Helioseismology and asteroseismology of red giant stars have shown that distribution of angular momentum in stellar interiors, and the evolution of this distribution with time remains an open issue ...in stellar physics. Owing to the unprecedented quality and long baseline of Kepler photometry, we are able to seismically infer internal rotation rates in γ Doradus stars, which provide the main-sequence counterpart to the red-giants puzzle. Here, we confront these internal rotation rates to stellar evolution models which account for rotationally induced transport of angular momentum, in order to test angular momentum transport mechanisms. On the one hand, we used a stellar model-independent method developed by our team in order to obtain accurate, seismically inferred, buoyancy radii and near-core rotation for 37 γ Doradus stars observed by Kepler. We show that the stellar buoyancy radius can be used as a reliable evolution indicator for field stars on the main sequence. On the other hand, we computed rotating evolutionary models of intermediate-mass stars including internal transport of angular momentum in radiative zones, following the formalism developed in the series of papers started by Zahn (1992, A&A, 265, 115), with the CESTAM code. This code calculates the rotational history of stars from the birth line to the tip of the RGB. The initial angular momentum content has to be set initially, which is done here by fitting rotation periods in young stellar clusters. We show a clear disagreement between the near-core rotation rates measured in the sample and the rotation rates obtained from the evolutionary models including rotationally induced transport of angular momentum following Zahn’s prescriptions. These results show a disagreement similar to that of the Sun and red giant stars in the considered mass range. This suggests the existence of missing mechanisms responsible for the braking of the core before and along the main sequence. The efficiency of the missing mechanisms is investigated. The transport of angular momentum as formalized by Zahn and Maeder cannot explain the measurements of near-core rotation in main-sequence intermediate-mass stars we have at hand.
With four years of nearly continuous photometry from Kepler, we are finally in a good position to apply asteroseismology to ... Doradus stars. In particular, several analyses have demonstrated the ...possibility to detect non-uniform period spacings, which have been predicted to be directly related to rotation. In this paper, we define a new seismic diagnostic for rotation in ... Doradus stars which are too rapidly rotating to present rotational splittings. Based on the non-uniformity of their period spacings, we define the observable S as the slope of the period spacing when plotted as a function of period. We provide a one-to-one relation between this observable S and the internal rotation, which applies widely in the instability strip of ... Doradus stars. We apply the diagnostic to a handful of stars observed by Kepler. Thanks to g modes in ... Doradus stars, we are now able to determine the internal rotation of stars on the lower main sequence, which is still not possible for Sun-like stars. (ProQuest: ... denotes formulae/symbols omitted.)
HD 187547 was the first candidate that led to the suggestion that solar-like oscillations are present in delta Scuti stars. Longer observations, however, show that the modes interpreted as solar-like ...oscillations have either very long mode lifetimes, longer than 960 days, or are coherent. These results are incompatible with the nature of "pure" stochastic excitation as observed in solar-like stars. Nonetheless, one point is certain: the opacity mechanism alone cannot explain the oscillation spectrum of HD 187547. Here we present new theoretical investigations showing that convection dynamics can intrinsically excite coherent pulsations in the chemically peculiar delta Scuti star HD 187547. More precisely, it is the perturbations of the mean Reynold stresses (turbulent pressure) that drives the pulsations and the excitation takes place predominantly in the hydrogen ionization zone.
ABSTRACT
We present the first asteroseismic results for δ Scuti and γ Doradus stars observed in Sectors 1 and 2 of the TESS mission. We utilize the 2-min cadence TESS data for a sample of 117 stars ...to classify their behaviour regarding variability and place them in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram using Gaia DR2 data. Included within our sample are the eponymous members of two pulsator classes, γ Doradus and SX Phoenicis. Our sample of pulsating intermediate-mass stars observed by TESS also allows us to confront theoretical models of pulsation driving in the classical instability strip for the first time and show that mixing processes in the outer envelope play an important role. We derive an empirical estimate of 74 per cent for the relative amplitude suppression factor as a result of the redder TESS passband compared to the Kepler mission using a pulsating eclipsing binary system. Furthermore, our sample contains many high-frequency pulsators, allowing us to probe the frequency variability of hot young δ Scuti stars, which were lacking in the Kepler mission data set, and identify promising targets for future asteroseismic modelling. The TESS data also allow us to refine the stellar parameters of SX Phoenicis, which is believed to be a blue straggler.
Do A-type stars flare? Pedersen, M. G; Antoci, V; Korhonen, H ...
Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society,
04/2017, Letnik:
466, Številka:
3
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Abstract
For flares to be generated, stars have to have a sufficiently deep outer convection zone (F5 and later), strong large-scale magnetic fields (Ap/Bp-type stars) or strong, radiatively driven ...winds (B5 and earlier). Normal A-type stars possess none of these and therefore should not flare. Nevertheless, flares have previously been detected in the Kepler light curves of 33 A-type stars and interpreted to be intrinsic to the stars. Here, we present new and detailed analyses of these 33 stars, imposing very strict criteria for the flare detection. We confirm the presence of flare-like features in 27 of the 33 A-type stars. A study of the pixel data and the surrounding field of view reveals that 14 of these 27 flaring objects have overlapping neighbouring stars and five stars show clear contamination in the pixel data. We have obtained high-resolution spectra for 2/3 of the entire sample and confirm that our targets are indeed A-type stars. Detailed analyses revealed that 11 out of 19 stars with multiple epochs of observations are spectroscopic binaries. Furthermore, and contrary to previous studies, we find that the flares can originate from a cooler, unresolved companion. We note the presence of Hα emission in eight stars. Whether this emission is circumstellar or magnetic in origin is unknown. In summary, we find possible alternative explanations for the observed flares for at least 19 of the 33 A-type stars, but find no truly convincing target to support the hypothesis of flaring A-type stars.
Abstract
We report the first asteroseismic results obtained with the Hertzsprung Stellar Observations Network Group Telescope from an extensive high-precision radial-velocity observing campaign of ...the subgiant
μ
Herculis. The data set was collected during 215 nights in 2014 and 2015. We detected a total of 49 oscillation modes with
l
values from zero to three, including some
l
= 1 mixed modes. Based on the rotational splitting observed in
l
= 1 modes, we determine a rotational period of 52 days and a stellar inclination angle of 63°. The parameters obtained through modeling of the observed oscillation frequencies agree very well with independent observations and imply a stellar mass between 1.11 and 1.15
M
⊙
and an age of
Gyr. Furthermore, the high-quality data allowed us to determine the acoustic depths of the He
ii
ionization layer and the base of the convection zone.
Abstract
The most powerful tests of stellar models come from the brightest stars in the sky, for which complementary techniques, such as astrometry, asteroseismology, spectroscopy and interferometry, ...can be combined. The K2 mission is providing a unique opportunity to obtain high-precision photometric time series for bright stars along the ecliptic. However, bright targets require a large number of pixels to capture the entirety of the stellar flux, and CCD saturation, as well as restrictions on data storage and bandwidth, limit the number and brightness of stars that can be observed. To overcome this, we have developed a new photometric technique, which we call halo photometry, to observe very bright stars using a limited number of pixels. Halo photometry is simple, fast and does not require extensive pixel allocation, and will allow us to use K2 and other photometric missions, such as TESS, to observe very bright stars for asteroseismology and to search for transiting exoplanets. We apply this method to the seven brightest stars in the Pleiades open cluster. Each star exhibits variability; six of the stars show what are most likely slowly pulsating B-star pulsations, with amplitudes ranging from 20 to 2000 ppm. For the star Maia, we demonstrate the utility of combining K2 photometry with spectroscopy and interferometry to show that it is not a ‘Maia variable’, and to establish that its variability is caused by rotational modulation of a large chemical spot on a 10 d time-scale.
Pulsating variables of
γ
Doradus type (
γ
Dor) and slowly pulsating B-type (SPB) stars are found on and near the main sequence with typical periods varying between one and several days, making them ...rather hard to detect from the ground. It is only with space missions such as CoRoT and
Kepler
that we became truly capable of determining their oscillation frequencies with enough precision to perform in-depth analyses. Here we present an efficient and easy-to-implement seismic tool, in which the frequency (
ν
) and the square root of the frequency difference ($ \sqrt{\Delta \nu} $) are plotted against each other as the abscissa and the ordinate, respectively. This allows us to immediately (1) perform mode identification; (2) estimate the average rotation rate and the characteristic period of gravity modes; and (3) recognise certain physical effects, including buoyancy glitches and avoided crossings. This diagnostic tool can only be applied to prograde sectoral
g
modes. To validate the tool presented here, we used stellar models and also applied it to three
γ
Dor (
KIC 12066947
,
KIC 5608334
and
KIC 4846809
) and one SPB star (
KIC 3459297
), all observed with
Kepler
. Furthermore, we show that the rotation rates determined using this new tool are consistent with the results of previous studies.
