SX Phoenicis Research Articles

Uncorrelated Amplitude and Frequency Variations of the Harmonics in SX Phoenicis Star XX Cygni

Harmonics are quite common in pulsating stars. They are always considered to mimic the behaviors of their independent parent pulsation modes, and are not taken for key information in asteroseismology. Here, we report an SX Phoenicis star XX Cygni, whose periodogram is dominated by the fundamental frequency f 0 = 7.41481 ± 0.00004 c day−1 and its 19 harmonics. According to the analysis of the archival data from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), we find that both the amplitudes and frequencies of the fundamental mode and the harmonics vary within TESS Sectors 14–17 and 54–57, which might be caused by the contamination of neighboring stars. What is more interesting is that the harmonics show significantly uncorrelated amplitude and frequency variations over time. Some possible origins and interesting issues are proposed to scheme further research of this hidden corner in current asteroseismology.

Zwicky Transient Facility and Globular Clusters: The Period–Luminosity and Period–Wesenheit Relations for SX Phoenicis Variables in the gri Band

SX Phoenicis (SXP) variables are short-period pulsating stars that exhibit a period–luminosity (PL) relation. We derived the gri-band PL and extinction-free period–Wesenheit (PW) relations, as well as the period-color and reddening-free period-Q-index relations for 47 SXP stars located in 21 globular clusters, using the optical light curves taken from Zwicky Transient Facility. These empirical relations were derived for the first time in the gri filters except for the g-band PL relation. We used our gi-band PL and PW relations to derive a distance modulus to Crater II dwarf spheroidal which hosts one SXP variable. Assuming that the fundamental and first-overtone pulsation mode for the SXP variable in Crater II, we found distance moduli of 20.03 ± 0.23 mag and 20.37 ± 0.24 mag, respectively, using the PW relation, where the latter is in excellent agreement with independent RR Lyrae based distance to Crater II dwarf galaxy.

A Need to Revise Stellar Opacities from Asteroseismology of δ Scuti Stars

We construct seismic models of the four double-mode radial δ Scuti stars adopting opacities from three databases: OPAL, OP, and OPLIB. The aim is to find the models that fit the observed frequencies of the two radial modes and have the effective temperature and luminosity consistent with the observed values. Using the Bayesian analysis based on Monte Carlo simulations, we obtain that only the OPAL seismic models are caught within the observed error box in the H-R diagram. Seismic models computed with the OP and OPLIB data are much cooler and less luminous. By including the relative amplitude of the bolometric flux variations (the so-called parameter f) into these simulations, we constrain the efficiency of convection in the envelopes, described by the mixing-length parameter α MLT. We get α MLT ≈ 0.5 for BP Pegasi, AE Ursa Majoris, and RV Arietis (Population I stars) and α MLT ≈ 1.0 for SX Phoenicis (Population II star). For all the stars, overshooting from the convective core seems inefficient. A similar effect of opacity should occur also for classical Cepheids or RR Lyr stars that are used as standard candles to measure the universe.

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

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.

Modelling of multimode radially pulsating high-amplitude δ Scuti stars from the OGLE Galactic bulge sample

ABSTRACT Thanks to relatively firm mode identification, possible based only on period ratios, high-amplitude δ Scuti stars pulsating in at least three radial modes are promising targets for asteroseismic inference. In this study, we used the most numerous sample of HADS from the OGLE inner bulge fields that likely pulsate in either three or four radial modes simultaneously. We have computed a grid of pulsation models along evolutionary tracks and determined the physical parameters of stars by matching their pulsation periods and period ratios. For 176 HADS, we determined physical parameters, i.e. masses, luminosities, effective temperatures, metallicities, and ages. We present the distribution of physical parameters and discuss their properties. We selected 16 candidates for SX Phoenicis stars.

