Posted Material, as set forth at http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:dash.current.terms-of-use#LAACitable link to this page
http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:32072187
Collections
- FAS Scholarly Articles [18292]
Contact administrator regarding this item (to report mistakes or request changes)