HD 35502: a hierarchical triple system with a magnetic B5IVpe primary

We present our analysis of HD~35502 based on high- and medium-resolution spectropolarimetric observations. Our results indicate that the magnetic B5IVsnp star is the primary component of a spectroscopic triple system and that it has an effective temperature of $18.4\pm0.6\,{\rm kK}$, a mass of $5.7\pm0.6\,M_\odot$, and a polar radius of $3.0^{+1.1}_{-0.5}\,R_\odot$. The two secondary components are found to be essentially identical A-type stars for which we derive effective temperatures ($8.9\pm0.3\,{\rm kK}$), masses ($2.1\pm0.2\,M_\odot$), and radii ($2.1\pm0.4\,R_\odot$). We infer a hierarchical orbital configuration for the system in which the secondary components form a tight binary with an orbital period of $5.66866(6)\,{\rm d}$ that orbits the primary component with a period of over $40\,{\rm yrs}$. Least-Squares Deconvolution (LSD) profiles reveal Zeeman signatures in Stokes $V$ indicative of a longitudinal magnetic field produced by the B star ranging from approximately $-4$ to $0\,{\rm kG}$ with a median uncertainty of $0.4\,{\rm kG}$. These measurements, along with the line variability produced by strong emission in H$\alpha$, are used to derive a rotational period of $0.853807(3)\,{\rm d}$. We find that the measured $v\sin{i}=75\pm5\,{\rm km\,s}^{-1}$ of the B star then implies an inclination angle of the star's rotation axis to the line of sight of $24^{+6}_{-10}\degree$. Assuming the Oblique Rotator Model, we derive the magnetic field strength of the B star's dipolar component ($14^{+9}_{-3}\,{\rm kG}$) and its obliquity ($63\pm13\degree$). Furthermore, we demonstrate that the calculated Alfv\'{e}n radius ($41^{+17}_{-6}\,R_\ast$) and Kepler radius ($2.1^{+0.4}_{-0.7}\,R_\ast$) place HD~35502's central B star well within the regime of centrifugal magnetosphere-hosting stars.Comment: 24 pages, 14 figures, Accepted for publication in MNRA

Testing a scaling relation between coherent radio emission and physical parameters of hot magnetic stars

Coherent radio emission via electron cyclotron maser emission (ECME) from hot magnetic stars was discovered more than two decades ago, but the physical conditions that make the generation of ECME favourable remain uncertain. Only recently was an empirical relation, connecting ECME luminosity with the stellar magnetic field and temperature, proposed to explain what makes a hot magnetic star capable of producing ECME. This relation was, however, obtained with just fourteen stars. Therefore, it is important to examine whether this relation is robust. With the aim of testing the robustness, we conducted radio observations of five hot magnetic stars. This led to the discovery of three more stars producing ECME. We find that the proposed scaling relation remains valid after the addition of the newly discovered stars. However we discovered that the magnetic field and effective temperature correlate for $T_\mathrm{eff}\lesssim 16$ kK (likely an artifact of the small sample size), rendering the proposed connection between ECME luminosity and $T_\mathrm{eff}$ unreliable. By examining the empirical relation in light of the scaling law for incoherent radio emission, we arrive at the conclusion that both types of emission are powered by the same magnetospheric phenomenon. Like the incoherent emission, coherent radio emission is indifferent to $T_\mathrm{eff}$ for late-B and A-type stars, but $T_\mathrm{eff}$ appears to become important for early-B type stars, possibly due to higher absorption, or, higher plasma density at the emission sites suppressing the production of the emission.Comment: 14 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA