A rare phosphorus-rich star in an eclipsing binary from TESS

¹ Tartu Observatory, University of Tartu, Observatooriumi 1, Tõravere 61602, Estonia
e-mail: colin.folsom@ut.ee
² Department of Physics & Space Science, Royal Military College of Canada, PO Box 17000 Station Forces, Kingston, ON K7K 0C6, Canada
³ Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK

Received: 31 August 2021
Accepted: 8 November 2021

Abstract

Context. Few exoplanets around hot stars with radiative envelopes have been discovered, although new observations from the TESS mission are improving this. Stars with radiative envelopes have little mixing at their surface, and thus their surface abundances provide a sensitive test case for a variety of processes, including potentially star–planet interactions. Atomic diffusion is particularly important in these envelopes, producing chemically peculiar objects such as Am and HgMn stars.

Aims. An exoplanet candidate around the B6 star HD 235349 was identified by TESS. Here we determine the nature of this transiting object and identify possible chemical peculiarities in the star.

Methods. HD 235349 was observed using the long-slit spectrograph at Tartu Observatory, as well as photometrically by the TESS mission. The spectra were modeled to determine stellar parameters and chemical abundances. The photometric light curve was then analyzed in the context of the stellar parameters to determine properties of the transiting object.

Results. We find the transiting object is a low-mass stellar companion, not a planet. However, the primary of this eclipsing binary is a rare type of chemically peculiar star. A strong overabundance of P is found with overabundances of Ne and Nd and mild overabundances of Ti and Mn, while He is mildly underabundant. There is also clear evidence for vertical stratification of P in the atmosphere of the star. The lack of Hg and the weak Mn overabundance suggests that this is not a typical HgMn star. It may be in the class of helium-weak phosphorus-gallium (He-weak PGa) stars or an intermediate between these two classes.

Conclusions. We show that HD 235349 is a rare type of chemically peculiar star (He-weak PGa) in an eclipsing binary system with a low-mass stellar companion. This appears to be the first He-weak PGa star discovered in an eclipsing binary.