On the nature of the EXor accretion events: an unfrequent manifestation of a common phenomenology ?

TL;DR

This study compares classical and newly identified EXor objects, revealing strong similarities in their accretion behaviors and thermal components, suggesting EXor phenomena may be more common and related to T Tauri star variability.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of EXor outbursts, demonstrating the presence of a thermal component during outbursts and suggesting a link to T Tauri star activity.

Findings

EXor outbursts can be modeled with an additional thermal component.

Similarities between classical and new EXor objects are significant.

EXor phenomena may be more frequent than previously thought.

Abstract

We present the results of a comparison between classical and newly identified EXor based on literature data and aimed at recognizing possible differences or similarities of both categories. Optical and near-IR two-color diagrams, modalities of fluctuations, and derived values of the mass accretion rates are indicative of strong similarities between the two samples. We demonstrate how the difference between the outburst and the quiescence spectral energy distribution of all the EXor can be well fitted with a single blackbody, as if an additional thermal component appears during the outbursting phase. Temperatures of this additional component span between 1000 and 4500 K, while the radii of the emitting regions (assumed to be a uniform disk) span between 0.01 and 0.1 AU, sizes typical of the inner portions of the circumstellar disk. Spots persisting up to 50% of the outburst duration, not exceeding the 10% of the stellar surface, and with temperatures compatible with the EXor mass accretion rates, are able to account for both the appearance of the additional thermal component and the dust sublimation in the inner structures of the disk. We also compare the EXor events with the most significant color and magnitude fluctuations of active T Tauri stars finding that (i} burst accretion phenomena should also be important for this latter class; (ii} EXor events could be more frequent then those accidentally discovered. Remarkable is the case of the source V2493 Cyg, a T Tauri star recently identified as a strong outbursting object: new optical and near-IR photometric and spectroscopic data are presented trying to clarify its EXor or FUor nature.