Sct Instability Strip Research Articles

Asteroseismology of the mild Am δ Sct star HD 118660 : TESS photometry and modelling

Abstract We present the results of an asteroseismic study of HD 118660 (TIC 171729860), being a chemically peculiar (mild Am) star exhibiting δ Scuti (δ Sct) pulsations. It is based on the analysis of two sectors of time-series photometry from the space mission TESS and seismic modelling. It yielded the detection of 15 and 16 frequencies for TESS sectors 23 and 50, respectively. The identified pulsation modes include four radial (ℓ = 0) and five dipolar (ℓ = 1) ones. The radial modes are overtones with order n ranging from 3 and 6. Such high values of n are theoretically not expected for stars with the effective temperature of HD 118660 ($\rm T_{\rm eff}\approx 7550 \rm K$ ) located near the red edge of the δ Sct instability strip. To estimate the asteroseismic parameters, we have generated a grid of stellar models assuming a solar metallicity (Z = 0.014) and different values for the convective overshooting parameter (0.1 ≤ αov ≤ 0.3). We conclude that the analysis of the radial modes is insufficient to constrain αov and Z for δ Sct stars. The value for the equatorial velocity of HD 118660 derived from the seismic radius and the rotational frequency is consistent with values found in the literature.

HD 42477: coupled r modes, g modes, and a p mode in an A0Vnne star

ABSTRACT Several studies have shown that a number of stars pulsating in p modes lie between the β Cep and δ Sct instability strips in the Hertzsprung–Russell (HR) Diagram. At present, there is no certain understanding of how p modes can be excited in this Teff range. The goal of this work is to disprove the conjecture that all stars pulsating in p modes and lying in this Teff range are the result of incorrect measurements of Teff, contamination, or the presence of unseen cooler companions lying in the δ Sct instability strip (given the high binary fraction of stars in this region of the HR Diagram). Using TESS data, we show that the A0Vnne star HD 42477 has a single p mode coupled to several r modes and/or g modes. We rule out a contaminating background star with a pixel-by-pixel examination, and we essentially rule out the possibility of a companion δ Sct star in a binary. We model the pulsations in HD 42477, and suggest that the g modes are excited by overstable convective core modes. We also conjecture that the single p mode is driven by coupling with the g modes, or that the oblateness of this rapidly-rotating star permits driving by He ii ionization in the equatorial region.

On the first δ Sct–roAp hybrid pulsator and the stability of p and g modes in chemically peculiar A/F stars

ABSTRACT Strong magnetic fields in chemically peculiar A-type (Ap) stars typically suppress low-overtone pressure modes (p modes) but allow high-overtone p modes to be driven. KIC 11296437 is the first star to show both. We obtained and analysed a Subaru spectrum, from which we show that KIC 11296437 has abundances similar to other magnetic Ap stars, and we estimate a mean magnetic field modulus of 2.8 ± 0.5 kG. The same spectrum rules out a double-lined spectroscopic binary, and we use other techniques to rule out binarity over a wide parameter space, so the two pulsation types originate in one δ Sct–roAp hybrid pulsator. We construct stellar models depleted in helium and demonstrate that helium settling is second to magnetic damping in suppressing low-overtone p modes in Ap stars. We compute the magnetic damping effect for selected p and g modes, and find that modes with frequencies similar to the fundamental mode are driven for polar field strengths ≲4 kG, while other low-overtone p modes are driven for polar field strengths up to ∼1.5 kG. We find that the high-order g modes commonly observed in γ Dor stars are heavily damped by polar fields stronger than 1–4 kG, with the damping being stronger for higher radial orders. We therefore explain the observation that no magnetic Ap stars have been observed as γ Dor stars. We use our helium-depleted models to calculate the δ Sct instability strip for metallic-lined A (Am) stars, and find that driving from a Rosseland mean opacity bump at ∼5 × 104 K caused by the discontinuous H-ionization edge in bound-free opacity explains the observation of δ Sct pulsations in Am stars.

