LBV Eruptions Triggered and Powered by Binary Interaction

Abstract

We suggest that major Luminous Blue Variable (LBV) eruptions are a result of a periastron passage interaction with the secondary star. The interaction must take place when the primary envelope is in an unstable phase. In our model the mass transferred to the secondary accounts for the energy and light curve of the eruption. We propose that all major LBV eruptions are triggered by stellar companions, and that in extreme cases a short duration event with a huge mass transfer rate can lead to a bright transient event on time scales of weeks to months (a `supernova impostor')