Preprint
Stellar activity in a post-merger Giant star
arXiv
arXiv
09/14/2026
DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2609.15652
Abstract
Binary stars are the progenitors of exotic objects, such as supernovae and gravitational wave sources. However, some systems merge earlier when the primary expands into a giant star at the end of its lifetime on the main sequence and causes its companion to spiral in. TYC 4144-329-2 is a candidate post-merger first ascent giant star with a circumstellar disk seen in the infrared (IR). We detect weak X-ray and far ultraviolet (FUV) emission from TYC 4144-329-2, which we interpret as a signature of weak coronal activity. We also find variability in Ha line profiles and in the optical light curves and we suggest an intermediate geometry where the line-of-sight passes through the upper layers of a flared disk with a time variable column density. While the X-rays must be coronal, the Ha line profiles point to ongoing and variable accretion. We suggest that TYC 4144-329-2's merger was more recent than other stars in this class and that it did not yet have time to develop a deep convection zone. If this scenario holds, TYC 4144-329-2 would be a unique probe of the earliest stages in the evolution of post-merger systems.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Stellar activity in a post-merger Giant star
- Creators
- H M GüntherC MelisK. J ShenEric G BlackmanK HoadleyP. C Schneider
- Resource Type
- Preprint
- Publication Details
- arXiv
- DOI
- 10.48550/arxiv.2609.15652
- ISSN
- 2331-8422
- Publisher
- arXiv
- Language
- English
- Date posted
- 09/14/2026
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9985226062102771
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