HD 34736: An intensely magnetised double-lined spectroscopic binary with rapidly-rotating chemically peculiar B-type components

Abstract

We report the results of a comprehensive study of the spectroscopic binary (SB2) system HD 34736 hosting two chemically peculiar (CP) late B-type stars. Using new and archival observational data, we characterise the system and its components, including their rotation and magnetic fields. Fitting of the radial velocities yields $P_\mathrm{orb}=83.\!^\mathrm{d}219(3)$ and $e=0.8103(3)$. The primary component is a CP He-wk star with $T_{\mathrm{eff}A}=13000\pm500$ K and $\upsilon_\mathrm{e}\sin i\;=75\pm3$ km/s, while the secondary exhibits variability of Mg and Si lines, and has $T_{\mathrm{eff}B}=11500\pm1000$ K and $\upsilon_\mathrm{e}\sin i=110$-180 km/s. TESS and KELT photometry reveal clear variability of the primary component with a rotational period $P_{\mathrm{rot}A}=1.\!^\mathrm{d}279\,988\,5(11)$, which is lengthening at a rate of $1.26(6)$ s/yr. For the secondary, $P_{\mathrm{rot}B}=0.\!^\mathrm{d}522\,693\,8(5)$, reducing at a rate of $-0.14(3)$ s/yr. The longitudinal component $\langle B_\mathrm{z}\rangle$ of the primary's strongly asymmetric global magnetic field varies from $-6$ to +5 kG. Weak spectropolarimetric evidence of a magnetic field is found for the secondary star. The observed X-ray and radio emission of HD 34736 may equally be linked to a suspected T Tau-like companion or magnetospheric emission from the principal components. Given the presence of a possible third magnetically active body, one can propose that the magnetic characteristics of the protostellar environment may be connected to the formation of such systems.