Discovery of the $λ$ Bootis phenomenon in an early B-type star

Abstract

Chemically peculiar A-type stars of the $λ$ Boo class are characterised by depletions of refractory elements and normal volatile species. Their formation channel(s) have not yet been fully established, but they provide insight into star-disc-planet interactions during star formation, star-planet interactions in later system evolution, or interactions between stars and the interstellar medium. We report the first detection of the $λ$ Boo phenomenon in a massive early B-type star, HD 37356, a member of Ori OB1c. We analysed a high-quality spectrum using a hybrid non-LTE model-atmosphere technique. We determined atmospheric parameters and elemental abundances using neural networks to emulate synthetic spectra, coupled with a Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm. We also derived the fundamental parameters of the star using Gaia data and stellar evolution models. HD 37356 closely resembles the Morgan-Keenan standard $γ$ Peg, closely agreeing in spectral signatures except for the lines of refractory elements, which are systematically weaker. The quantitative analysis yields similar stellar parameters. The abundances of volatile elements are compatible with cosmic standard abundances, while refractory species are depleted by 0.25 to 0.45dex. In particular, the lower iron abundance explains the different pulsational behaviour of HD 37356 compared to $γ$ Peg. Of the different formation channels for $λ$ Boo stars, only the accretion of gas depleted in refractory elements from the circumstellar disc during star formation appears to be feasible in this case. This scenario requires HD 37356 to be a true slow rotator in order to prevent the abundance pattern from being erased by internal mixing processes such as meridional circulation.