Modeling of the R CrB star chromosphere

A model of the R CrB star chromosphere is calculated on the basis of the observed profiles of the Ca II H and K lines and IR triplet and D lines of Na I and H-alpha. The calculated profiles of Ca II H and K lines and IR triplet and H-alpha are in good agreement with the observed ones both for an undisturbed state and for the light minimum. The line profiles for the light minimum are calculated under the assumption that the minimum is attributed to obscuring of the star disc with a dust cloud. In this case, the chromosphere is not hydrostatic since the column density at the chromosphere base is two orders of magnitude higher as compared to that in a hydrostatic model. The model proposed is more extended, less dense at the chromosphere base, and denser in the upper chromosphere. The extension of the calculated chromosphere is about 3 star radii. The density in the chromosphere is 108–1010 atoms per 1 cm³ and the temperature is 5000–7000 K. Agreement of the calculated and observed profiles of Na I D absorption lines is possible if we assume that, around the star, there is a cold envelope containing Na I atoms which expands with a velocity of about 30 km/s. This envelope is beyond the chromosphere, but near enough for the star and the envelope to be observed as a single whole. The optical thickness of the envelope in the Na I D2 line is 1.8. At the brightness minimum, this envelope illuminated with the star light yields additional emission attributed to resonant scattering in the Na I D lines.