The fast rotating, low gravity subdwarf B star EC 22081-1916 - Remnant of a common envelope merger event

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of a fast-rotating, single subdwarf B star with unusual atmospheric properties, suggesting a formation through a common envelope merger rather than a helium white dwarf merger.

Contribution

It provides observational evidence supporting a new formation channel for single sdB stars via common envelope merger with a low-mass object.

Findings

Star EC 22081-1916 is a fast rotator with low gravity.

Its atmospheric parameters indicate a thick hydrogen envelope.

The formation likely involved a common envelope merger, not a helium white dwarf merger.

Abstract

Hot subdwarf B stars (sdBs) are evolved core helium-burning stars with very thin hydrogen envelopes. In order to form an sdB, the progenitor has to lose almost all of its hydrogen envelope right at the tip of the red giant branch. In binary systems, mass transfer to the companion provides the extraordinary mass loss required for their formation. However, apparently single sdBs exist as well and their formation is unclear since decades. The merger of helium white dwarfs leading to an ignition of core helium-burning or the merger of a helium core and a low mass star during the common envelope phase have been proposed. Here we report the discovery of EC 22081-1916 as a fast rotating, single sdB star of low gravity. Its atmospheric parameters indicate, that the hydrogen envelope must be unusually thick, which is at variance with the He-WD merger scenario, but consistent with a common envelope merger of a low-mass, possibly substellar object with a red-giant core.