Hot Stars Research Articles

On the Spectral Evolution of Hot White Dwarf Stars. II. Time-dependent Simulations of Element Transport in Evolving White Dwarfs with STELUM

Abstract White dwarf stars are subject to various element transport mechanisms that can cause their surface composition to change radically as they cool, a phenomenon known as spectral evolution. In this paper, we undertake a comprehensive theoretical investigation of the spectral evolution of white dwarfs. First, we introduce STELUM, a new implementation of the stellar evolutionary code developed at the Université de Montréal. We provide a thorough description of the physical content and numerical techniques of the code, covering the treatment of both stellar evolution and chemical transport. Then, we present two state-of-the-art numerical simulations of element transport in evolving white dwarfs. Atomic diffusion, convective mixing, and mass loss are considered simultaneously as time-dependent diffusive processes and are fully coupled to the cooling. We first model the PG 1159−DO−DB−DQ evolutionary channel: a helium-, carbon-, and oxygen-rich PG 1159 star transforms into a pure-helium DB white dwarf due to gravitational settling and then into a helium-dominated, carbon-polluted DQ white dwarf through convective dredge-up. We also compute for the first time the full DO−DA−DC evolutionary channel: a helium-rich DO white dwarf harboring residual hydrogen becomes a pure-hydrogen DA star through the float-up process and then a helium-dominated, hydrogen-bearing DC star due to convective mixing. We demonstrate that our results are in excellent agreement with available empirical constraints. In particular, our DO−DA−DC simulation perfectly reproduces the lower branch of the bifurcation observed in the Gaia color–magnitude diagram, which can therefore be interpreted as a signature of spectral evolution.

The Gaia-ESO Survey: Target selection of open cluster stars

Context. The Gaia-ESO Survey (GES) is a public, high-resolution spectroscopic survey, conducted with the multi-object spectrograph Fibre Large Array Multi Element Spectrograph (FLAMES) on the Very Large Telescope (European Southern Observatory, ESO, Cerro Paranal, Chile) from December 2011 to January 2018. Gaia-ESO has targeted all the main stellar components of the Milky Way, including thin and thick disc, bulge, and halo. In particular, a large sample of open clusters has been observed, from very young ones, just out of the embedded phase, to very old ones. Aims. The different kinds of clusters and stars targeted in them are useful to reach the main science goals of the open cluster part of GES, which are the study of the open cluster structure and dynamics, the use of open clusters to constrain and improve stellar evolution models, and the definition of Galactic disc properties (e.g., metallicity distribution). Methods. The Gaia-ESO Survey is organised in 19 working groups (WGs), each one being responsible for a task. We describe here the work of three of them, one in charge of the selection of the targets within each cluster or association (WG4), one responsible for defining the most probable candidate member stars (WG1), and another one in charge of the preparation of the observations (WG6). As the entire GES has been conducted before the second Gaia data release, we could not make use of the Gaia astrometry to define cluster member candidates. We made use of public and private photometry to select the stars to be observed with FLAMES, once brought on a common astrometric system (the one defined by 2MASS). Candidate target selection was based on ground-based proper motions, radial velocities, and X-ray properties when appropriate, for example, and it was mostly used to define the position of the clusters’ evolutionary sequences in the colour-magnitude diagrams. Targets for GIRAFFE were then selected near the sequences in an unbiased way. We used known information on membership, when available, only for the few stars to be observed with UVES. Results. We collected spectra for 62 confirmed clusters in the main observing campaign (and a few more clusters were taken from the ESO archive). Among them are very young clusters, where the main targets are pre-main sequence stars, clusters with very hot and massive stars currently on the main sequence, intermediate-age and old clusters where evolved stars are the main targets. Our strategy of making the selection of targets as inclusive and unbiased as possible and of observing a significant and representative fraction of all possible targets permitted us to collect the largest, most accurate, and most homogeneous spectroscopic data set on open star clusters ever achieved.

