The Photometric Analysis and Classification of High Amplitude δ Scuti: AE Ursae Majoris

Abstract

AE UMa, a Population I high amplitude Delta Scuti (HADS), was observed for 4 nights through 14-21 March 2022. 454 Visual CMOS observations and 11 new times of maxima were obtained over a period of ~19.4 hours in total. Using python coding and Fourier analysis, a fundamental frequency ƒ0 = 11.6251 cd-1 was established and further observation of amplitudes of light maxima led to beat phenomenon period Pb = 0.29360 d. Subsequently, the first overtone frequency ƒ1 = 15.0316 cd-1 was calculated and the period ratio = 0.7734 was found to be relatively unchanged from Szeidl (1974). Thereafter, the period ratio-metallicity correlation determined by Hintz et al. (1997b) was used to estimate the metallicity [Fe/H] of AE UMa. I concluded that AE UMa is incorrectly classified as a Pop. II HADS (SX Phoenicis) and should be grouped with Pop. I HADS.