γ Cas Stars: The Origin of the X-ray Emission

The γ Cas type stars are a group of Be stars with unusually hard X-ray emission and an X-ray luminosity of L_X ~ 10³¹–10³³ erg/s, which is higher than for typical Be stars but less than for massive X-ray binaries with Be components. The temperature of the X-ray emitting plasma reaches values of 10–20 keV or even more, assuming that they emit thermal X-rays. To test the hypotheses on the X-rays formation from this group of stars, the variability of the X-ray and optical emission of γ Cas type stars is analyzed. Regular components of X-ray brightness variations and H, He and FeII line profile variations in spectra of such stars are revealed. The periods of optical and X-ray variability are close and correspond to typical periods of non-radial pulsations (NRPs) of Be stars. That suggests modulation of the wind structure of a Be star as a result of NRPs.