Exocomet signatures around the A-shell star φ Leonis?

Abstract

We present an intensive monitoring of high-resolution spectra of the Ca II K line in the A7IV shell star phi Leo at very short (minutes, hours), short (night to night), and medium (weeks, months) timescales. The spectra show remarkable variable absorptions on timescales of hours, days, and months. The characteristics of these sporadic events are very similar to most that are observed toward the debris disk host star beta Pic, which are commonly interpreted as signs of the evaporation of solid, comet-like bodies grazing or falling onto the star. Therefore, our results suggest the presence of solid bodies around phi Leo. To our knowledge, with the exception of beta Pic, our monitoring has the best time resolution at the mentioned timescales for a star with events attributed to exocomets. Assuming the cometary scenario and considering the timescales of our monitoring, our results indicate that phi Leo presents the richest environment with comet-like events known to date, second only to beta Pic.