PV Cep V(RI)c and IRAC photometry

Photometric and spectroscopic variations of these stars are driven by interactions of the star with the disc. Time-scales and wavelength dependence of the variability carry information on the physical mechanisms behind these interactions.

We conducted multi-epoch, multiwavelength study of PV Cep, a strongly variable, accreting PMS star. By combining our own observations from 2004 to 2010 with archival and literature data, we show that PV Cep started a spectacular fading in 2005, reaching an IC-band amplitude of 4mag. Analysis of variation of the optical and infrared fluxes, colour indices and emission line fluxes suggests that the photometric decline in 2005-2009 resulted from an interplay between variable accretion and circumstellar extinction: since the central luminosity of the system is dominated by accretion, a modest drop in the accretion rate could induce the drastic restructuring of the inner disc.