Identifying Ae/Be stars in Gaia low-resolution BP/RP spectra

Author(s)
E. Paunzen, M. Prišegen, S. Hümmerich, K. Bernhard, L. Kueß
Abstract

Classical Be, and Herbig Ae/Be stars are mainly characterized by emission in the Halpha and Hbeta lines. These lines are essential to understanding the formation of massive stars and describing mass loss and stellar winds during stellar evolution. This study aims to characterize and detect classical Be and Herbig Ae/Be stars in Gaia BP/RP spectra, which allow us to investigate the complete stellar spectral range. Synthetic ∆a and Hα index magnitude values were calculated from Gaia BP/RP spectra. Colour-colour diagrams were employed to distinguish emission-line objects from normal stars. With the proposed method here, we could unambiguously retrieve 90% of a sample of well-known emission-line objects. This shows that analyzing the 520 nm and Hα region efficiently discriminates emission-line objects from normal stars. No further assumptions about astrophysical parameters such as reddening, effective temperature, or IR excess are necessary.

Organisation(s)
Department of Astrophysics
External organisation(s)
Masaryk University, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Bundesdeutsche Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Veränderliche Sterne e.V. (BAV), American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO), University of Vienna
Journal
Contributions of the Astronomical Observatory Skalnate Pleso
Volume
54
Pages
5-14
No. of pages
10
ISSN
1335-1842
DOI
https://doi.org/10.31577/caosp.2024.54.4.5
Publication date
11-2024
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
103003 Astronomy, 103004 Astrophysics
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/c55a6787-b854-4fe9-a9c6-c884b08bcc93