The advent of space-based missions like Kepler has revolutionized the study of solar-type stars, particularly through the measurement and modeling of their resonant modes of oscillation. Here we ...analyze a sample of 66 Kepler main-sequence stars showing solar-like oscillations as part of the Kepler seismic LEGACY project. We use Kepler short-cadence data, of which each star has at least 12 months, to create frequency-power spectra optimized for asteroseismology. For each star, we identify its modes of oscillation and extract parameters such as frequency, amplitude, and line width using a Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo "peak-bagging" approach. We report the extracted mode parameters for all 66 stars, as well as derived quantities such as frequency difference ratios, the large and small separations and the behavior of line widths with frequency and line widths at with , for which we derive parametrizations; and behavior of mode visibilities. These average properties can be applied in future peak-bagging exercises to better constrain the parameters of the stellar oscillation spectra. The frequencies and frequency ratios can tightly constrain the fundamental parameters of these solar-type stars, and mode line widths and amplitudes can test models of mode damping and excitation.
When the core hydrogen is exhausted during stellar evolution, the central region of a star contracts and the outer envelope expands and cools, giving rise to a red giant. Convection takes place over ...much of the star's radius. Conservation of angular momentum requires that the cores of these stars rotate faster than their envelopes; indirect evidence supports this. Information about the angular-momentum distribution is inaccessible to direct observations, but it can be extracted from the effect of rotation on oscillation modes that probe the stellar interior. Here we report an increasing rotation rate from the surface of the star to the stellar core in the interiors of red giants, obtained using the rotational frequency splitting of recently detected 'mixed modes'. By comparison with theoretical stellar models, we conclude that the core must rotate at least ten times faster than the surface. This observational result confirms the theoretical prediction of a steep gradient in the rotation profile towards the deep stellar interior.
ABSTRACT
Kepler-20 is a solar-type star (
V
= 12.5) hosting a compact system of five transiting planets, all packed within the orbital distance of Mercury in our own solar system. A transition from ...rocky to gaseous planets with a planetary transition radius of ∼1.6
has recently been proposed by several articles in the literature. Kepler-20b (
∼ 1.9
) has a size beyond this transition radius; however, previous mass measurements were not sufficiently precise to allow definite conclusions to be drawn regarding its composition. We present new mass measurements of three of the planets in the Kepler-20 system that are facilitated by 104 radial velocity measurements from the HARPS-N spectrograph and 30 archival Keck/HIRES observations, as well as an updated photometric analysis of the
Kepler
data and an asteroseismic analysis of the host star (
=
and
=
). Kepler-20b is a
planet in a 3.7 day period with a mass of
, resulting in a mean density of
, indicating a rocky composition with an iron-to-silicate ratio consistent with that of the Earth. This makes Kepler-20b the most massive planet with a rocky composition found to date. Furthermore, we report the discovery of an additional non-transiting planet with a minimum mass of
and an orbital period of ∼34 days in the gap between Kepler-20f (
P
∼ 11 days) and Kepler-20d (
P
∼ 78 days).
Abstract
To better understand how planets form, it is important to study planet occurrence rates as a function of stellar mass. However, estimating masses of field stars is often difficult. Over the ...past decade, a controversy has arisen about the inferred occurrence rate of gas-giant planets around evolved intermediate-mass stars – the so-called ‘retired A-stars’. The high masses of these red-giant planet hosts, derived using spectroscopic information and stellar evolution models, have been called into question. Here, we address the controversy by determining the masses of eight evolved planet-hosting stars using asteroseismology. We compare the masses with spectroscopic-based masses from the Exoplanet Orbit Database,which were previously adopted to infer properties of the exoplanets and their hosts. We find a significant one-sided offset between the two sets of masses for stars with spectroscopic masses above roughly 1.6 M⊙, suggestive of an average 15–20 per cent overestimate of the adopted spectroscopic-based masses. The only star in our sample well below this mass limit is also the only one not showing this offset. Finally, we note that the scatter across literature values of spectroscopic-based masses often exceeds their formal uncertainties, making it comparable to the offset we report here.
Abstract We studied 89 A- and F-type members of the Pleiades open cluster, including five escaped members. We measured projected rotational velocities ( v sin i ) for 49 stars and confirmed that ...stellar rotation causes a broadening of the main sequence in the color–magnitude diagram. Using time-series photometry from NASA’s TESS Mission (plus one star observed by Kepler/K2), we detected δ Scuti pulsations in 36 stars. The fraction of Pleiades stars in the middle of the instability strip that pulsate is unusually high (over 80%), and their range of effective temperatures agrees well with theoretical models. On the other hand, the characteristics of the pulsation spectra are varied and do not correlate with stellar temperature, calling into question the existence of a useful ν max relation for δ Scutis, at least for young main-sequence stars. By including δ Scuti stars observed in the Kepler field, we show that the instability strip is shifted to the red with increasing distance by interstellar reddening. Overall, this work demonstrates the power of combining observations with Gaia and TESS for studying pulsating stars in open clusters.
Abstract
We have detected solar-like oscillations in the mid-K-dwarf
ϵ
Indi A, making it the coolest dwarf to have measured oscillations. The star is noteworthy for harboring a pair of brown dwarf ...companions and a Jupiter-type planet. We observed
ϵ
Indi A during two radial velocity campaigns, using the high-resolution spectrographs HARPS (2011) and UVES (2021). Weighting the time series, we computed the power spectra and established the detection of solar-like oscillations with a power excess located at 5265 ± 110
μ
Hz—the highest frequency solar-like oscillations so far measured in any star. The measurement of the center of the power excess allows us to compute a stellar mass of 0.782 ± 0.023
M
⊙
based on scaling relations and a known radius from interferometry. We also determine the amplitude of the peak power and note that there is a slight difference between the two observing campaigns, indicating a varying activity level. Overall, this work confirms that low-amplitude solar-like oscillations can be detected in mid-K-type stars in radial velocity measurements obtained with high-precision spectrographs.
