1995A&A...304..415V

We present and analyze two seasons of intense photometric monitoring in the Stroemgren uvbyHβ system of η Carinae (October 1992-August 1994). The luminous blue variable (LBV) in the core did not show much S Dor activity, i.e. it was in a relatively quiescent stage. This situation was very favourable for studying its optical micro variations. It appears that the central LBV pulsates (presumably in a non-radial mode) like other massive evolved stars, the α Cyg variables. The quasi-period is 58.56d. The linear ephemeris is: JD_max = 2448875.0 +58.56 E. Support was found for the existence of the presumed periodicity of 52.4d of the so-called "dimples", shallow dips in the light curve which only last for a few days. The cause may be the eclipse of a small companion or of a hot spot in an accretion disk. The Hβ index became bluer by ∼0.07mag during the last 11/2 years and shows an oscillation in anti-phase with the 58.56d pulsation, suggesting that the HII region(s) responsible for the hydrogen line emission has a relatively high luminosity. This is another reason to suppose that a second luminous source, perhaps a luminous disk (with a hot spot), may be present in the η Car system.