Cyclic variability of the circumstellar disk of the Be star zetaTau - I. Long-term monitoring observations
S. Stefl, Th. Rivinius, A. C. Carciofi, J. B. LeBouquin, D. Baade, K. S. Bjorkman, E. Hesselbach, C. A. Hummel, A. T. Okazaki, E. Pollmann, F. Rantakyrö, J. P. Wisniewski
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1 pdf file, 17 pages. accepted to Astronomy and Astrophysics
Emission lines formed in decretion disks of Be stars often undergo long-term cyclic variations, especially in the violet-to-red (V/R) ratio of their primary components. From observations of the bright Be-shell star zeta Tau, the possibly broadest and longest data set illustrating the prototype of this behaviour was compiled from our own and archival observations. It comprises optical and infrared spectra, broad-band polarimetry, and interferometric observations. From 3 V/R cycles between 1997 and 2008, a mean cycle length in H alpha of 1400-1430 days was derived. After each minimum in V/R, the shell absorption weakens and splits into two components, leading to 3 emission peaks. This phase makes the strongest contribution to the variability in cycle length. V/R curves of different lines are shifted in phase. Lines formed on average closer to the central star are ahead of the others. The shell absorption lines fall into 2 categories differing in line width, ionization/excitation potential, and variability of the equivalent width. The interferometry has resolved the continuum and the line emission in Br gamma and He I 2.06. The phasing of the Br gamma emission shows that the photocenter of the line-emitting region lies within the plane of the disk but is offset from the continuum source. The plane of the disk is constant throughout the observed V/R cycles. The self-consistent, one-armed, disk-oscillation model is developed in Paper II.
Context: [abbreviated] Aims: Kepler data of three known Be stars are re-visited to establish their pulsational nature and assess the properties of additional, non-pulsational variations. The three program stars turned out to be one inactive Be star, one active, continuously outbursting Be star, and one Be star transiting from a non-outbursting into an outbursting phase, thus forming an excellent sample to distill properties of Be stars in the various phases of their life-cycle. Methods: [abbreviated] Results: The short-term photometric variability of Be stars must be disentangled into a stella…
ISO-Oph-50 is a young low-mass object in the ~Myr old Ophiuchus star forming region undergoing dramatic changes in its optical/near/mid-infrared brightness by 2-4 mag. We present new multi-band photometry and near-infrared spectra, combined with a synopsis of the existing literature data. Based on the spectroscopy, the source is confirmed as a mid M dwarf, with evidence for ongoing accretion. The near-infrared lightcurves show large-scale variations, with 2-4 mag amplitude in the bands IJHK, with the object generally being bluer when faint. Near its brightest state, the object shows colour cha…
The cyclic activity model of a young star with the low-mass secondary component (q = M2/M1 <= 0.1) accreting a matter from circumbinary disk is considered. It is assumed that the orbit is circular and the disk and orbital planes are non-coplanar. Sets of hydrodynamics models of such a system have been calculated by the SPH method and then the variations of the circumstellar extinction and phase light curves were determined. The calculations showed that depending on the model parameters and orientation of the system in regards to an observer the different in shape and amplitude light curves can…
Stars with B[e] phenomenon comprise a very diverse group of objects in a different evolutionary status. These objects show common spectral characteristics, including presence of Balmer lines in emission, forbidden lines, and strong infrared excess due to the dust. The observations of emission lines indicate the illumination by ultraviolet ionizing source, which is a key part to understand the elusive nature of these objects. We study the ultraviolet variability of many B[e] stars to specify the geometry of the circumstellar environment and its variability. We analyse massive hot B[e] stars fro…
Many O and B stars show unexplained cyclical variability in their winds, i.e. modulation of absorption features on the rotational timescale, but not strictly periodic over longer timescales. For these stars no dipolar magnetic fields have been detected, with upper limits below 300 G. Similar cyclical variability is also found in many optical lines, which are formed at the base of the wind. We propose that these cyclical variations are caused by the presence of multiple, transient, short-lived, corotating magnetic loops, which we call "stellar prominences". We present a simplified model represe…
We studied the variability of the magnetic O-type supergiant $ζ$ Ori Aa using multi-colour BRITE photometry. We confirmed the known rotation frequency $f_{\rm rot} = 0.15 \pm 0.02$ c/d, and detected some of its higher harmonics, of which $4f_{\rm rot}$ is compatible with the known DAC recurrence timescale. Thanks to simultaneous high-resolution CHIRON spectroscopy, we could identify another frequency $f_{\rm env} = 0.10 \pm 0.02$ c/d, caused by the circumstellar environment. Variations in the circumstellar environment are believed to cause the observed difference between the BRITE lightcurves.
