Investigating the origin and spectroscopic variability of the near-infrared H i lines in the Herbig star VV Ser

The origin of the near-infrared (NIR) H i emission lines in young stellar objects are not yet understood. To probe it, we present multi-epoch LBT-LUCIFER spectroscopic observations of the Paδ, Paβ, and Brγ lines observed in the Herbig star VV Ser, along with Very Large Telescope Interferometer-AMBER Brγ spectro-interferometric observations at medium resolution. Our spectroscopic observations show line profile variability in all the H i lines. The strongest variability is observed in the redshifted part of the line profiles. The Brγ spectro-interferometric observations indicate that the Brγ line emitting region is smaller than the continuum emitting region. To interpret our results, we employed radiative transfer models with three different flow configurations: magnetospheric accretion, a magnetocentrifugally driven disc wind, and a schematic bipolar outflow. Our models suggest that the H i line emission in VV Ser is dominated by the contribution of an extended wind, perhaps a bipolar outflow. Although the exact physical process for producing such outflow is not known, this model is capable of reproducing the averaged single-peaked line profiles of the H i lines. Additionally, the observed visibilities, differential and closure phases are best reproduced when a wind is considered. Nevertheless, the complex line profiles and variability could be explained by changes in the relative contribution of the magnetosphere and/or winds to the line emission. This might indicate that the NIR H i lines are formed in a complex inner disc region where inflow and outflow components might coexist. Furthermore, the contribution of each of these mechanisms to the line appears time variable, suggesting a non-steady accretion/ejection flow.