An Alpha2 Canum Venaticorum variable (or α2 CVn variable) is a type of variable star. These stars are chemically peculiar main sequence stars of spectral class B8p to A7p. They have strong magnetic fields and strong silicon, strontium, or chromium spectral lines. Their brightness typically varies by 0.01 to 0.1 magnitudes over the course of 0.5 to 160 days.[1]

A light curve for α2 Canum Venaticorum, plotted from TESS data[2]

In addition to their intensities, the intensities and profiles of the spectral lines of α2 CVn variables also vary, as do their magnetic fields. The periods of these variations are all equal and are believed to equal the period of rotation of the star. It is thought that they are caused by an inhomogeneous distribution of metals in the atmospheres of these stars, so that the surface of the star varies in brightness from point to point.[3]

The type-star which this class is named after is α2 Canum Venaticorum, a star in the binary system of Cor Caroli, which is in the northern constellation of Canes Venatici. Its brightness fluctuates by 0.14 magnitudes with a period of 5.47 days.[4]

Examples

List of Alpha2 Canum Venaticorum Variables[5]
Designation (name) Constellation Discovery Apparent magnitude (Maximum) Apparent magnitude (Minimum) Range of magnitude Spectral type Comment
(α2 Canum Venaticorum) Cor Caroli Canes Venatici   2.84 2.98 0.14 A0Vp(Si-Cr-Eu) Prototype
(ε UMa) Alioth Ursa Major 1.76 0.02 A1III-IVp kB9(Cr-Eu) Brightest Member
α Dor Dorado 3.26 3.30 0.04 B9IIIp(Si) One of the hottest; binary
α Psc (Alrescha) Pisces 3.82 3.83 0.01 A2IVp(Sr) Binary
β Hydrae A Hydra 1834 4.67 4.71 0.04 B8.5IIIp(Si) Hottest member;binary
HD 187474 Sagittarius 5.28 5.34 0.06 A0 EuCrSr Long 6.4 year period;binary

References

  1. ↑ Variability types, General Catalogue of Variable Stars, Sternberg Astronomical Institute, Moscow, Russia. Accessed on line August 20, 2008.
  2. ↑ "MAST: Barbara A. Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes". Space Telescope Science Institute. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  3. ↑ pp. 83–85, Variable Stars, Michel Petit, foreword by Paolo Maffei, tr. from French by W. J. Duffin, Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, 1987, ISBN 0-471-90920-3.
  4. ↑ alf 2 CVn , database entry, General Catalogue of Variable Stars Archived 2017-06-20 at the Wayback Machine, Sternberg Astronomical Institute, Moscow, Russia. Accessed on line August 20, 2008.
  5. ↑ Samus', N. N; Kazarovets, E. V; Durlevich, O. V; Kireeva, N. N; Pastukhova, E. N (2017), "General catalogue of variable stars: Version GCVS 5.1", Astronomy Reports, 61 (1): 80–88, Bibcode:2017ARep...61...80S, doi:10.1134/S1063772917010085, S2CID 125853869.



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