BD+48 740—Li Overabundant Giant Star with a Planet: A Case of Recent Engulfment?

Adamów, M.; Niedzielski, A.; Villaver, E.; Nowak, G.; Wolszczan, A.
Referencia bibliográfica

The Astrophysical Journal Letters, Volume 754, Issue 1, article id. L15, 5 pp. (2012).

Fecha de publicación:
7
2012
Número de autores
5
Número de autores del IAC
0
Número de citas
57
Número de citas referidas
51
Descripción
We report the discovery of a unique object, BD+48 740, a lithium overabundant giant with A(Li) = 2.33 ± 0.04 (where A(Li) = log n Li/n H + 12), that exhibits radial velocity (RV) variations consistent with a 1.6 MJ companion in a highly eccentric, e = 0.67 ± 0.17, and extended, a = 1.89 AU (P = 771 days), orbit. The high eccentricity of the planet is uncommon among planetary systems orbiting evolved stars and so is the high lithium abundance in a giant star. The ingestion by the star of a putative second planet in the system originally in a closer orbit could possibly allow for a single explanation to these two exceptional facts. If the planet candidate is confirmed by future RV observations, it might represent the first example of the remnant of a multiple planetary system recently affected by stellar evolution.