Gaia-derived luminosities ofKeplerA/F stars and the pulsator fraction across the δ Scuti instability strip

We study the fraction of stars in and around the {\delta} Scuti instability strip that are pulsating, using {\em Gaia} DR2 parallaxes to derive precise luminosities. We classify a sample of over 15,000 {\em Kepler} A and F stars into {\delta} Sct and non-{\delta} Sct stars, paying close attention to variability that could have other origins. We find that 18 per cent of the {\delta} Sct stars have their dominant frequency above the Kepler long-cadence Nyquist frequency (periods < 1 hr), and 30 per cent have some super-Nyquist variability. We analyse the pulsator fraction as a function of effective temperature and luminosity, finding that many stars in the {\delta} Sct instability strip do not pulsate. The pulsator fraction peaks at just over 70 per cent in the middle of the instability strip. The results are insensitive to the amplitude threshold used to identify the pulsators. We define a new empirical instability strip based on the observed pulsator fraction that is systematically hotter than theoretical strips currently in use. The stellar temperatures, luminosities, and pulsation classifications are provided in an online catalogue.

Gaia luminosities of pulsating A-F stars in the Kepler field

All stars in the Kepler field brighter than 12.5 magnitude have been classified according to variability type. A catalogue of {\delta} Scuti and {\gamma} Doradus stars is presented. The problem of low frequencies in {\delta} Sct stars, which occurs in over 98 percent of these stars, is discussed. Gaia DR2 parallaxes were used to obtain precise luminosities, enabling the instability strips of the two classes of variable to be precisely defined. Surprisingly, it turns out that the instability region of the {\gamma} Dor stars is entirely within the {\delta} Sct instability strip. Thus {\gamma}Dor stars should not be considered a separate class of variable. The observed red and blue edges of the instability strip do not agree with recent model calculations. Stellar pulsation occurs in less than half of the stars in the instability region and arguments are presented to show that this cannot be explained by assuming pulsation at a level too low to be detected. Precise Gaia DR2 luminosities of high-amplitude {\delta} Sct stars (HADS) show that most of these are normal {\delta} Sct stars and not transition objects. It is argued that current ideas on A star envelopes need to be revised.

Absolute Properties of the Pulsating Post-mass Transfer Eclipsing Binary OO Draconis

Abstract OO Dra is a short-period Algol system with a δ Sct-like pulsator. We obtained time-series spectra between 2016 February and May to derive the fundamental parameters of the binary star and to study its evolutionary scenario. The radial velocity (RV) curves for both components were presented, and the effective temperature of the hotter and more massive primary was determined to be K by comparing the disentangling spectrum and the Kurucz models. Our RV measurements were solved with the BV light curves of Zhang et al. using the Wilson-Devinney binary code. The absolute dimensions of each component are determined as follows: M 1 = 2.03 ± 0.06 , M 2 = 0.19 ± 0.01 , R 1 = 2.08 ± 0.03 , R 2 = 1.20 ± 0.02 , L 1 = 18 ± 2 , and L 2 = 2.0 ± 0.2 . Comparison with stellar evolution models indicated that the primary star resides inside the δ Sct instability strip on the main sequence, while the cool secondary component is noticeably overluminous and oversized. We demonstrated that OO Dra is an oscillating post-mass transfer R CMa-type binary; the originally more massive star became the low-mass secondary component through mass loss caused by stellar wind and mass transfer, and the gainer became the pulsating primary as the result of mass accretion. The R CMa stars, such as OO Dra, are thought to have formed by non-conservative binary evolution and ultimately to evolve into EL CVn stars.

High-resolution Spectroscopy and Spectropolarimetry of Selected δ-Sct Pulsating Variables

The combination of photometry, spectroscopy and spectropolarimetry of the chemically peculiar stars often aims to study the complex physical phenomena such as stellar pulsation, chemical inhomogeneity, magnetic field and their interplay with stellar atmosphere and circumstellar environment. The prime objective of the present study is to determine the atmospheric parameters of a set of Am stars to understand their evolutionary status. Atmospheric abundances and basic parameters are determined using full spectrum fitting technique by comparing the high-resolution spectra to the synthetic spectra. To know the evolutionary status we derive the effective temperature and luminosity from different methods and compare them with the literature. The location of these stars in the H-R diagram demonstrate that all the sample stars are evolved from the Zero-Age-Main-Sequence towards Terminal-Age-Main-Sequence and occupy the region of $\delta$ Sct instability strip. The abundance analysis shows that the light elements e.g. Ca and Sc are underabundant while iron peak elements such as Ba, Ce etc. are overabundant and these chemical properties are typical for Am stars. The results obtained from the spectropolarimetric analysis shows that the longitudinal magnetic fields in all the studied stars are negligible that gives further support their Am class of peculiarity.