With the recent discovery of transiting planetary material around WD 1145+017, a critical target has been identified that links the evolution of planetary systems with debris disks and their accretion onto the star. We present a series of observations, five epochs over a year, taken with Keck and the VLT, which for the first time show variability of circumstellar absorption in the gas disk surrounding WD 1145+017 on timescales of minutes to months. Circumstellar absorption is measured in more than 250 lines of 14 ions among ten different elements associated with planetary composition, e.g., O,…
The interacting binary Eta Carinae remains one of the most enigmatic massive stars in our Galaxy despite over four centuries of observations. In this work, its light curve from the ultraviolet to the near-infrared is analysed using spatially resolved HST observations and intense monitoring at the La Plata Observatory, combined with previously published photometry. We have developed a method to separate the central stellar object in the ground-based images using HST photometry and applying it to the more numerous ground-based data, which supports the hypothesis that the central source is bright…
The variability of young stellar objects (YSO) changes their brightness and color preventing a proper classification in traditional color-color and color magnitude diagrams. We have explored the feasibility of the flux variation gradient (FVG) method for YSOs, using $H$ and $K$ band monitoring data of the star forming region RCW\,38 obtained at the University Observatory Bochum in Chile. Simultaneous multi-epoch flux measurements follow a linear relation $F_{H}=α+ β\cdot F_{K}$ for almost all YSOs with large variability amplitude. The slope $β$ gives the mean $HK$ color temperature $T_{var}$ o…
The O9IV star HD 57682, discovered to be magnetic within the context of the MiMeS survey in 2009, is one of only eight convincingly detected magnetic O-type stars. Among this select group, it stands out due to its sharp-lined photospheric spectrum. Since its discovery, the MiMeS Collaboration has continued to obtain spectroscopic and magnetic observations in order to refine our knowledge of its magnetic field strength and geometry, rotational period, and spectral properties and variability. In this paper we report new ESPaDOnS spectropolarimetric observations of HD 57682, which are combined wi…
This article represents a short review of the variability characteristics of young stellar objects. Variability is a key property of young stars. Two major origins may be distinguished: a scaled-up version of the magnetic activity seen on main-sequence stars and various processes related to circumstellar disks, accretion and outflows.
The intense X-ray emission from coronae and accretion shocks in young PMS stars is likely to play an important role in the evolution and dispersal of circumstellar disks. Several aspects of the physics of this X-ray emission remain mysterious, e.g., whether and how much accretion affects coronal emission. We studied the X-ray variability of ~1 Myr old low-mass PMS stars as a function of timescale, stellar rotation, and stellar characteristics, in order to gain insights on the working of PMS coronae, their X-ray emission, and the circumstellar environment in which they are immersed. We have exp…
The formation and evolution of the circumstellar disk in unmagnetized molecular clouds is investigated using three-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations from the prestellar core until the end of the main accretion phase. In collapsing clouds, the first (adiabatic) core with a size of ~10AU forms prior to the formation of the protostar. At its formation, the first core has a thick disk-like structure, and is mainly supported by the thermal pressure. After the protostar formation, it decreases the thickness gradually, and becomes supported by the centrifugal force. We found that the first core is…
We consider the peculiarities of the optical spectra of far evolved stars with circumstellar gaseous-dusty envelopes: the time variability of the absorption-emission profiles of the H$α$ line, the presence of stationary emission and absorption molecular bands, multicomponent complex profiles of the NaI D-doublet lines. We show that the peculiarities of the line profiles (the presence of an emission component in the NaI D-doublet lines, the specific type of the molecular features, the asymmetry or splitting of the profiles of strongest absorptions with low excitation potential of the low level)…
Results from optical photometric observations of the pre-main sequence star GM Cep are reported in the paper. The star is located in the field of the young open cluster Trumpler 37 - a region of active star formation. GM Cep shows a large amplitude rapid variability interpreted as a possible outburst from EXor type in previous studies. Our data from BVRI CCD photometric observations of the star are collected from June 2008 to February 2011 in Rozhen observatory (Bulgaria) and Skinakas observatory (Crete, Greece). A sequence of sixteen comparison stars in the field of GM Cep was calibrated in t…