The atmosphere and architecture of WASP-189 b probed by its CHEOPS phase curve

Context. Gas giants orbiting close to hot and massive early-type stars can reach dayside temperatures that are comparable to those of the coldest stars. These ‘ultra-hot Jupiters’ have atmospheres made of ions and atomic species from molecular dissociation and feature strong day-to-night temperature gradients. Photometric observations at different orbital phases provide insights on the planet’s atmospheric properties. Aims. We aim to analyse the photometric observations of WASP-189 acquired with the Characterising Exoplanet Satellite (CHEOPS) to derive constraints on the system architecture and the planetary atmosphere. Methods. We implemented a light-curve model suited for an asymmetric transit shape caused by the gravity-darkened photosphere of the fast-rotating host star. We also modelled the reflective and thermal components of the planetary flux, the effect of stellar oblateness and light-travel time on transit-eclipse timings, the stellar activity, and CHEOPS systematics. Results. From the asymmetric transit, we measure the size of the ultra-hot Jupiter WASP-189 b, Rp = 1.600−0.016+0.017 RJ, with a precision of 1%, and the true orbital obliquity of the planetary system, Ψp = 89.6 ± 1.2deg (polar orbit). We detect no significant hotspot offset from the phase curve and obtain an eclipse depth of δecl = 96.5−5.0+4.5 ppm, from which we derive an upper limit on the geometric albedo: Ag < 0.48. We also find that the eclipse depth can only be explained by thermal emission alone in the case of extremely inefficient energy redistribution. Finally, we attribute the photometric variability to the stellar rotation, either through superficial inhomogeneities or resonance couplings between the convective core and the radiative envelope. Conclusions. Based on the derived system architecture, we predict the eclipse depth in the upcoming Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) observations to be up to ~165 ppm. High-precision detection of the eclipse in both CHEOPS and TESS passbands might help disentangle reflective and thermal contributions. We also expect the right ascension of the ascending node of the orbit to precess due to the perturbations induced by the stellar quadrupole moment J2 (oblateness).

New Variable Hot Subdwarf Stars Identified from Anomalous Gaia Flux Errors, Observed by TESS, and Classified via Fourier Diagnostics

Abstract Hot subdwarf stars are mostly stripped red giants that can exhibit photometric variations due to stellar pulsations, eclipses, the reflection effect, ellipsoidal modulation, and Doppler beaming. Detailed studies of their light curves help constrain stellar parameters through asteroseismological analyses or binary light-curve modeling and generally improve our capacity to draw a statistically meaningful picture of this enigmatic stage of stellar evolution. From an analysis of Gaia DR2 flux errors, we have identified around 1200 candidate hot subdwarfs with inflated flux errors for their magnitudes—a strong indicator of photometric variability. As a pilot study, we obtained 2 minute cadence TESS Cycle 2 observations of 187 candidate hot subdwarfs with anomalous Gaia flux errors. More than 90% of our targets show significant photometric variations in their TESS light curves. Many of the new systems found are cataclysmic variables, but we report the discovery of several new variable hot subdwarfs, including HW Vir binaries, reflection-effect systems, pulsating sdBV s stars, and ellipsoidally modulated systems. We determine atmospheric parameters for select systems using follow-up spectroscopy from the 3 m Shane telescope. Finally, we present a Fourier diagnostic plot for classifying binary light curves using the relative amplitudes and phases of their fundamental and harmonic signals in their periodograms. This plot makes it possible to identify certain types of variables efficiently, without directly investigating their light curves, and may assist in the rapid classification of systems observed in large photometric surveys.

Photometric signatures of corotating magnetospheres of hot stars governed by higher-order magnetic multipoles

Context. The light curves of magnetic, chemically peculiar stars typically show periodic variability due to surface spots that in most cases can be modeled by low-order harmonic expansion. However, high-precision satellite photometry reveals tiny complex features in the light curves of some of these stars that are difficult to explain as caused by a surface phenomenon under reasonable assumptions. These features might originate from light extinction in corotating magnetospheric clouds supported by a complex magnetic field dominated by higher-order multipoles. Aims. We aim to understand the photometric signatures of corotating magnetospheres that are governed by higher-order multipoles. Methods. We determined the location of magnetospheric clouds from the minima of the effective potential along the magnetic field lines for different orders of multipoles and their combination. From the derived magnetospheric density distribution, we calculated light curves accounting for absorption and subsequent emission of light. Results. For axisymmetric multipoles, the rigidly rotating magnetosphere model is able to explain the observed tiny features in the light curves only when the higher-order multipoles dominate the magnetic field not only at the stellar surface, but even at the Kepler radius. However, even a relatively weak nonaxisymmetric component leads to warping of equilibrium surfaces. This introduces structures that can explain the tiny features observed in the light curves of chemically peculiar stars. The light emission contributes to the light variability only if a significant fraction of light is absorbed in the magnetosphere.

Oblique Alfvén waves in a stellar wind environment with dust particles charged by inelastic collisions and by photoionization

ABSTRACT The characteristics of Alfvén waves propagating in a direction oblique to the ambient magnetic field in a stellar wind environment are discussed. A kinetic formulation for a magnetized dusty plasma is adopted considering Maxwellian distributions of electrons and ions, and immobile dust particles electrically charged by absorption of plasma particles and by photoionization. The dispersion relation is numerically solved and the results are compared with situations previously studied where dust particles were not charged by photoionization, which is an important process in a stellar wind of a relatively hot star. We show that the presence of dust causes the shear Alfvén waves to present a region of wavenumber values with zero frequency and that the minimum wavelength for which the mode becomes dispersive again is roughly proportional to the radiation intensity to which the dust grains are exposed. The damping rates of both shear and compressional Alfvén waves are observed to decrease with increasing radiation flux, for the parameters considered. For the particular case where both modes present a region with null real frequency when the radiation flux is absent or weak, it is shown that when the radiation flux is sufficiently strong, the photoionization mechanism may cause this region to get smaller or even to vanish, for compressional Alfvén waves. In that case, the compressional Alfvén waves present non-zero frequency for all wavenumber values, while the shear Alfvén waves still present null frequency in a certain interval of wavenumber values, which gets smaller with the presence of radiation.

On the use of sulphur as a tracer for abundances in galaxies

Abstract 2+We present a methodology for the use of sulphur as global metallicity tracer in galaxies, allowing performing a complete abundance analysis using only the red-to-near-infrared spectral region. We have applied it to a compilation of high-quality data split into two samples: H ii regions (DHR) in spiral and irregular galaxies, and dwarf galaxies dominated by a strong starburst (H ii Gal). Sulphur abundances have been derived by direct methods under the assumption of an ionization structure composed of two zones: an intermediate-ionization one where S++ is originated, and a low-ionization one where S+ is formed. Ionization correction factors (ICF) have been calculated from the Ar/Ar3+ ratio and are shown to correlate with the hardness of the radiation field. Only about 10 per cent of the objects show S3+ contributions to the total abundance larger than 30 per cent. A good correlation exists between sulphur abundance and ionizing temperature with low-metallicity objects being ionized by hotter stars. No correlation is found between ionization parameter and total S/H abundance. Most of the H ii Gal objects show S/O ratios below the solar value and a trend for increasing S/O ratios with increasing sulphur abundances, while DHR objects show S/O ratios larger than solar and a tendency for lower S/O ratios for higher metallicities. Finally, we present a calibration of the sulphur abundance through the S23 parameter that remains single valued up to sulphur abundances well beyond the solar value. S23 is independent of the ionization parameter and only weakly dependent on ionizing temperature.

