In the Sun, the frequencies of the acoustic modes are observed to vary in phase with the magnetic activity level. These frequency variations are expected to be common in solar-type stars and contain ...information about the activity-related changes that take place in their interiors. The unprecedented duration of Kepler photometric time-series provides a unique opportunity to detect and characterize stellar magnetic cycles through asteroseismology. In this work, we analyze a sample of 87 solar-type stars, measuring their temporal frequency shifts over segments of 90 days. For each segment, the individual frequencies are obtained through a Bayesian peak-bagging tool. The mean frequency shifts are then computed and compared with: (1) those obtained from a cross-correlation method; (2) the variation in the mode heights; (3) a photometric activity proxy; and (4) the characteristic timescale of the granulation. For each star and 90-day sub-series, we provide mean frequency shifts, mode heights, and characteristic timescales of the granulation. Interestingly, more than 60% of the stars show evidence for (quasi-)periodic variations in the frequency shifts. In the majority of the cases, these variations are accompanied by variations in other activity proxies. About 20% of the stars show mode frequencies and heights varying approximately in phase, in opposition to what is observed for the Sun.
One of the most difficult properties to derive for stars is their age. For cool main-sequence stars, gyrochronology relations can be used to infer stellar ages from measured rotation periods and ...Hertzsprung Russell diagram positions. These relations have few calibrators with known ages for old, long rotation period stars. There is a significant sample of old Kepler objects of interest, or KOIs, which have both measurable surface rotation periods and precise asteroseismic measurements from which ages can be accurately derived. In this work, we determine the age and the rotation period of solar-like pulsating KOIs to both compare the rotation properties of stars with and without known planets and enlarge the gyrochronology calibration sample for old stars. We use Kepler photometric light curves to derive the stellar surface rotation periods while ages are obtained with asteroseismology using the Asteroseismic Modelling Portal in which individual mode frequencies are combined with high-resolution spectroscopic parameters. We thus determine surface rotation periods and ages for 11 planet-hosting stars, all over 2 Gyr old. We find that the planet-hosting stars exhibit a rotational behaviour that is consistent with the latest age-rotation models and similar to the rotational behaviour of stars without detected planets. We conclude that these old KOIs can be used to test and calibrate gyrochronology along with stars not known to host planets.
We have analyzed solar-like oscillations in ~1700 stars observed by the Kepler Mission, spanning from the main sequence to the red clump. Using evolutionary models, we test asteroseismic scaling ...relations for the frequency of maximum power ( Delta *nmax), the large frequency separation ( Delta *D Delta *n), and oscillation amplitudes. We show that the difference of the Delta *D Delta *n- Delta *nmax relation for unevolved and evolved stars can be explained by different distributions in effective temperature and stellar mass, in agreement with what is expected from scaling relations. For oscillation amplitudes, we show that neither (L/M) s scaling nor the revised scaling relation by Kjeldsen & Bedding is accurate for red-giant stars, and demonstrate that a revised scaling relation with a separate luminosity-mass dependence can be used to calculate amplitudes from the main sequence to red giants to a precision of ~25%. The residuals show an offset particularly for unevolved stars, suggesting that an additional physical dependency is necessary to fully reproduce the observed amplitudes. We investigate correlations between amplitudes and stellar activity, and find evidence that the effect of amplitude suppression is most pronounced for subgiant stars. Finally, we test the location of the cool edge of the instability strip in the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram using solar-like oscillations and find the detections in the hottest stars compatible with a domain of hybrid stochastically excited and opacity driven pulsation.
We identify a set of 18 solar analogs among the seismic sample of solar-like stars observed by the Kepler satellite rotating between 10 and 40 days. This set is constructed using the asteroseismic ...stellar properties derived using either the global oscillation properties or the individual acoustic frequencies. We measure the magnetic activity properties of these stars using observations collected by the photometric Kepler satellite and by the ground-based, high-resolution Hermes spectrograph mounted on the Mercator telescope. The photospheric (S sub(ph)) and chromospheric (S index) magnetic activity levels of these seismic solar analogs are estimated and compared in relation to the solar activity. We show that the activity of the Sun is comparable to the activity of the seismic solar analogs, within the maximum-to-minimum temporal variations of the 11-yr solar activity cycle 23. In agreement with previous studies, the youngest stars and fastest rotators in our sample are actually the most active. The activity of stars older than the Sun seems to not evolve much with age. Furthermore, the comparison of the photospheric, S sub(ph), with the well-established chromospheric, S index, indicates that the S sub(ph) index can be used to provide a suitable magnetic activity proxy which can be easily estimated for a large number of stars from space photometric observations.
The variations of the frequencies of the low-degree acoustic oscillations in the Sun induced by magnetic activity show a dependence on radial order. The frequency shifts are observed to increase ...towards higher-order modes to reach a maximum of about 0.8
μ
Hz over the 11-yr solar cycle. A comparable frequency dependence is also measured in two other main sequence solar-like stars, the F-star HD 49933, and the young 1 Gyr-old solar analog KIC 10644253, although with different amplitudes of the shifts of about 2
μ
Hz and 0.5
μ
Hz, respectively. Our objective here is to extend this analysis to stars with different masses, metallicities, and evolutionary stages. From an initial set of 87
Kepler
solar-like oscillating stars with known individual p-mode frequencies, we identify five stars showing frequency shifts that can be considered reliable using selection criteria based on Monte Carlo simulations and on the photospheric magnetic activity proxy
S
ph
. The frequency dependence of the frequency shifts of four of these stars could be measured for the
l
= 0 and
l
= 1 modes individually. Given the quality of the data, the results could indicate that a physical source of perturbation different from that in the Sun is dominating in this sample of solar-like stars.