Born in a Pair (?): Pisces II and Pegasus III*

Abstract We have used B, V time-series photometry collected with the Large Binocular Telescope to undertake the first study of variable stars in the Milky Way ultra-faint dwarf (UFD) satellites Pisces II and Pegasus III. In Pisces II we have identified an RRab star, one confirmed and a candidate SX Phoenicis star, and a variable with uncertain classification. In Pegasus III we confirmed the variability of two sources: an RRab star and a variable with uncertain classification, similar to the case found in Pisces II. Using the intensity-averaged apparent magnitude of the bona fide RRab star in each galaxy, we estimate distance moduli of (m − M)0 = 21.22 ± 0.14 mag (d = 175 ± 11 kpc) and 21.21 ± 0.23 mag (d = 174 ± 18 kpc) for Pisces II and Pegasus III, respectively. Tests performed to disentangle the actual nature of variables with an uncertain classification led us to conclude that they most likely are bright, long-period, and very metal-poor RRab members of their respective hosts. This may indicate that Pisces II and Pegasus III contain a dominant old stellar population (t > 12 Gyr) with metallicity 〈[Fe/H]〉 − 1.8 dex along with, possibly, a minor, more metal-poor component, as supported by the V, B – V color–magnitude diagrams of the two UFDs and their spectroscopically confirmed members. The metallicity spread that we derived from our data sample is ≳0.4 dex in both systems. Lastly, we built isodensity contour maps that do not reveal any irregular shape, thus making the existence of a physical connection between these UFDs unlikely.

A time-series VI study of the variable stars of the globular cluster NGC 6397

We present a new time-series VI CCD photometry of the globular cluster NGC 6397, from which we obtained and analysed the light curves of 35 variables carefully identified in the cluster field. We assessed the membership of the variables with an astrometric analysis based on Gaia DR2 data. The cluster colour-magnitude diagram was differentially dereddened and cleaned of non members, which allowed us to fit isochrones for [Fe/H]=−2.0 dex in the range 13.0–13.5 Gyr, for a mean reddening E(B−V)=0.19, and a distance of 2.5 kpc. This distance was confirmed using the period-luminosity relation for the cluster’s five SX Phoenicis variables (V10, V11, V15, V21, and V23) present among its blue stragglers, yielding 2.24±0.13 kpc. We also modelled the light curves of four eclipsing binaries (V4, V5, V7, and V8), and gave the parameters of the systems; the contact binaries V7 and V8 have distances consistent with that of the cluster. NGC 6397 appears to harbour no RR Lyrae stars, being its horizontal branch remarkably blue, much like that of its analogous cluster, M10. To match the blue tail of the horizontal branch population, models of 0.64–0.66 M⊙ with mass loss at the RGB are required, indicating rather thin shell masses for horizontal branch stars.

Times of maximum of KZ Hya from OACS -UNAH

A pulsating variable star is one whose brightness changes periodically due to the expansion and contraction of the surface layers of the star. Several times of maximum light can be obtained in brief observations of SX Phoenicis variable stars due to their short periods of pulsation (P ~ 1:0 - 1:75 h). We report three new times of maximum light of SX Phoenicis star KZ Hya obtained from photometric observations made on the night of April 5-6, 2019 from the Observatorio Astronómico Centroaméricano de Suyapa (OACS) of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras

DY Pegasi: An SX Phoenicis Star in a Binary System with an Evolved Companion

Abstract In this work, the photometric data from the American Association of Variable Star Observers are collected and analyzed on the SX Phoenicis star DY Pegasi (DY Peg). From the frequency analysis, we get three independent frequencies: f 0 = 13.71249 c d−1, f 1 = 17.7000 c d−1, and f 2 = 18.138 c d−1, in which f 0 and f 1 are the radial fundamental and first overtone mode, respectively, while f 2 is detected for the first time and should belong to a nonradial mode. The O − C diagram of the times of maximum light shows that DY Peg has a period change rate (1/P 0)(dP 0/dt) = −(5.87 ± 0.03) × 10−8 yr−1 for its fundamental pulsation mode, and should belong to a binary system that has an orbital period P orb = 15425.0 ± 205.7 days. Based on the spectroscopic information, single star evolutionary models are constructed to fit the observed frequencies. However, some important parameters of the fitted models are not consistent with that from observations. Combing the information from observation and theoretical calculation, we conclude that DY Peg should be an SX Phoenicis star in a binary system and accreting mass from a dust disk, which was the residue of its evolved companion (most probably a hot white dwarf at the present stage) produced in the asymptotic giant branch phase. Further observations are needed to confirm this inference, and it might be potentially a universal formation mechanism and evolutionary history for SX Phoenicis stars.

