2018/03/12 by S. Snaid, A A. Zijlstra, A. A. Zijlstra +5
Physics and Astronomy · #Accretion (finance) #Astro and Planetary Science #Astronomy #Astrophysics #Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies #Asymptotic giant branch #Flicker #Physics #Stars #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies #White dwarf #astro-ph.SR
paper · pdf · doi:10.1093/mnras/sty660
arxiv created 2018/03/12 · openalex publication_date 2018/03/14 · arxiv updated 2018/03/28 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
Binary companions to asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars are an important aspect of their evolution. Few AGB companions have been detected, and in most cases it is difficult to distinguish between main-sequence and white dwarf companions. Detection of photometric flickering, a tracer of compact accretion discs around white dwarfs, can help identify the nature of these companions. In this work, we searched for flickering in four AGB stars suggested to have likely accreting companions. We found no signs for flickering in two targets: R Aqr and V1016 Cyg. Flickering was detected in the other two stars: Mira and Y Gem. We investigated the true nature of Mira’s companion using three different approaches. Our results for Mira strongly suggest that its companion is a white dwarf.