K2 observations of 95 Vir: δ Scuti pulsations in a chromospherically active star

Abstract

We have searched for photometric variability in 95 Vir, a fast rotating, chromospherically active early F-type star, which was observed in the framework of Campaign 6 of the Kepler K2 mission. Available literature information on 95 Vir was procured, and well-established calibrations were employed to verify the derived astrophysical parameters. We have investigated the location of our target star in the MBol versus log Teff diagram, which provides information on the evolutionary status. We have discussed our results in detail, drawing on literature information and the theoretical predictions of state-of-the-art pulsation models, with the aim of unravelling the underlying variability mechanisms. From an analysis of 3400 long-cadence measurements, we have identified two main frequencies and several harmonics in our target star. We attribute the main frequency, f 1 = 9.537 28 d−1, to δ Scuti pulsations. The origin of the secondary signal, f 2 = 1.071 29 d−1, is less clear. We have investigated three possible interpretations of the low-frequency variation: binarity, pulsation and rotational modulation. Current evidence favours an interpretation of f 2 as a signature of the rotational period caused by the presence of cool star-spots, which goes along well with the observed chromospheric activity. However, phase-resolved spectroscopy is needed to verify this assumption. We briefly consider other chromospherically active δ Scuti stars that have been presented in the literature. A search for star-spot-induced photometric variability in these objects might be of great interest, as well as an investigation of the interplay between chromospheric and pulsational activity.