Discovery of optical flickering from the symbiotic Mira EF Aql

What is it about?

EF Aql is classified as a symbiotic star, a member of the symbiotic Mira subgroup. EF Aql is classified as an oxygen-rich asymptotic giant branch star and as symbiotic star as well. We report optical photometry in Johnson V and B bands of EF Aql. Our observations clearly show the presence of stochastic light variations (flickering) with an amplitude of about 0.2 mag on a time scale of minutes. To the best of our knowledge this is the first detection of optical flickering in EF Aql. The observations point toward a white dwarf as the hot component in the system. Binary companions to Mira-type stars stars are an important aspect of their evolution. Eight further candidates for the detection of flickering in similar systems are suggested.

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Why is it important?

There are more than 200 symbiotic stars known. Among them flickering is detected in only 11 objects (including EF Aql). To the best of our knowledge this is the first detection of optical flickering in EF Aql.The observations point toward a white dwarf as the hot component in the system. Binary companions to Mira-type stars stars are an important aspect of their evolution.

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