Aims. The nearby metal-poor giant HD 122563 is an important astrophysical laboratory in which to test stellar atmospheric and interior physics. It is also a benchmark star for which to calibrate ...methods to apply to large scale surveys. Recently it has been remeasured using various methodologies given the new high precision instruments at our disposal. However, inconsistencies in the observations and models have been found. Methods. In order to better characterise this star using complementary techniques we have been measuring its radial velocities since 2016 using the Hertzsprung telescope (SONG network node) in order to detect oscillations. Results. In this work we report the first detections of sun-like oscillations in this star, and to our knowledge, a detection in the most metal-poor giant to date. We applied the classical seismic scaling relation to derive a new surface gravity for HD 122563 of log gν = 1.39 ± 0.01. Reasonable constraints on the mass imposed by its PopII giant classification then yields a radius of 30.8 ± 1.0 ℛ⊙. By coupling this new radius with recent interferometric measurements we infer a distance to the star of 306 ± 9 pc. This result places it further away than was previously thought and is inconsistent with the HIPPARCOS parallax. Independent data from the Gaia mission corroborate the distance hypothesis (dGDR2 = 290 ± 5 pc), and thus the updated fundamental parameters. Conclusions. We confirm the validity of the classical seismic scaling relation for surface gravity in metal-poor and evolved star regimes. The remaining discrepancy of 0.04 dex between log gGDR2 (= 1.43 ± 0.03) reduces to 0.02 dex by applying corrections to the scaling relations based on the mean molecular weight and adiabatic exponent. The new constraints on the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram (L⋆ν = 381 ± 26 ℒ⊙) significantly reduce the disagreement between the stellar parameters and evolution models, however, a discrepancy of the order of 150 K still exists. Fine-tuned stellar evolution calculations show that this discrepancy can be reconciled by changing the mixing-length parameter by an amount (−0.35) that is in agreement with predictions from recent 3D simulations and empirical results. Asteroseismic measurements are continuing, and analysis of the full frequency data complemented by a distance estimate promises to bring important constraints on our understanding of this star and of the accurate calibration of the seismic scaling relations in this regime.
Context. Despite important advances in space asteroseismology during the last decade, the early phases of evolution of stars with masses above ~15 M⊙ (including the O stars and their evolved ...descendants, the B supergiants) have been only vaguely explored up to now. This is due to the lack of adequate observations for a proper characterization of the complex spectroscopic and photometric variability occurring in these stars. Aim. Our goal is to detect, analyze, and interpret variability in the early-B-type supergiant HD 2905 (κ Cas, B1 Ia) using long-term, ground-based, high-resolution spectroscopy. Methods. We gather a total of 1141 high-resolution spectra covering some 2900 days with three different high-performance spectrographs attached to 1–2.6m telescopes at the Canary Islands observatories. We complement these observations with the hipparcos light curve, which includes 160 data points obtained during a time span of ~1200 days. We investigate spectroscopic variability of up to 12 diagnostic lines by using the zero and first moments of the line profiles. We perform a frequency analysis of both the spectroscopic and photometric dataset using Scargle periodograms. We obtain single snapshot and time-dependent information about the stellar parameters and abundances by means of the FASTWIND stellar atmosphere code. Results. HD 2905 is a spectroscopic variable with peak-to-peak amplitudes in the zero and first moments of the photospheric lines of up to 15% and 30 km s−1, respectively. The amplitude of the line-profile variability is correlated with the line formation depth in the photosphere and wind. All investigated lines present complex temporal behavior indicative of multi-periodic variability with timescales of a few days to several weeks. No short-period (hourly) variations are detected. The Scargle periodograms of the hipparcos light curve and the first moment of purely photospheric lines reveal a low-frequency amplitude excess and a clear dominant frequency at ~0.37 d−1. In the spectroscopy, several additional frequencies are present in the range 0.1–0.4 d−1. These may be associated with heat-driven gravity modes, convectively driven gravity waves, or sub-surface convective motions. Additional frequencies are detected below 0.1 d−1. In the particular case of Hα, these are produced by rotational modulation of a non-spherically symmetric stellar wind. Conclusions. Combined long-term uninterrupted space photometry with high-precision spectroscopy is the best strategy to unravel the complex low-frequency photospheric and wind variability of B supergiants. Three-dimensional (3D) simulations of waves and of convective motions in the sub-surface layers can shed light on a unique interpretation of the variability.
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