Seismic analysis of the double-mode radial pulsator SX Phoenicis

ABSTRACT We present the results of complex seismic analysis of the prototype star SX Phoenicis. This analysis consists of a simultaneous fitting of the two radial-mode frequencies, the corresponding values of the bolometric flux amplitude (the parameter f) and of the intrinsic mode amplitude ε. The effects of various parameters as well as the opacity data are examined. With each opacity table it is possible to find seismic models that reproduce the two observed frequencies with masses allowed by evolutionary models appropriate for the observed values of the effective temperature and luminosity. All seismic models are in the post-main sequence phase. The OPAL and OP seismic models are in hydrogen shell-burning phase and the OPLIB seismic model has just finished an overall contraction and starts to burn hydrogen in a shell. The OP and OPLIB models are less likely due to the requirement of high initial hydrogen abundance (X0 = 0.75) and too high metallicity (Z ≈ 0.004) as for a Population II star. The fitting of the parameter f, whose empirical values are derived from multicolour photometric observations, provides constraints on the efficiency of convective transport in the outer layers of the star and on the microturbulent velocity in the atmosphere. Our complex seismic analysis with each opacity data indicates low to moderately efficient convection in the star’s envelope, described by the mixing length parameter of αMLT ∈ (0.0, 0.7), and the microturbulent velocity in the atmosphere of about ξt ∈ (4, 8) km s−1.

ANALYSIS OF A SHORT PERIODIC PULSATOR: SX PHOENICIS STAR XX CYG

Photometric observations were made of the SX Phoenicis star XX Cyg between September and October 2019, using the 1.88-m Kottamia reflector telescope in Egypt. We used 340 CCD observations with blue-visible-red (BVR) filters to derive light curves. In addition, we obtained 9540 visual magnitudes for XX Cyg from the literature to prepare an observed-minus-calculated (O-C) diagram. 85 new times of maximum for XX Cyg are presented. We did not detect a bump in the descending portion of the light curve of maximum light for XX Cyg. However, we did detect a secular bump in the phased light curves, which changes with phase in some SuperWASP observations. We found the change in period of XX Cyg to be dP/dt = 15.5 × 10-5 s/yr, with its amplitude decreasing at a rate of 0.7 mmag/year. Stellar parameters of XX Cyg and its position in the instability strip of the Hertzsprung Russell stellar evolution diagram are presented.

A DECam view of the diffuse dwarf galaxy Crater II – Variable stars

ABSTRACT Time series observations of a single dithered field centred on the diffuse dwarf satellite galaxy Crater II were obtained with the Dark Energy Camera (DECam) at the 4m Blanco Telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, Chile, uniformly covering up to two half-light radii. Analysis of the g and i time series results in the identification and characterization of 130 periodic variable stars, including 98 RR Lyrae stars, 7 anomalous Cepheids, and 1 SX Phoenicis star belonging to the Crater II population, and 24 foreground variables of different types. Using the large number of ab-type RR Lyrae stars present in the galaxy, we obtained a distance modulus to Crater II of (m − M)0 = 20.333 ± 0.004 (stat) ±0.07 (sys). The distribution of the RR Lyrae stars suggests an elliptical shape for Crater II, with an ellipticity of 0.24 and a position angle of 153°. From the RR Lyrae stars, we infer a small metallicity dispersion for the old population of Crater II of only 0.17 dex. There are hints that the most metal-poor stars in that narrow distribution have a wider distribution across the galaxy, while the slightly more metal-rich part of the population is more centrally concentrated. Given the features in the colour–magnitude diagram of Crater II, the anomalous Cepheids in this galaxy must have formed through a binary evolution channel of an old population.

The first view of δ Scuti and γ Doradus stars with the TESS mission

ABSTRACT We present the first asteroseismic results for δ Scuti and γ Doradus stars observed in Sectors 1 and 2 of the TESS mission. We utilize the 2-min cadence TESS data for a sample of 117 stars to classify their behaviour regarding variability and place them in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram using Gaia DR2 data. Included within our sample are the eponymous members of two pulsator classes, γ Doradus and SX Phoenicis. Our sample of pulsating intermediate-mass stars observed by TESS also allows us to confront theoretical models of pulsation driving in the classical instability strip for the first time and show that mixing processes in the outer envelope play an important role. We derive an empirical estimate of 74 per cent for the relative amplitude suppression factor as a result of the redder TESS passband compared to the Kepler mission using a pulsating eclipsing binary system. Furthermore, our sample contains many high-frequency pulsators, allowing us to probe the frequency variability of hot young δ Scuti stars, which were lacking in the Kepler mission data set, and identify promising targets for future asteroseismic modelling. The TESS data also allow us to refine the stellar parameters of SX Phoenicis, which is believed to be a blue straggler.

