IR survey of OB emission-line stars in the SMC : detection of a new B E supergiant, AV 172.

Abstract

We surveyed bright SMC emission-line stars in the infrared (JHK) in order to search for more B[e] supergiants in this galaxy by means of their IR excesses. One new star, AV 172, with the B [e] type IR excess was detected. Optical and IUE spectroscopy of this star showed it to be a B8 [e]Ib supergiant. Our survey showed that in the SMC four B [e] supergiants exist. Comparison with the number of main-sequence stars with the same luminosity yielded an estimate for the duration of the B[e] phase of > 1-2 10^5^ yr.