The wind interaction with the dusty environment of the classical T Tauri star RY Tau has been investigated. During two seasons of 2013-2015 we carried out a spectroscopic and photometric (BVR) monitoring of the star. A correlation between the stellar brightness and the radial velocity of the wind determined from the H-alpha and Na D line profiles has been found for the first time. The irregular stellar brightness variations are shown to be caused by extinction in a dusty disk wind at a distance of about 0.2 AU from the star. We suppose, that variations of the circumstellar extinction results f…
The Wolf-Rayet star WR 46 is known to exhibit a very complex variability pattern on relatively short time scales of a few hours. Periodic but intermittent radial velocity shifts of optical lines as well as multiple photometric periods have been found in the past. Non-radial pulsations, rapid rotational modulation or the presence of a putative low-mass companion have been proposed to explain the short-term behaviour. In an effort to unveil its true nature, we observed WR 46 with FUSE (Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer) over several short-term variability cycles. We found significant variat…
Motivated by recent observations of short-timescale variations in the infrared emission of circumstellar disks, we propose that coronal mass ejections can remove dust grains on timescales as short as a few days. Continuous monitoring of stellar activity, coupled to infrared observations, can place meaningful constraints on the proposed mechanism.
This paper is framed within a large project devoted to studying the presence of circumstellar material around main sequence stars, and looking for exocometary events. The work concentrates on HR 10 (A2 IV/V), known for its conspicuous variability in the circumstellar narrow absorption features of Ca II K and other lines, so far interpreted as $β$ Pic-like phenomena, within the falling evaporating body scenario. The main goal of this paper is to carry out a thorough study of HR 10 to find the origin of the observed variability, determine the nature of the star, its absolute parameters, and evol…
OB stars exhibit various types of spectral variability historically associated with wind structures, including the apparently ubiquitous discrete absorption components (DACs). These features have been proposed to be caused either by magnetic fields or non-radial pulsations. In this second paper of this series, we revisit the canonical phenomenological hydrodynamical modelling used to explain the formation of DACs by taking into account modern observations and more realistic theoretical predictions. Using constraints on putative bright spots located on the surface of the O giant $ξ$ Persei deri…
Manifestations of activity on the YZ CMi (M4.5Ve) flare star which has a rotation period of 2.77 days and belongs to a group of activity-saturated stars, are considered from long-term photometric data together with photographic measurements from 1926 to 2009. Long-term changes in yearly mean brightness of the star are found on a time scale of 27.5 years with an amplitude of $0.2 - 0.3^m$ that indicate variations in development of surface inhomogeneities and a large degree of surface spottedness in the maximum activity. Spots are distributed unevenly over the surface, their concentration is hig…
I will review our recent analysis of the magnetic properties of the O9IV star HD 57682, using spectropolarimetric observations obtained with ESPaDOnS at the Canada-France-Hawaii telescope within the context of the Magnetism in Massive Stars (MiMeS) Large Program. I discuss our most recent determination of the rotational period from longitudinal magnetic field measurements and Halpha variability - the latter obtained from over a decade's worth of professional and amateur spectroscopic observations. Lastly, I will report on our investigation of the magnetic field geometry and the effects of the …
We will review our recent analysis of the magnetic properties of the O9IV star HD 57682, using spectropolarimetric observations obtained with ESPaDOnS at the Canada-France-Hawaii telescope within the context of the Magnetism in Massive Stars (MiMeS) Large Program. We discuss our most recent determination of the rotational period from longitudinal magnetic field measurements and H_alpha variability - the latter obtained from over a decade's worth of professional and amateur spectroscopic observations. Lastly, we report on our investigation of the magnetic field geometry and the effects of the f…
Progenitors of Type Ia supernovae (SNe) have been predicted to modify their ambient circumstellar (CSM) and interstellar environments through the action of their powerful winds. While there is X-ray and optical evidence for circumstellar interaction in several remnants of Type Ia SNe, widespread evidence for such interaction in Type Ia SNe themselves has been lacking. We consider prospects for detection of CSM shells that have been predicted to be common around Type Ia SNe. Such shells are most easily detected in Na I absorption lines. Variable (declining) absorption is expected to occur soon …