The hot γ Doradus and Maia stars

The hot $\gamma$~Doradus stars have multiple low frequencies characteristic of $\gamma$~Dor or SPB variables, but are located between the red edge of the SPB and the blue edge of the $\gamma$~Dor instability strips where all low-frequency modes are stable in current models of these stars. Though $\delta$~Sct stars also have low frequencies, there is no sign of high frequencies in hot $\gamma$~Dor stars. We obtained spectra to refine the locations of some of these stars in the H-R diagram and conclude that these are, indeed, anomalous pulsating stars. The Maia variables have multiple high frequencies characteristic of $\beta$~Cep and $\delta$~Sct stars, but lie between the red edge of the $\beta$~Cep and the blue edge of the $\delta$~Sct instability strips. We compile a list of all Maia candidates and obtain spectra of two of these stars. Again, it seems likely that these are anomalous pulsating stars which are currently not understood.

Pulsation frequency distribution in δ Scuti stars

We study the frequency distributions of Delta Scuti stars observed by the Kepler satellite in short-cadence mode. To minimize errors in the estimated stellar parameters, we divided the instability strip into ten regions and determined the mean frequency distribution in each region. We confirm that the presence of low frequencies is a property of all Delta Scuti stars, rendering meaningless the concept of Delta Sct/Gamma Dor hybrids. We obtained the true distribution of equatorial rotational velocities in each region and calculated the frequency distributions predicted by pulsation models, taking into account rotational splitting of the frequencies. We confirm that rotation cannot account for the presence of low frequencies. We calculated a large variety of standard pulsation models with different metal and helium abundances, but were unable to obtain unstable low-frequency modes driven by the kappa mechanism in any model. We also constructed models with modified opacities in the envelope. Increasing the opacity at a temperature log T = 5.06 by a factor of two does lead to instability of low-degree modes at low frequencies, but also decreases the frequency range of Delta Sct-type pulsations to some extent. We also re-affirm the fact that less than half of the stars in the Delta Sct instability strip have pulsations detectable by Kepler. We also point out the huge variety of frequency patterns in stars with roughly similar parameters, suggesting that nonlinearity is an important factor in Delta Sct pulsations.

A search for non-pulsating, chemically normal stars in the δ Scuti instability strip using Kepler data

We identify stars in the $\delta$ Sct instability strip that do not pulsate in p modes at the 50-$\mu$mag limit, using Kepler data. Spectral classification and abundance analyses from high-resolution spectroscopy allow us to identify chemically peculiar stars, in which the absence of pulsations is not surprising. The remaining stars are chemically normal, yet they are not $\delta$ Sct stars. Their lack of observed p modes cannot be explained through any known mechanism. However, they are mostly distributed around the edges of the $\delta$ Sct instability strip, which allows for the possibility that they actually lie outside the strip once the uncertainties are taken into account. We investigated the possibility that the non-pulsators inside the instability strip could be unresolved binary systems, having components that both lie outside the instability strip. If misinterpreted as single stars, we found that such binaries could generate temperature discrepancies of $\sim$300 K -- larger than the spectroscopic uncertainties, and fully consistent with the observations. After these considerations, there remains one chemically normal non-pulsator that lies in the middle of the instability strip. This star is a challenge to pulsation theory. However, its existence as the only known star of its kind indicates that such stars are rare. We conclude that the $\delta$ Sct instability strip is pure, unless pulsation is shut down by diffusion or another mechanism, which could be interaction with a binary companion.

Fundamental parameters of eight Am stars: comparing observations with theory★

In this paper we present a detailed analysis of a sample of eight Am stars, four of them are in the {\it Kepler} field of view. We derive fundamental parameters for all observed stars, effective temperature, gravity, rotational and radial velocities, and chemical abundances by spectral synthesis method. Further, to place these stars in the HR diagram, we computed their luminosity. Two objects among our sample, namely HD\,114839 and HD\,179458 do not present the typical characteristic of Am stars, while for the others six we confirm their nature. The behavior of lithium abundance as a function of the temperature with respect the normal A-type stars has been also investigated, we do not find any difference between metallic and normal A stars. All the pulsating Am stars present in our sample (five out of eight) lies in the $\delta$~Sct instability strip, close to the red edge.

