HD 213258: a new rapidly oscillating, super-slowly rotating, strongly magnetic Ap star in a spectroscopic binary

TL;DR

HD 213258 is a unique Ap star exhibiting rapid oscillations, an extremely slow rotation period, strong magnetic field, and binary nature, making it an exceptional case for studying stellar magnetism and pulsations.

Contribution

This study reports the discovery of HD 213258's rare combination of properties, including its magnetic field, pulsations, and binary status, providing new insights into Ap star characteristics.

Findings

Magnetic field modulus of ~3.8 kG with no significant variation over 2 years.

Likely stellar rotation period of about 50 years with field polarity reversal.

Detection of high overtone pulsations with a period of 7.58 minutes.

Abstract

We report about HD 213258, an Ap star that we recently identified as presenting a unique combination of rare, remarkable properties. Our study of this star is based on ESPaDOnS Stokes I and V data obtained at 7 epochs spanning a time interval slightly shorter than 2 years, on TESS data, and on radial velocity measurements from the CORAVEL data base. We confirm that HD 213258 is definitely an Ap star. We found that, in its spectrum, the Fe II {\lambda}6149.2 {\AA} line is resolved into its two magnetically split components. The mean magnetic field modulus of HD 213258, <B> ~ 3.8 kG does not show significant variations over ~2 years. Comparing our mean longitudinal field determinations with a couple of measurements from the literature, we show that the stellar rotation period must likely be of the order of 50 years, with a reversal of the field polarity. Moreover, HD 213258 is a rapidly oscillating Ap (roAp) star, in which high overtone pulsations with a period of 7.58 min are detected. Finally, we confirm that HD 213258 has a mean radial velocity exceeding (in absolute value) that of at least 99% of the Ap stars. The radial velocity shows low amplitude variations, which suggests that the star is a single-line spectroscopic binary. It is also a known astrometric binary. While its orbital elements remain to be determined, its orbital period likely is one of the shortest known for a binary roAp star. Its secondary is close to the borderline between stellar and substellar objects. There is a significant probability that it may be a brown dwarf. While most of the above-mentioned properties, taken in isolation, are observed in a small fraction of the whole population of Ap stars, the probability that a single star possesses all of them is extremely low. This makes HD 213258 an exceptionally interesting object that deserves to be studied in detail in the future.