Context. The measurement of obliquities – the angle between the orbital and stellar rotation – in star-planet systems is of great importance for understanding planet system formation and evolution. ...The bright and well-studied HAT-P-7 (Kepler-2) system is intriguing because several Rossiter-McLaughlin (RM) measurements found a high projected obliquity in this system, but it was not possible so far to determine whether the orbit is polar and/or retrograde. Aims. The goal of this study is to measure the stellar inclination and hereby the full 3D obliquity of the HAT-P-7 system instead of only the 2D projection as measured by the RM effect. In addition, we provide an updated set of stellar parameters for the star. Methods. We used the full set of available observations from Kepler spanning Q0-Q17 to produce the power spectrum of HAT-P-7. We extracted oscillation-mode frequencies via an Markov chain Monte Carlo peak-bagging routine and used the results from this to estimate the stellar inclination angle. Combining this with the projected obliquity from RM and the inclination of the orbital plane allowed us to determine the stellar obliquity. Furthermore, we used asteroseismology to model the star from the extracted frequencies using two different approaches to the modelling, for which either the stellar evolution codes MESA or GARSTEC were adopted. Results. Our updated asteroseismic modelling shows, i.a., the following stellar parameters for HAT-P-7: M⋆ = 1.51+ 0.04-0.05 M⊙, R⋆ = 2.00+ 0.01-0.02 R⊙, and age = 2.07+ 0.28-0.23 Gyr. The modelling offers a high precision on the stellar parameters, the uncertainty on age, for instance, is of the order ∼ 11%. For the stellar inclination we estimate i⋆< 36.5°, which translates into an obliquity of 83°<ψ< 111°. The planet HAT-P-7b is likely retrograde in its orbit, and the orbit is close to being polar. The new parameters for the star give an updated planetary density of ρp = 0.65 ± 0.03 g cm-3, which is lower than previous estimates.
Abstract The bright star λ Ser hosts a hot Neptune with a minimum mass of 13.6 M ⊕ and a 15.5 day orbit. It also appears to be a solar analog, with a mean rotation period of 25.8 days and surface ...differential rotation very similar to the Sun. We aim to characterize the fundamental properties of this system and constrain the evolutionary pathway that led to its present configuration. We detect solar-like oscillations in time series photometry from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, and we derive precise asteroseismic properties from detailed modeling. We obtain new spectropolarimetric data, and we use them to reconstruct the large-scale magnetic field morphology. We reanalyze the complete time series of chromospheric activity measurements from the Mount Wilson Observatory, and we present new X-ray and ultraviolet observations from the Chandra and Hubble space telescopes. Finally, we use the updated observational constraints to assess the rotational history of the star and estimate the wind braking torque. We conclude that the remaining uncertainty on the stellar age currently prevents an unambiguous interpretation of the properties of λ Ser, and that the rate of angular momentum loss appears to be higher than for other stars with a similar Rossby number. Future asteroseismic observations may help to improve the precision of the stellar age.
Maltreated children have many long-term consequences throughout their lives, but often maltreated children are not recognised in time by professionals. General practice could be central to the early ...recognition of child maltreatment due to the long-term relationship with families.
How do general practitioners (GPs) and practice nurses (PNs) deal with suspected maltreatment in children below 18 years of age, and which factors influence them to report cases to social authorities.
A mixed methods study set in general practice in Denmark.
We combined data from a nationwide questionnaire with observations from five clinics and 20 interviews with GPs and PNs. We explored our data using the concept of uncertainty as a driver that shapes action and decision-making in general practice.
Most GPs (94%) said they would discuss cases of suspected child maltreatment with social services, but in many cases they would prefer to discuss their suspicions with a colleague first (83%) - most likely where there are no clear-cut signs. The qualitative data added nuance to these findings by highlighting the difficulty of communicating across sectors, the importance of maintaining a connection with the child's family, and practicing watchful waiting.
General practice has an opportunity to act early in cases of suspected child maltreatment if uncertainty is accepted as a critical part of the process of reaching a diagnosis. Communication across sectors is key, as is support for GPs with suspicions and for families in need of help.
Key points
GPs are often thought to underreport child maltreatment but despite low levels of reporting, this does not mean they ignore it.
Building on the connection with the family, making follow appointments, and discussing suspicions with colleagues are typical of how GPs manage suspicions of child abuse.
Accepting uncertainty as a condition of raising the alarm could help GPs to act quickly to support children at risk of abuse.
The amplitudes of solar-like oscillations depend on the excitation and damping, both of which are controlled by convection. Comparing observations with theory should therefore improve our ...understanding of the underlying physics. However, theoretical models invariably compute oscillation amplitudes relative to the Sun, and it is therefore vital to have a good calibration of the solar amplitude using stellar techniques. We have used daytime spectra of the Sun, obtained with HARPS and UCLES, to measure the solar oscillations and made a detailed comparison with observations using the BiSON helioseismology instrument. We find that the mean solar amplitude measured using stellar techniques, averaged over one full solar cycle, is image cm s super(-1) for the strongest radial modes and image cm s super(-1) for image. In addition, we use simulations to establish an equation that estimates the uncertainty of amplitude measurements that are made of other stars, given that the mode lifetime is known. Finally, we also give amplitudes of solar-like oscillations for three stars that we measured from a series of short observations with HARPS ( Ser, beta Aql, and alpha For), together with revised amplitudes for five other stars for which we have previously published results ( alpha Cen A, alpha Cen B, beta Hyi, v Ind, and delta Pav).
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