The Galactic B[e] supergiant MWC 137 is surrounded by a large-scale optical nebula. To shed light on the physical conditions and kinematics of the nebula, we analyze the optical forbidden emission lines [NII] 6548,6583 and [SII] 6716,6731 in long-slit spectra taken with ALFOSC at the Nordic Optical Telescope. The radial velocities display a complex behavior but, in general, the northern nebular features are predominantly approaching while the southern ones are mostly receding. The electron density shows strong variations across the nebula with values spreading from about zero to ~800 cm$^{-3}$…
OB stars exhibit various types of spectral variability associated with wind structures, including the apparently ubiquitous discrete absorption components (DACs). These are proposed to be caused by either magnetic fields or non-radial pulsations (NRPs). In this paper, we evaluate the possible relation between large-scale, dipolar magnetic fields and the DAC phenomenon by investigating the magnetic properties of a sample of 13 OB stars exhibiting well-documented DAC behaviour. Using high-precision spectropolarimetric data acquired in part in the context of the Magnetism in Massive Stars (MiMeS)…
We acquired Johnson BV photometry of the binary Be disk system delta~Scorpii during its 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012 observing seasons and used it to probe the innermost regions of the disk. We found that several disk building events have occurred during this time, resulting in an overall brightening in the V-band and reddening of the system. In addition to these long-term trends, we found cyclical variability in each observing season on timescales between 60 and 100 days. We were able to reproduce the changes in the magnitude and colour of delta Sco using our theoretical models and found that v…
Context. Emission and absorption line profiles which are formed in the interaction of pre-main sequence (PMS) stars and their circumstellar environment are found to be variable at various timescales. Aims. We investigate the patterns and timescales of temporal line profile variability in order to explore the dynamical circumstellar environment of the PMS Herbig Ae star V351 Ori. Methods.We obtained 45 high-resolution (R~28,000) spectra of V351 Ori at timescales of hours, days, and months.We analysed the Hαline profiles and also examined the Hβ, NaD1 and NaD2 line profiles to explore the nature…
Young stars exhibit short-term photometric variability caused by mass accretion events from circumstellar disks, the presence of dusty warps within the inner disks, starspots that rotate across the stellar surfaces, and flares. Long-term variability also occurs owing to starspot longevity and cycles, and from changes in stellar angular momenta and activity as the stars age. We propose to observe the Carina star-forming region in different bands with a cadence of 30 minutes every night for one week per year to clarify the nature of both the short-term and long-term variability of the thousands …
Optical and X-ray emission from classical T Tauri stars (CTTSs) has long been known to be highly variable. Our long, uninterrupted optical observation of the NGC2264 region with CoRoT allows the optical variability in CTTS to be studied with unprecedented accuracy and time coverage. Two short Chandra observations obtained during the CoRoT pointing with a separation of 16 days allow us to study whether there is a correlation between optical and X-ray variability on this timescale, thus probing the physical mechanisms driving the variability in both bands. We have computed the optical and X-ray …
Variability is a defining characteristic of young stellar systems, and optical variability has been heavily studied to select and characterize the photospheric properties of young stars. In recent years, multi-epoch observations sampling a wider range of wavelengths and time-scales have revealed a wealth of time-variable phenomena at work during the star formation process. This splinter session was convened to summarize recent progress in providing improved coverage and understanding of time-variable processes in young stars and circumstellar disks. We begin by summarizing results from several…
Multiwavelength monitoring of Be/X-ray binaries is crucial to understand the mechanisms producing their outbursts. H 1145-619 is one of these systems, which has recently displayed X-ray activity. We investigate the correlation between the optical emission and the X-ray activity to predict the occurrence of new X-ray outbursts from the inferred state of the circumstellar disc. We have performed a multiwavelength study of H 1145-619 from 1973 to 2017 and present here a global analysis of its variability over the last 40 years. We have used optical spectra from the SAAO, SMARTS and SALT telescope…