Study of UV bright sources in globular cluster NGC 4590 using Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) observations

ABSTRACT We have studied ultraviolet (UV) bright sources in the Galactic globular cluster (GGC) NGC 4590 using Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope onboard the AstroSat satellite. Using UV-optical colour–magnitude diagrams (CMDs), we have identified and characterized the sources of different evolutionary stages i.e. blue horizontal branch stars (BHBs), extremely blue horizontal branch stars (EHBs), blue straggler stars (BSs), variable stars, etc. We estimated effective temperature (Teff), gravity (log (g)), luminosity (Lbol), and hence the radius (R) of these hot stars by fitting spectral energy distribution with the help of stellar atmosphere models. Two new far-UV bright cluster member stars situated near the core of the cluster have been detected; one of them is an EHB star and the other one is either in its post-blue hook evolutionary phase or in white dwarf phase. The evolutionary status of all the hot stars, identified in the cluster, has been investigated by using various evolutionary models. We find the massive and younger BSs are concentrated at the centre of the cluster whereas the older and less massive BSs are distributed throughout the cluster. The BSs normalized radial distribution seems to be bi-modal with a minimum located at rmin = 4.3 rc. We calculated A+ parameter of the cluster which is obtained using cumulative normalized radial distribution of horizontal branch stars (HBs) and BSs. We measured this value up to half-mass radius of the cluster to be +0.13, which indicates that NGC 4590 is one of the youngest clusters among dynamically intermediate age GGCs with a dynamical age of 0.423 ± 0.096 Gyr.

Discovery of hot subdwarfs covered with helium-burning ash

Abstract Helium-rich subdwarf O stars (sdOs) are hot compact stars in a pre-white dwarf evolutionary state. Most of them have effective temperatures and surface gravities in the range Teff = 40 000–50 000 K and log g = 5.5–6.0. Their atmospheres are helium dominated. If present at all, C, N, and O are trace elements. The abundance patterns are explained in terms of nucleosynthesis during single star evolution (late helium core flash) or a binary He-core white dwarf merger. Here we announce the discovery of two hot hydrogen-deficient sdOs (PG1654+322 and PG1528+025) that exhibit unusually strong carbon and oxygen lines. A non-LTE model atmosphere analysis of spectra obtained with the Large Binocular Telescope and by the LAMOST survey reveals astonishingly high abundances of C ($\approx 20{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$) and O ($\approx 20{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$) and that the two stars are located close to the helium main sequence. Both establish a new spectroscopic class of hot H-deficient subdwarfs (CO-sdO) and can be identified as the remnants of a He-core white dwarf that accreted matter of a merging low-mass CO-core white dwarf. We conclude that the CO-sdOs represent an alternative evolutionary channel creating PG1159 stars besides the evolution of single stars that experience a late helium-shell flash.

The Aligned Orbit of WASP-148b, the Only Known Hot Jupiter with a nearby Warm Jupiter Companion, from NEID and HIRES

Abstract We present spectroscopic measurements of the Rossiter–McLaughlin effect for WASP-148b, the only known hot Jupiter with a nearby warm-Jupiter companion, from the WIYN/NEID and Keck/HIRES instruments. This is one of the first scientific results reported from the newly commissioned NEID spectrograph, as well as the second obliquity constraint for a hot Jupiter system with a close-in companion, after WASP-47. WASP-148b is consistent with being in alignment with the sky-projected spin axis of the host star, with λ = − 8 .° 2 − 9 .° 7 + 8 .° 7 . The low obliquity observed in the WASP-148 system is consistent with the orderly-alignment configuration of most compact multi-planet systems around cool stars with obliquity constraints, including our solar system, and may point to an early history for these well-organized systems in which migration and accretion occurred in isolation, with relatively little disturbance. By contrast, previous results have indicated that high-mass and hot stars appear to more commonly host a wide range of misaligned planets: not only single hot Jupiters, but also compact systems with multiple super-Earths. We suggest that, to account for the high rate of spin–orbit misalignments in both compact multi-planet and isolated-hot-Jupiter systems orbiting high-mass and hot stars, spin–orbit misalignments may be caused by distant giant planet perturbers, which are most common around these stellar types.

