K2 spots rotation in the helium star HD144941

HD144941 is an evolved early-type metal-poor low-mass star with a hydrogen-poor surface. It is frequently associated with other intermediate helium-rich subdwarfs and extreme helium stars. Previous photometric studies have failed to detect any variability. New observations with the K2 mission show c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Letters 2018-03, Vol.475 (1), p.L122-L124
Main Authors: Jeffery, C Simon, Ramsay, Gavin
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:HD144941 is an evolved early-type metal-poor low-mass star with a hydrogen-poor surface. It is frequently associated with other intermediate helium-rich subdwarfs and extreme helium stars. Previous photometric studies have failed to detect any variability. New observations with the K2 mission show complex but periodic variations with a full amplitude of 4 parts per thousand. It is proposed that these are due to an inhomogeneous surface brightness distribution (spots) superimposed on a rotation period of 13.9 ± 0.2 d. The cause of the surface inhomogeneity is not identified, although an oblique dipolar magnetic field origin is plausible.
ISSN:1745-3925
1745-3933
DOI:10.1093/mnrasl/sly015