A small fraction of hot OBA stars host global magnetic fields with field strengths of the order of 0.1-10 kG. This leads to the creation of persistent surface structures (spots) in stars with sufficiently weak winds as a result of the radiative diffusion. These spots become evident in spectroscopic and photometric variability. This type of variability is not expected in stars with strong winds, where the wind inhibits the radiative diffusion. Therefore, a weak photometric variability of the magnetic Of?p star HD 191612 is attributed to the light absorption in the circumstellar clouds. We study…
We present photometric observations of the field around the optical counterparts of high-mass X-ray binaries. Our aim is to study the long-term photometric variability in correlation with their X-ray activity and derive a set of secondary standard stars that can be used for time series analysis. We find that the donors in Be/X-ray binaries exhibit larger amplitude changes in the magnitudes and colours than those hosting a supergiant companion. The amplitude of variability increases with wavelength in Be/X-ray binaries and remains fairly constant in supergiant systems. When time scales of years…
AA Tau is a well studied young stellar object that presents many of the photometric characteristics of a Classical T Tauri star (CTTS), including short-timescale stochastic variability attributed to spots and/or accretion as well as long duration dimming events attributed to occultations by vertical features (e.g., warps) in its circumstellar disk. We present new photometric observations of AA Tau from the Kilodegree Extremely Little Telescope North (KELT-North) which reveal a deep, extended dimming event in 2011, which we show supports the interpretation by Bouvier et al. (2013) of an occulta…
In their HST/NICMOS observations, Terebey et al. 1998 detected a candidate protoplanet, TMR-1C, that lies at a separation of about 10" (~1000 AU) from the Class I protobinary TMR-1 (IRAS 04361+2547). A narrow filament-like structure was observed extending south-east from the central proto-binary system towards TMR-1C, suggesting a morphology in which the candidate protoplanet may have been ejected from the TMR-1 system. Follow-up low-resolution spectroscopy could not confirm if this object is a protoplanet or a low-luminosity background star. We present two epochs of near-infrared photometric …
HD 50138 is a southern star that presents the B[e] phenomenon, but its evolutionary stage is still not well known. This object presents spectral variability, which can be explained by outbursts or shell phases and spectropolarimetric observations have shown the presence of a non-spherically symmetric circumstellar environment that is responsible for the B[e] phenomenon. Based on recent optical long baseline interferometric observations from the VLTI/MIDI and VLTI/AMBER, and also from the Keck segment-tilting experiment, we study the structure of the circumstellar environment of HD 50138, throu…
We report on high-dispersion optical spectroscopic observations of the Be/X-ray binary A0535+262/V725 Tau during the giant outburst in November/December 2009 and after it. The observed emission line profiles, reflecting the structure of the geometrically thin circumstellar envelope of the Be star (Be disk), show drastic variabilities and indicate the existence of a warped component. The enhanced blue shoulder seen after periastron passage implies the gas stream from a dense part of the Be disk to the neutron star.
We have monitored nearly a square degree in IC 1396A/Tr 37 over 21 epochs extending over 2014 - 2016 for sources variable in the JHK bands. In our data, 65 +\- 8 % of previously identified cluster members show variations, compared with < 0.3% of field stars. We identify 119 members of Tr 37 on the basis of variability, forming an unbiased sample down to the brown dwarf regime. The K-band luminosity function in Tr 37 is similar to that of IC 348 but shifted to somewhat brighter values, implying that the K- and M-type members of Tr 37 are younger than those in IC 348. We introduce methods to cla…
The B0.5IVe star gam Cas is of great interest because it is the prototype of a small group of classical Be stars having hard X-ray emission of unknown origin. We discuss results from ongoing B and V observations of the gam Cas star-disk system acquired with an APT during the observing seasons 1997-2011. In an earlier study, Smith, Henry, & Vishniac showed that light variations in gam Cas are dominated by a series of comparatively prominent cycles with amplitudes of 0.02-0.03 mag and lengths of 2-3 months, superimposed on a 1.21-day periodic signal some five times smaller, which they attributed…
We examine the long-term light curve, optical spectrum, spectral energy distribution, and Galactic location of V1117 Her in order to establish its nature. V1117 Her is most probably a young intermediate-mass star whose cyclic brightness dimmings are caused by changing circumstellar dust structures.
