The primary star rotates rapidly with a projected equatorial velocity of 440 km/s. Due to its rapid rotation, the primary star has a polar radius about 5.5 R☉ and an equatorial radius of about 8.0 R☉. With an effective temperature of nearly 30,000 K, it has a bolometric luminosity nearly 15,000 times higher than the Sun. The rapidly-spinning star is surrounded by a circumstellar disk. The binary orbit, the spin of the primary star, and the disk are all seen nearly edge-on. There are no eclipses, but models of the system show that the disk significantly obscures the primary star.[5] The primary formed as a 3.8 M☉ star and has accreted material from its companion.[9]
The secondary star is also a class O subdwarf, hotter than the primary but smaller and less massive. It is proposed that it is the core of a 7 M☉ star, with the outer layers stripped as it expanded away from the main sequence. Its luminosity is higher than expected for a normal 1.2 M☉helium star, which suggests it may have evolved to helium shell burning.[9] Although the subdwarf has a bolometric luminosity about half that of the primary, it emits most of its radiation as ultraviolet, being only about 3% as bright as the primary at visible wavelengths.[5]
Variability
Phi Persei is a variable star with both rapid and longterm variations in its brightness and spectrum. Variations occur on a daily timescale which may be related to the rotation of the primary star. Any variations originating with the secondary are difficult to detect due to its comparative faintness. Slower variations, including deep fades, are also seen. Some of the variations may correspond to the orbital period, possibly eclipses of gas streams or hot spots, but the occasional deep fades do not match any particular orbital phase. The variations are classified as γ Cassiopeiae-type, shell stars with eruptions and irregular fading.[12]
Naming
Flamsteed followed Ptolemy in treating φ Persei as being in Andromeda and gave it the designation54 Andromedae. It is isolated from the main stars of Perseus, but lies within its formal borders.[13]
^ abcDucati, J. R. (2002). "VizieR Online Data Catalog: Catalogue of Stellar Photometry in Johnson's 11-color system". CDS/ADC Collection of Electronic Catalogues. 2237. Bibcode:2002yCat.2237....0D.
^ abSamus, N. N.; Durlevich, O. V.; et al. (2009). "VizieR Online Data Catalog: General Catalogue of Variable Stars (Samus+ 2007-2013)". VizieR On-line Data Catalog: B/GCVS. Originally Published in: 2009yCat....102025S. 1. Bibcode:2009yCat....102025S.
^Hoffleit, D.; Warren, W. H. (1995). "VizieR Online Data Catalog: Bright Star Catalogue, 5th Revised Ed. (Hoffleit+, 1991)". VizieR On-line Data Catalog: V/50. Originally Published in: 1964BS....C......0H. 5050. Bibcode:1995yCat.5050....0H.
^ abZorec, J.; Frémat, Y.; Domiciano De Souza, A.; Royer, F.; Cidale, L.; Hubert, A.-M.; Semaan, T.; Martayan, C.; Cochetti, Y. R.; Arias, M. L.; Aidelman, Y.; Stee, P. (2017). "Critical study of the distribution of rotational velocities of Be stars". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 595: A132. arXiv:1702.07684. Bibcode:2016A&A...595A.132Z. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201628760.
^ abBožić, H.; Harmanec, P.; Horn, J.; Koubský, P.; Scholz, G.; McDavid, D.; Hubert, A. M.; Hubert, H. (December 1995). "Toward a consistent model of the B0.5IVe + sdO binary φ Persei". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 304: 235–257.