On the Chromospheric Structure of the K-Type Component of 32 Cygni

Abstract

From a discussion of the UBV light curves of 32 Cygni obtained during the 1968 and 1971 eclipses the number density of atoms at the bottom of the chromosphere of the K-type component is deduced to be ~109.5κ−1 cm−3, where κ is the exponential mass absorption coefficient in U, and the density scale height of the inner chromosphere is found to be ~0.2 stellar radii. The light curve reveals that the eclipse is grazing and even at mideclipse about half the disk of the B-type component is eclipsed by the photospheric body of the K-type component. The mechanism of a brightness excess appearing at a phase 40–60 days after mideclipse is considered.