In their HST/NICMOS observations, Terebey et al. 1998 detected a candidate protoplanet, TMR-1C, that lies at a separation of about 10" (~1000 AU) from the Class I protobinary TMR-1 (IRAS 04361+2547) located in the Taurus molecular cloud. A narrow filament-like structure was observed extending south-east from the central proto-binary system towards TMR-1C, suggesting a morphology in which the candidate protoplanet may have been ejected from the TMR-1 system. Follow-up low-resolution spectroscopy by Terebey et al. 2000, however, could not confirm if this object is a protoplanet or a low-luminosi…
CS Cha is a binary system surrounded by a circumbinary disk. We construct a model for the inner disk regions and compare the resulting synthetic SED with IRS spectra of CS Cha taken at two different epochs. For our model we adopt a non-axisymmetric mass distribution from results of published numerical simulations of the interaction between a circumbinary disk and a binary system, where each star is surrounded by a disk. In particular, we approximate the streams of mass from which the inner circumstellar disks accrete from the circumbinary disk. This structure is due to the gravitational intera…
We have studied a sample of Large Magellanic Cloud red giant binaries that lie on sequence E in the period--luminosity plane. We show that their combined light and velocity curves unambiguously demonstrate that they are binaries showing ellipsoidal variability. By comparing the phased light and velocity curves of both sequence D and E variables, we show that the sequence D variation -- the Long Secondary Period -- is not caused by ellipsoidal variability. We also demonstrate several further differences between stars on sequences D and E. These include differences in velocity amplitude, in the …
The Be star δ Scorpii is an interesting binary system, whose primary companion created a circumstellar disk after the periastron passage of the secondary in 2000, being since then classified as Be. This work presents the results of a long-term monitoring of this star in broad-band imaging polarimetry. The observational data collected since 2006 in the Pico dos Dias Observatory (Brazil) show a variable polarization that seems to correlate with the photometric light curve. From this data we see that the disk density varied since 2006; furthermore, the data suggests that there was some disturbanc…
Massive stars play a significant role in the chemical and dynamical evolution of galaxies. However, much of their variability, particularly during their evolved supergiant stage, is poorly understood. To understand the variability of evolved massive stars in more detail, we present a study of the O9.2Ib supergiant $ζ$ Ori Aa, the only currently confirmed supergiant to host a magnetic field. We have obtained two-color space-based BRIght Target Explorer photometry (BRITE) for $ζ$ Ori Aa during two observing campaigns, as well as simultaneous ground-based, high-resolution optical CHIRON spectrosc…
We present preliminary results of a 3-month campaign carried out in the framework of the Mons project, where time-resolved Halpha observations are used to study the wind and circumstellar properties of a number of OB stars.
We present the collection of all the mid- and far-IR observations (3-170 um) of the young eruptive variable PV Cep available so far in the literature. These data allow us to confirm that flux variability is a prominent feature at mid-IR wavelength (3-25 um). Color-magnitude plots clearly indicate that the observed variability is not extinction-driven, but mainly influenced by fluctuations of the mass accretion rate. We interpret such variability as due to a hot spot created onto the stellar surface by the column of accreting matter, which heats the inner parts of the disk and determines the ob…
About 10% of all stars exhibit absorption lines of ultra-high excited (UHE) metals (e.g. OVIII) in their optical spectra when entering the white dwarf cooling sequence. The recent discovery of a both spectroscopic and photometric variable UHE white dwarf led to the speculation that the UHE lines might be created in a shock-heated circumstellar magnetosphere. We investigate (multi-band) light curves from several ground- and space-based surveys of all 16 currently known UHE white dwarfs (including one newly discovered) and eight white dwarfs that show only the HeII line problem, as both phenomen…
We studied the disc of the unclassified B[e] star HD 50138, in order to explore its structure, and to find indications for the evolutionary status of this system, whether it is a young Herbig Be or a post-main-sequence star. Using high spatial resolution interferometric measurements from MIDI instrument (N-band) on the Very Large Telescope Interferometer, we analysed the disc size, the time-variability of the disc's thermal emission, and the spectral shape of the $10~μ$m silicate feature. By fitting simple disc models, we determined the inclination and the mid-infrared size of the disc, confir…
MWC158 is a star with the B[e] phenomenon that shows strong spectrophotometric variability (in lines and in UV and visible continuum) attributed to phases of shell ejection. The evolutionary stage of this star was never clearly determined. Previous interferometric, spectropolarimetric and spectro-interferometric studies suggest a disk morphology for its environment. We investigate the origin of the variability within the inner astronomical unit of the central star using near-infrared interferometric observations with PIONIER at the VLTI over a two-year period. We performed an image reconstruct…