Context. Helioseismology has enabled us to better understand the solar interior, while also allowing us to better constrain solar models. But now is a tremendous epoch for asteroseismology as space ...missions dedicated to studying stellar oscillations have been launched within the last years (MOST and CoRoT). CoRoT has already proved valuable results for many types of stars, while Kepler, which was launched in March 2009, will provide us with a huge number of seismic data very soon. This is an opportunity to better constrain stellar models and to finally understand stellar structure and evolution. Aims. The goal of this research work is to estimate the global parameters of any solar-like oscillating target in an automatic manner. We want to determine the global parameters of the acoustic modes (large separation, range of excited pressure modes, maximum amplitude, and its corresponding frequency), retrieve the surface rotation period of the star and use these results to estimate the global parameters of the star (radius and mass). Methods. To prepare for the arrival and the analysis of hundreds of solar-like oscillating stars, we have developed a robust and automatic pipeline, which was partially adapted from helioseismic methods. The pipeline consists of data analysis techniques, such as Fast Fourier Transform, wavelets, autocorrelation, as well as the application of minimisation algorithms for stellar-modelling. Results. We apply our pipeline to some simulated lightcurves from the asteroFLAG team and the Aarhus-asteroFLAG simulator, and obtain results that are consistent with the input data to the simulations. Our strategy gives correct results for stars with magnitudes below 11 with only a few 10% of bad determinations among the reliable results. We then apply the pipeline to the Sun and three CoRoT targets. In particular we determine the large separation and radius of the Sun, HD49933, HD181906, and HD181420.
ABSTRACT
A good knowledge of the angular diameters of stars used to calibrate the observables in stellar interferometry is fundamental. As the available precision for giant stars is worse than the ...required per cent level, we aim to improve the knowledge of many diameters using MATISSE (Multiple AperTure mid-Infrared SpectroScopic Experiment) data in its different instrumental configurations. Using the squared visibility MATISSE observable, we compute the angular diameter value, which ensures the best-fitting curves, assuming an intensity distribution of a uniform disc. We take into account that the transfer function varies over the wavelength and is different from one instrumental configuration to another. The uncertainties on the diameters are estimated using the residual bootstrap method. Using the low spectral resolution mode in the Lband, we observed a set of 35 potential calibrators selected in the Mid-infrared stellar Diameter and Flux Compilation Catalogue with diameters ranging from about 1 to 3 mas. We reach a precision on the diameter estimates in the range 0.6 per cent to 4.1 per cent. The study of the stability of the transfer function in visibility over two nights makes us confident in our results. In addition, we identify one star, 75 Vir initially present in the calibrator lists, for which our method does not converge, and prove to be a binary star. This leads us to the conclusion that our method is actually necessary to improve the quality of the astrophysical results obtained with MATISSE, and that it can be used as a useful tool for ‘bad calibrator’ detection.
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. Solar-like oscillations have been observed by Kepler and CoRoT in several solar-type stars, thereby providing a way to probe the stars using asteroseismology Aims. We provide the mode ...frequencies of the oscillations of various stars required to perform a comparison with those obtained from stellar modelling. Methods. We used a time series of nine months of data for each star. The 61 stars observed were categorised in three groups: simple, F-like, and mixed-mode. The simple group includes stars for which the identification of the mode degree is obvious. The F-like group includes stars for which the identification of the degree is ambiguous. The mixed-mode group includes evolved stars for which the modes do not follow the asymptotic relation of low-degree frequencies. Following this categorisation, the power spectra of the 61 main-sequence and subgiant stars were analysed using both maximum likelihood estimators and Bayesian estimators, providing individual mode characteristics such as frequencies, linewidths, and mode heights. We developed and describe a methodology for extracting a single set of mode frequencies from multiple sets derived by different methods and individual scientists. We report on how one can assess the quality of the fitted parameters using the likelihood ratio test and the posterior probabilities. Results. We provide the mode frequencies of 61 stars (with their 1-σ error bars), as well as their associated échelle diagrams.
Context. The CoRoT mission is in its third year of observation and the data from the second long run in the galactic centre direction are being analysed. The solar-like oscillating stars that have ...been observed up to now have given some interesting results, specially concerning the amplitudes that are lower than predicted. We present here the results from the analysis of the star HD 170987. Aims. The goal of this research work is to characterise the global parameters of HD 170987. We look for global seismic parameters such as the mean large separation, maximum amplitude of the modes, and surface rotation because the signal-to-noise ratio in the observations does not allow us to measure individual modes. We also aim to retrieve the parameters of the star and its chemical composition. Methods. We studied the chemical composition of the star through ground-based observations performed with the NARVAL spectrograph. We used several methods to calculate the global parameters from the acoustic oscillations based on CoRoT data. The light curve of the star has been interpolated with inpainting algorithms to reduce the effect of data gaps. Results. We found the power excess related to p modes in the range 400–1200 μHz with a mean large separation of 55.2 ± 0.8 μHz with a probability above 95 % that increases to 55.9 ± 0.2 μHz in a higher frequency range 500–1250 μHz and a rejection level of 1%. A hint of the variation of this quantity with frequency was also found. The rotation period of the star is estimated to be around 4.3 days with an inclination axis of i = 50° $^{+20}_{-13}$. We measured a bolometric amplitude per radial mode in a range 2.4–2.9 ppm around 1000 μHz. Finally we estimate the stellar mass with a grid of models, M = 1.43 ± 0.05 $M_\odot$, the radius, R = 1.96 ± 0.046 $R_\odot$, and the age ~2.4 Gyr.
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