The occurrence of non-pulsating stars in the γ Dor and δ Sct instability regions

AbstractWe examine the light curves of over 2700 stars observed in long cadence by the Kepler spacecraft as part of the Guest Observer program. Most of these stars are faint (Kepler magnitude &gt; 14), and fall near or within the effective temperature and log g range of the γ Dor and δ Sct instability strips. We find that the pulsating stars are obvious from inspection of the light curves and power spectra, even for these faint stars. However, we find that a large number of stars are ‘constant’, i.e. show no frequencies in the 0.2 to 24 d−1 range above the 20 ppm level. We discuss the statistics for the constant stars, and some possible physical reasons for lack of pulsations. On the other hand, γ Dor and δ Sct candidates have been found in the Kepler data spread throughout and even outside of the instability regions of both types that were established from pre-Kepler ground-based observations. We revisit mechanisms to produce g- or p-mode pulsations in conditions when these modes are not expected to be unstable via the He-ionization κ effect (δ Sct) or convective blocking (γ Dor) pulsation driving mechanisms.

Detection of a large sample ofγDoradus stars fromKeplerspace photometry and high-resolution ground-based spectroscopy

The space-missions MOST, CoRoT, and Kepler deliver a huge amount of high-quality photometric data suitable to study numerous pulsating stars. Our ultimate goal is a detection and analysis of an extended sample of Gamma Dor-type pulsating stars with the aim to search for observational evidence of non-uniform period spacings and rotational splittings of gravity modes in main-sequence stars typically twice as massive as the Sun. We applied an automated supervised photometric classification method to select a sample of 69 Gamma Doradus candidate stars. We used an advanced method to extract the Kepler light curves from the pixel data information using custom masks. For 36 of the stars, we obtained high-resolution spectroscopy with the HERMES spectrograph installed at the Mercator telescope. We find that all stars for which spectroscopic estimates of Teff and logg are available fall into the region of the HR diagram where the Gamma Dor and Delta Sct instability strips overlap. The stars cluster in a 700 K window in effective temperature, logg measurements suggest luminosity class IV-V. From the Kepler photometry, we identify 45 Gamma Dor-type pulsators, 14 Gamma Dor/Delta Sct hybrids, and 10 stars which are classified as "possibly Gamma Dor/Delta Sct hybrid pulsators". The results of photometric and spectroscopic classifications according to the type of variability are in perfect agreement. We find a clear correlation between the spectroscopically derived vsini and the frequencies of independent pulsation modes and show that it has nothing to do with rotational modulation of the stars but is related to their stellar pulsations. Our sample and frequency determinations offer a good starting point for seismic modelling of slow to moderately rotating Gamma Dor stars.

Preliminary results on γ Dor and δ Sct‐γ Dor hybrids in the CoRoT exo‐field of LRa01

AbstractThe 131 days long, high‐precision light curves observed in the CoRoT exo‐field during LRa01 were investigated for γ Dor and δ Sct‐γ Dor hybrid stars. In total 418 γ Dor and 274 δ Sct‐γ Dor hybrid candidates were identified. For a fraction of these candidates spectra are available obtained at the Anglo‐Australian Observatory. Effective temperatures and surface gravity were derived by fitting synthetic spectra of three Balmer lines, i.e. Hα, Hβ, and Hγ, as well as of the Ca K line at 3933 °A. The bona fide γ Dor and hybrid stars were plotted in an Teff‐ log g diagram that shows the expected concentration of γ Dor stars at the cool border of the δ Sct strip. In contrast, the hybrids fill the whole δ Sct instability strip without a noticeable concentration. Remarkably, the fraction of constant stars, with no signal above 3 times the noise level, is smallest in the same temperature regime (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &amp; Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Spectrum analysis of bright Kepler Doradus candidate stars★