A rare phosphorus-rich star in an eclipsing binary from TESS

Context. Few exoplanets around hot stars with radiative envelopes have been discovered, although new observations from the TESS mission are improving this. Stars with radiative envelopes have little mixing at their surface, and thus their surface abundances provide a sensitive test case for a variety of processes, including potentially star–planet interactions. Atomic diffusion is particularly important in these envelopes, producing chemically peculiar objects such as Am and HgMn stars. Aims. An exoplanet candidate around the B6 star HD 235349 was identified by TESS. Here we determine the nature of this transiting object and identify possible chemical peculiarities in the star. Methods. HD 235349 was observed using the long-slit spectrograph at Tartu Observatory, as well as photometrically by the TESS mission. The spectra were modeled to determine stellar parameters and chemical abundances. The photometric light curve was then analyzed in the context of the stellar parameters to determine properties of the transiting object. Results. We find the transiting object is a low-mass stellar companion, not a planet. However, the primary of this eclipsing binary is a rare type of chemically peculiar star. A strong overabundance of P is found with overabundances of Ne and Nd and mild overabundances of Ti and Mn, while He is mildly underabundant. There is also clear evidence for vertical stratification of P in the atmosphere of the star. The lack of Hg and the weak Mn overabundance suggests that this is not a typical HgMn star. It may be in the class of helium-weak phosphorus-gallium (He-weak PGa) stars or an intermediate between these two classes. Conclusions. We show that HD 235349 is a rare type of chemically peculiar star (He-weak PGa) in an eclipsing binary system with a low-mass stellar companion. This appears to be the first He-weak PGa star discovered in an eclipsing binary.

Discovery of Eight “Main-sequence Radio Pulse Emitters” Using the GMRT: Clues to the Onset of Coherent Radio Emission in Hot Magnetic Stars

Abstract Main-sequence radio pulse emitters (MRPs) are magnetic early-type stars from which periodic radio pulses, produced via electron cyclotron maser emission (ECME), are observed. Despite the fact that these stars can naturally offer suitable conditions for triggering ECME, only seven such stars have been reported so far within a span of more than two decades. In this paper, we report the discovery of eight more MRPs, thus more than doubling the sample size of such objects. These discoveries are the result of our sub-GHz observation program using the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope over the years 2015–2021. Adding these stars to the previously known MRPs, we infer that at least 32% of the magnetic hot stars exhibit this phenomenon, thus suggesting that observation of ECME is not a rare phenomenon. The significantly larger sample of MRPs allows us for the first time to perform a statistical analysis comparing their physical properties. We present an empirical relation that can be used to predict whether a magnetic hot star is likely to produce ECME. Our preliminary analysis suggests that the physical parameters that play the primary role in the efficiency of the phenomenon are the maximum surface magnetic field strength and the surface temperature. In addition, we present strong evidence of the influence of the plasma density distribution on ECME pulse profiles. Results of this kind further motivate the search for MRPs, as a robust characterization of the relation between observed ECME properties and stellar physical parameters can only be achieved with a large sample.

Ionized Carbon around IRC+10216

Abstract Asymptotic giant branch stars create a rich inventory of molecules in their envelopes as they lose mass during later stages of their evolution. These molecules cannot survive the conditions in interstellar space, where they are exposed to ultraviolet photons of the interstellar radiation field. As a result, daughter molecules are the ones injected into space, and a halo of those molecules is predicted to exist around cool evolved stars. The most abundant molecule in the envelopes other than H2 is CO, which dissociates into C that is rapidly ionized into C+ in a halo around the star that is optically thin to the interstellar radiation field. We develop the specific predictions of the ionized carbon halo size and column density for the well-studied, nearby star IRC+10216. We compare those models to observations of the [C ii] 157.7 μm far-infrared fine structure line using the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy and Herschel. The combination of bright emission toward the star and upper limits to extended [C ii] is inconsistent with any standard model. The presence of [C ii] toward the star requires some dissociation and ionization in the inner part of the outflow, possibly due to a hot companion star. The lack of extended [C ii] emission requires that daughter products from CO photodissociation in the outer envelope remain cold. The [C ii] profile toward the star is asymmetric, with the blueshifted absorption due to the cold outer envelope.

