A rapidly fading star as a type II obscuring intermediate luminosity optical transient (ILOT) in a triple star system

TL;DR

This paper proposes a triple-star merger scenario where a low-mass binary merger causes a dusty outflow that temporarily obscures a massive star, explaining observed fading events without invoking failed supernovae.

Contribution

It introduces a novel triple-star merger model to explain transient obscuration of massive stars, challenging previous failed supernova explanations.

Findings

The merger causes a dusty outflow that obscures the massive star.

The scenario accounts for fading and re-brightening of the star M101-OC1.

The obscuration can last from months to decades, with potential recovery in 20-100 years.

Abstract

We propose a triple-star scenario where the merger of two pre-main sequence low mass stars, <0.5Mo, ejects a dusty equatorial outflow that obscures and temporarily causes the disappearance of a massive star, >8Mo. The merger of the low-mass inner binary powers a faint outburst, i.e., a faint intermediate luminosity optical transient (ILOT), but its main effect that can last for decades is to (almost) disappear the luminous massive star of the triple system. The typical orbital period of the triple system in about a year. The merger process proceeds as the more massive star of the two low-mass pre-main sequence star starts to transfer mass to the least massive star in the triple system and as a result of that expands. This 'type II obscuring ILOT' scenario in a triple star system might account for the fading, re-brightening, and then re-fading of the massive post-main sequence star M101-OC1. It might recover in about 20-100 year. Our study strengthens the claim that there are alternative scenarios to account for the (almost) disappearing of massive stars, removing the need for failed supernovae. In these scenarios the disappearing is temporary, months to decades, and therefore at later time the massive star explodes as a core collapse supernova even if it forms a black hole.