Ground-based spectroscopic follow-up observations of the pulsating stars observed by the Kepler satellite mission are needed for their asteroseismic modelling. We aim to derive the fundamental parameters for a sample of 26 Gamma Doradus candidate stars observed by the Kepler satellite mission to accomplish one of the required preconditions for their asteroseismic modelling and to compare our results with the types of pulsators expected from the existing light curve analysis. We use the spectrum synthesis method to derive the fundamental parameters like Teff, logg, [M/H], and vsini from newly obtained spectra and compute the spectral energy distribution from literature photometry to get an independent measure of Teff. We find that most of the derived Teff values agree with the values given in the Kepler Input Catalogue. According to their positions in the HR-diagram three stars are expected Gamma Dor stars, ten stars are expected Delta Sct stars, and seven stars are possibly Delta Sct stars at the hot border of the instability strip. Four stars in our sample are found to be spectroscopic binary candidates and four stars have very low metallicity where two show about solar C abundance. Six of the 10 stars located in the Delta Sct instability region of the HR-diagram show both Delta Sct and Gamma Dor-type oscillations in their light curves implying that Gamma Dor-like oscillations are much more common among the Delta Sct stars than predicted by theory. Moreover, seven stars showing periods in the Delta Sct and the Delta Sct-Gamma Dor range in their light curves are located in the HR-diagram left of the blue edge of the theoretical Delta Sct instability strip. The consistency of these findings with recent investigations based on high-quality Kepler data implies the need for a revision of the theoretical Gamma Dor and Delta Sct instability strips.

Kepler observations of δ Scuti stars

We analyse observations of 1568 δ Scuti stars in the public archive of the Kepler satellite. We compare the location of these stars in the Hertzsprung–Russell (HR) diagram with that calculated by linear, non-adiabatic pulsation models. There is generally a good agreement and it appears that many of the hotter δ Scuti stars are pulsating in overtones as high as radial order n= 8. Models predict unstable modes of intermediate and high spherical harmonic, l, which are trapped in the envelope. The instability strip for these modes extends well beyond the blue edge for l≤ 4 and should be visible in the Kepler data. However, stars with these predicted properties are not seen. Moreover, we find that the observed frequency range does not agree with the models. Another challenge is to understand why more than half of the stars in the δ Sct instability strip are not pulsating. The distribution of amplitudes argues strongly against the notion that the pulsation amplitudes are below the Kepler detection limit. The mode density of δ Scuti stars is surprisingly low and suggests that modes of a high degree are not common. We do not find any stars with mode densities as high as that found in the CoRoT observations of HD 50844. The periodograms of stars in the same part of the HR diagram vary widely. However, we have identified a group of δ Scuti stars characterized by a single dominant frequency in which a period–luminosity law is present. In many cases the dominant frequency is accompanied by a close frequency of lower amplitude. The problem of low frequencies in hot δ Scuti stars remains unresolved. We confirm that these frequencies have long lifetimes and are not likely to be of stochastic origin. By carefully examining the periodograms of δ Sct stars in the low-frequency regime, we were able to identify a group of δ Sct stars with low-frequency peaks closely resembling those attributed to pure γ Dor stars. These stars lie in the region of the HR diagram where ground-based γ Dor stars are located. None is found hotter than the blue edge of γ Dor pulsation. We suspect that these are genuine γ Dor/δ Sct hybrids.

Kepler observations of the variability in B-type stars

The analysis of the light curves of 48 B-type stars observed by Kepler is presented. Among these are 15 pulsating stars, all of which show low frequencies characteristic of SPB stars. Seven of these stars also show a few weak, isolated high frequencies and they could be considered as SPB/beta Cep hybrids. In all cases the frequency spectra are quite different from what is seen from ground-based observations. We suggest that this is because most of the low frequencies are modes of high degree which are predicted to be unstable in models of mid-B stars. We find that there are non-pulsating stars within the beta Cep and SPB instability strips. Apart from the pulsating stars, we can identify stars with frequency groupings similar to what is seen in Be stars but which are not Be stars. The origin of the groupings is not clear, but may be related to rotation. We find periodic variations in other stars which we attribute to proximity effects in binary systems or possibly rotational modulation. We find no evidence for pulsating stars between the cool edge of the SPB and the hot edge of the delta Sct instability strips. None of the stars show the broad features which can be attributed to stochastically-excited modes as recently proposed. Among our sample of B stars are two chemically peculiar stars, one of which is a HgMn star showing rotational modulation in the light curve.