Discovery of a highly magnetic He-sdO star from a double-degenerate binary merger

Helium-rich hot subdwarf stars of spectral type O (He-sdO) are considered prime candidates for stellar merger remnants. Such events should lead to the generation of strong magnetic fields. However, no magnetic He-sdO has yet been unambiguously discovered despite the high magnetic rate (20%) among white dwarf stars, the progeny of hot subdwarfs. Here we present the discovery of a strong magnetic field (B = 353 ± 10 kG) from Zeeman-split hydrogen, helium, and metal lines in the optical X-shooter spectrum of an He-sdO and present the first spectroscopic analysis of any magnetic hot subdwarf. For this we used line-blanketed TLUSTY non-local thermodynamic equilibrium models and assumed a simple homogeneous magnetic field. The derived atmospheric parameters Teff = 44 900 ± 1000 K and log g = 5.93 ± 0.15 are typical for He-sdO stars, while the star is less hydrogen-poor than most He-sdOs at log n(He)/n(H) = + 0.28 ± 0.10. The star is a slow rotator (vrot sin i < 40 km s−1). Its chemical composition is N-rich and C- and O-poor, and the Si and S abundances are close to solar. Combining the atmospheric parameters with Gaia parallax and photometry, the stellar radius and luminosity are found to be typical for He-sdOs and place the star on the helium main sequence in the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram. Its mass of 0.93−0.30+0.44 M⊙, although uncertain, appears to be remarkably high. The strong magnetic field along with the atmospheric parameters and metal abundances provide overwhelming evidence for the double-degenerate merger scenario.

Deriving ages and horizontal branch properties of integrated stellar populations

ABSTRACT A major source of uncertainty in the age determination of old (∼10 Gyr) integrated stellar populations is the presence of hot horizontal branch (HB) stars. Here, we describe a simple approach to tackle this problem, and show the performance of this technique that simultaneously models the age, abundances, and HB properties of integrated stellar populations. For this, we compare the results found during the fits of the integrated spectra of a sample of stellar population benchmarks, against the values obtained from the analysis of their resolved colour–magnitude diagrams (CMDs). We find that the ages derived from our spectral fits for most (26/32) of our targets are within 0.1 dex to their CMDs values. Similarly, for the majority of the targets in our sample we are able to recover successfully the flux contribution from hot HB stars (within ∼0.15 dex for 18/24 targets) and their mean temperature (14/24 targets within $\sim 30 {{\ \rm per\ cent}}$). Finally, we present a diagnostic that can be used to detect spurious solutions in age, that will help identify the few cases when this method fails. These results open a new window for the detailed study of globular clusters beyond the Local Group.

An evolutionary channel for CO-rich and pulsating He-rich subdwarfs

Abstract Recently, a new class of hot subluminous stars strongly enriched in C and O has been discovered (CO-sdOs). These stars show abundances very similar to those observed in PG1159 stars but at lower temperatures. Moreover, it has been recently suggested that C and O enrichment might be the key ingredient driving the pulsations in He-rich hot subdwarf stars (He-sdBVs). Here, we argue that these two types of rare stars can be explained by a variant of one of the main channels forming hot subdwarf stars. The scenario involves the formation and merging of a He-core white dwarf and a less massive CO-core white dwarf. We have constructed simple merger models and computed their subsequent evolution. The merger products are in agreement with the surface parameters and composition of CO-sdOs. In addition, we have performed simulations including the effects of element diffusion and the excitation of pulsations. These simulations show that less massive merger products can form stellar structures that have surface parameters, abundances, and pulsation periods similar to those displayed by He-sdBVs. We conclude that the proposed scenario, or some variant of it, offers a very plausible explanation for the formation of CO-sdOs, pulsating He-sdBs, and low-luminosity PG1159 stars.