Variable Stars in Sagittarius Globular Clusters. I. Arp 2

We present new photometry and analysis of the twelve variable stars (nine RR Lyrae (RRL), three SX Phoenicis (SX Phe)) belonging to the Sagittarius globular cluster Arp 2. Of the nine RRL stars in the cluster, eight are RRab and one is RRc. From the RRab stars, we determined a mean period of days, where the error is the standard error of the mean. This places Arp 2 at the border between the Oosterhoff I and Oosterhoff-Int clusters. Using the V-band data from the RRL stars, a distance modulus of (m − M)0 = 17.24 ± 0.17 was determined. From the I-band data, we found (m − M)0 = 17.34 ± 0.07. We also used the SX Phe variables to determine a distance modulus of (m − M)0 = 17.27 ± 0.04. Color excesses were determined from the RRL light curves using both the (B − V) and (V − I) colors. The mean reddening values were in line with or were a little higher than those found in the literature. Both methods indicated star-to-star variability in the reddening toward Arp 2. Of the nine RRL stars, seven were flagged as variables by Gaia, with three having periods determined. We used the Gaia data to investigate the membership of the seven Gaia RRL. Although Arp 2 is too distant for reliable Gaia parallaxes, the current data do not exclude any of the variables discussed in this paper from being members of Arp 2.

New Variable Stars in NGC 6652 and Its Background Sagittarius Stream∗

Abstract We conducted a variable star search on the metal-rich Galactic globular cluster NGC 6652 using archival Gemini-S/Gemini Multiobject Spectrograph data. We report the discovery of nine new variable stars in the NGC 6652 field, of which we classify six as eclipsing binaries and one as an SX Phoenicis star, leaving two variables without classification. Using proper motions from Gaia DR2 and Hubble Space Telescope, albeit with some uncertainties, we find that the cluster, the field, and the background Sagittarius stream each have three of these variables. We also reassess the membership of known variables based on the Gaia proper motions, confirming the existence of one RR Lyrae star in the cluster.

Gaia Data Release 2

Context. The Gaia Data Release 2 (DR2) contains more than half a million sources that are identified as variable stars. Aims. We summarise the processing and results of the identification of variable source candidates of RR Lyrae stars, Cepheids, long-period variables (LPVs), rotation modulation (BY Dra-type) stars, δ Scuti and SX Phoenicis stars, and short-timescale variables. In this release we aim to provide useful but not necessarily complete samples of candidates. Methods. The processed Gaia data consist of the G, GBP, and GRP photometry during the first 22 months of operations as well as positions and parallaxes. Various methods from classical statistics, data mining, and time-series analysis were applied and tailored to the specific properties of Gaia data, as were various visualisation tools to interpret the data. Results. The DR2 variability release contains 228 904 RR Lyrae stars, 11 438 Cepheids, 151 761 LPVs, 147 535 stars with rotation modulation, 8882 δ Scuti and SX Phoenicis stars, and 3018 short-timescale variables. These results are distributed over a classification and various Specific Object Studies tables in the Gaia archive, along with the three-band time series and associated statistics for the underlying 550 737 unique sources. We estimate that about half of them are newly identified variables. The variability type completeness varies strongly as a function of sky position as a result of the non-uniform sky coverage and intermediate calibration level of these data. The probabilistic and automated nature of this work implies certain completeness and contamination rates that are quantified so that users can anticipate their effects. Thismeans that even well-known variable sources can be missed or misidentified in the published data. Conclusions. The DR2 variability release only represents a small subset of the processed data. Future releases will include more variable sources and data products; however, DR2 shows the (already) very high quality of the data and great promise for variability studies.