CoRoT's view of newly discovered B-star pulsators: results for 358 candidate B pulsators from the initial run's exoplanet field data

<i>Context. <i/>We search for new variable B-type pulsators in the CoRoT data assembled primarily for planet detection, as part of CoRoT's additional programme.<i>Aims. <i/>We aim to explore the properties of newly discovered B-type pulsators from the uninterrupted CoRoT space-based photometry and to compare them with known members of the Cep and slowly pulsating B star (SPB) classes.<i>Methods. <i/>We developed automated data analysis tools that include algorithms for jump correction, light-curve detrending, frequency detection, frequency combination search, and for frequency and period spacing searches.<i>Results. <i/>Besides numerous new, classical, slowly pulsating B stars, we find evidence for a new class of low-amplitude B-type pulsators between the SPB and <i>δ<i/> Sct instability strips, with a very broad range of frequencies and low amplitudes, as well as several slowly pulsating B stars with residual excess power at frequencies typically a factor three above their expected g-mode frequencies. <i>Conclusions. <i/>The frequency data we obtained for numerous new B-type pulsators represent an appropriate starting point for further theoretical analyses of these stars, once their effective temperature, gravity, rotation velocity, and abundances will be derived spectroscopically in the framework of an ongoing FLAMES survey at the VLT.

δ Sct pulsation in magnetic Ap stars: the discovery of δ Sct pulsations in HD 218994AB and measurement of the magnetic fields of HD 218994A and HD 21190

We have discovered that at least one component of the visual binary star HD 218994AB is a δ Sct star. The primary star of this system is a known rapidly oscillating Ap (roAp) star; therefore, it is possible that it is both an roAp star and a δ Sct star – a hybrid. There are no confirmed such hybrid roAp–δ Sct stars, and they are predicted theoretically not to exist. More probably, HD 218994B is the δ Sct star, as it is 0.54 mag fainter than the primary and also lies in the δ Sct instability strip. It then offers the potential to determine Teff and L for the primary which appears to be one of the more evolved roAp stars and an important test the theoretically calculated roAp star instability strip. In this case, the system also is important since the stars are a co-eval pair of very similar mass, yet one is a magnetic roAp star and the other is probably a non-magnetic δ Sct star with a normal spectrum. We detect a significant longitudinal magnetic field strength of 440 ± 23 G in the roAp star HD 218994A. We also present the first measurement of the longitudinal magnetic field strength for the δ Sct star HD 21190, the most-evolved Ap star known. We obtain a formally significant value of 47 ± 13 G. If confirmed, this will make HD 21190 the first magnetic δ Sct star known.

HD 8801: A Unique Single Am Star with γ Doradus and δ Scuti Pulsations

We have discovered the first example of a star pulsating intrinsically with both γ Doradus and δ Scuti frequencies. The star, HD 8801, is an Am metallic-line star that appears to be single. Since the vast majority of Am stars are members of binary systems with periods less than 1000 days and also do not pulsate, HD 8801 possesses a very unusual, if not unique, combination of physical properties. Our photometry, acquired with an automatic telescope at Fairborn Observatory, resolves six independent pulsation periods between 0.048 and 0.404 days. The two longest periods lie within the range of γ Dor variables, while the four shorter periods are within the range of δ Sct stars. Eleven radial velocities, obtained over an 11 month period, have a mean of 0.8 ± 0.3 km s-1, providing no evidence for a spectroscopic companion. The star is on the main sequence and lies within both the γ Dor and δ Sct instability strips. Pulsation constants computed for the six periods agree with pulsation constants computed for other γ Dor and δ Sct variables. HD 8801 is also the first confirmed case of a metallic-line star pulsating with γ Dor frequencies. Its projected rotational velocity of 55 km s-1 is typical for Am stars, which, as a group, rotate more slowly than normal A stars. HD 8801's slow rotation compared to normal A stars does not appear to arise from either a binary companion or evolutionary expansion and thus remains a puzzle. The coexistence of metallicism and pulsation in several main-sequence stars near the red edge of the δ Sct strip contradicts recent models that predict pulsations only in more evolved stars.