Hyperonic equation of state at finite temperature for neutron stars

We review the composition and the equation of state of the hyperonic core of neutron stars at finite temperature within a relativistic mean-field approach. We make use of the new FSU2H∗ model, which is built upon the FSU2H scheme by improving on the Ξ potential according to the recent analysis on the Ξ atoms, and we extend it to include finite temperature corrections. The calculations are done for a wide range of densities, temperatures and charge fractions, thus exploring the different conditions that can be found in protoneutron stars, binary mergers remnants and supernovae explosions. The inclusion of hyperons has a strong effect on the composition and the equation of state at finite temperature, which consequently would lead to significant changes in the properties and evolution of hot neutron stars.

Rotation Signature of TESS B-type Stars. A Comprehensive Analysis

Abstract Stellar rotation is a fundamental observable that drives different aspects of stellar and planetary evolution. In this work, we present an unprecedented manifold analysis of 160 B-type stars with light curves collected by the TESS space mission using three different procedures (fast Fourier transform, Lomb–Scargle, and wavelet techniques), accompanied by rigorous visual inspection in the search for rotation periodicities. This effort provides rotational periodicities for 6 new TESS B-type stars and confirmed periodicities for 22 targets with rotation periods previously listed in the literature. For the other 61 stars, already classified as possible rotational variables, we identify noisy, pulsational, binarity, or ambiguous variability behavior rather than rotation signatures. The total sample of 28 potential rotators shows an overlap of different classes of rotational variables, composed of α 2 Canum Venaticorum, rotating ellipsoidal, and SX Arietis stars. The combination of the three techniques applied in our analysis offers a solid path to overcome the challenges in the discrimination of rotation from other variabilities in stellar light curves, such as pulsation, binarity, or other effects that have no physical meaning. Finally, the rotational periodicities reported in the present study may represent important constraints for improving stellar evolution models with rotation, as well as asteroseismic studies of hot stars.

Untangling magnetic massive star properties with linear polarization variability and the analytic dynamical magnetosphere model

ABSTRACT Light scattered off particles can become linearly polarized. Stars surrounded by oblique, co-rotating envelopes are therefore expected to manifest periodic linear polarimetric variations. The electron scattering magnetospheres of magnetic massive stars are expected to be suitable candidates to observe this effect. In this paper, we present the first semi-analytical model capable of synthesizing the continuum polarimetric signatures of magnetic O-type stars in an optically thin, single electron scattering limit. The purpose of this investigation is to improve our general understanding of magnetic hot stars by characterizing their polarimetric behaviour. Our linear polarization model is constructed by combining the analytical expressions for the polarimetric variations of an obliquely rotating envelope with the analytic dynamical magnetosphere model to represent a physical model for the envelope density structure. We compute grids of model Stokes Q and U curves and show that their shapes are unique to the choice of inclination and obliquity angles. We apply our model to HD 191612, a prototypical Of?p-type star, having both polarimetric and photometric observations. We find that the polarimetric modulations are best reproduced with $i=19^{+12}_{-3}$○, $\beta =71^{+3}_{-9}$○, and $\log \dot{M}_{B=0}=-6.11^{+0.12}_{-0.06}$ [M⊙ yr−1]. These results agree with previous investigations of this star. By combining both polarimetric and photometric synthesis tools, we simultaneously model the observations thus adding further refinement of the wind and magnetic properties of HD 191612.

Hot neutron stars and their equation of state

A set of microscopic, covariant density-functional, and nonrelativistic Skyrme-type equations of state is employed to study the structure of purely nucleonic neutron stars at finite temperature. After examining the agreement with presently available astrophysical observational constraints, we find that the magnitude of thermal effects depends on the nucleon effective mass as well as on the stiffness of the cold equation of state. We evidence a fairly small but model-dependent effect of finite temperature on stellar stability that is correlated with the relative thermal pressure inside the star.