Metallicity and distance of NGC 6362 from its RR Lyrae and SX Phoenicis stars

New time‐series VI CCD photometry of the globular cluster NGC 6362 is studied with the aim of estimating the reddening, mean metallicity, and distance of the cluster from its population of RR Lyrae stars. The Fourier decomposition of carefully selected single‐mode RR Lyrae light curves, and the use of well‐established semiempirical calibrations and revised zero points, lead to the values of [Fe/H]UVES −1.066 ± 0.126 and −1.08 ± 0.16 and distances of 7.93 ± 0.32 and 8.02 ± 0.15 kpc from the RRab and RRc stars, respectively. The distribution of RR Lyrae stars in the horizontal branch shows a neat segregation of pulsating modes about the red edge of the first overtone instability strip, which is not necessarily expected in an OoI‐type cluster like NGC 6362. Four RRab stars are found to be likely advanced in their evolution toward the AGB. One new foreground SX Phe star, some 4 kpc in front of the cluster and projected onto the field of our images, is reported. We comment on the heavy light contamination, by a very close neighbouring star, of the peculiar double‐mode V37 variable, recently postulated as a non‐typical RRc variable.

Near-IR period-luminosity relations for pulsating stars inωCentauri (NGC 5139)

$\omega$ Centauri (NGC 5139) hosts hundreds of pulsating variable stars of different types, thus representing a treasure trove for studies of their corresponding period-luminosity (PL) relations. Our goal in this study is to obtain the PL relations for RR Lyrae, and SX Phoenicis stars in the field of the cluster, based on high-quality, well-sampled light curves in the near-infrared (IR). $\omega$ Centauri was observed using VIRCAM mounted on VISTA. A total of 42 epochs in $J$ and 100 epochs in $K_{\rm S}$ were obtained, spanning 352 days. Point-spread function photometry was performed using DoPhot and DAOPHOT in the outer and inner regions of the cluster, respectively. Based on the comprehensive catalogue of near-IR light curves thus secured, PL relations were obtained for the different types of pulsators in the cluster, both in the $J$ and $K_{\rm S}$ bands. This includes the first PL relations in the near-IR for fundamental-mode SX Phoenicis stars. The near-IR magnitudes and periods of Type II Cepheids and RR Lyrae stars were used to derive an updated true distance modulus to the cluster, with a resulting value of $(m-M)_0 = 13.708 \pm 0.035 \pm 0.10$ mag, where the error bars correspond to the adopted statistical and systematic errors, respectively. Adding the errors in quadrature, this is equivalent to a heliocentric distance of $5.52\pm 0.27$ kpc.

Pulsating stars in ω Centauri. Near-IR properties and period-luminosity relations

$\omega$ Centauri (NGC~5139) contains many variable stars of different types, including the pulsating type II Cepheids, RR Lyrae and SX Phoenicis stars. We carried out a deep, wide-field, near-infrared (IR) variability survey of $\omega$ Cen, using the VISTA telescope. We assembled an unprecedented homogeneous and complete $J$ and $K_{\rm S}$ near-IR catalog of variable stars in the field of $\omega$ Cen. In this paper we compare optical and near-IR light curves of RR Lyrae stars, emphasizing the main differences. Moreover, we discuss the ability of near-IR observations to detect SX Phoenicis stars given the fact that the amplitudes are much smaller in these bands compared to the optical. Finally, we consider the case in which all the pulsating stars in the three different variability types follow a single period-luminosity relation in the near-IR bands.

Variable stars in Local Group Galaxies – II. Sculptor dSph

We present the identification of 634 variable stars in the Milky Way dSph satellite Sculptor based on archival ground-based optical observations spanning $\sim$24 years and covering $\sim$ 2.5 deg$^2$. We employed the same methodologies as the "Homogeneous Photometry" series published by Stetson. In particular, we have identified and characterized one of the largest (536) RR Lyrae samples so far in a Milky Way dSph satellite. We have also detected four Anomalous Cepheids, 23 SX Phoenicis stars, five eclipsing binaries, three field variable stars, three peculiar variable stars located above the horizontal branch - near to the locus of BL Herculis - that we are unable to classify properly. Additionally we identify 37 Long Period Variables plus 23 probable variable stars, for which the current data do not allow us to determine the period. We report positions and finding charts for all the variable stars, and basic properties (period, amplitude, mean magnitude) and light curves for 574 of them. We discuss the properties of the RR Lyrae stars in the Bailey diagram, which supports the coexistence of subpopulations with different chemical compositions. We estimate the mean mass of Anomalous Cepheids ($\sim$1.5M$_{\odot}$) and SX Phoenicis stars ($\sim$1M$_{\odot}$). We discuss in detail the nature of the former. The connections between the properties of the different families of variable stars are discussed in the context of the star formation history of the Sculptor dSph galaxy.