2012A&A...542A..50D

We present an analysis of a peculiar supergiant B-type star (VFTS698/Melnick2/Parker1797) in the 30 Doradus region of the Large Magellanic Cloud which exhibits characteristics similar to the broad class of B[e] stars. We analyse optical spectra from the VLT-FLAMES survey, together with archival optical and infrared photometry and X-ray imaging to characterise the system. We find radial velocity variations of around 400km/sin the high excitation SiIV, NIII and HeII spectra, and photometric variability of ∼0.6mag with a period of 12.7d. In addition, we detect long-term photometric variations of ∼0.25mag, which may be due to a longer-term variability with a period of ∼400d. We conclude that VFTS698 is likely an interacting binary comprising an early B-type star secondary orbiting a veiled, more massive companion. Spectral evidence suggests a mid-to-late B-type primary, but this may originate from an optically-thick accretion disc directly surrounding the primary.