The information on stellar parameters and on the stellar interior we can get by studying pulsating stars depends crucially on the available observational constraints: both seismic constraints precision and number of detected modes, identification, nature of the modes) and "classical" observations (photospheric abundances, effective temperature, luminosity, surface gravity). We consider the case of beta Cephei pulsators and, with the aim of estimating quantitatively how the available observational constraints determine the type and precision of our inferences, we set the stage for Hare&Hound exercises. In this contribution we present preliminary results for one simple case, where we assume as "observed" frequencies a subset of frequencies of a model and then evaluate a seismic merit function on a dense and extensive grid of models of B-type stars. We also compare the behaviour of chi^2 surfaces obtained with and without mode identification.
We present results of a photometric study of the young southern open cluster Stock 14. This cluster is known to contain two eclipsing systems with presumed beta Cephei components, HD 101794 and HD 101838. We confirm variability due to pulsations and eclipses in both targets and announce the discovery of other variable stars in the observed field.
The All Sky Automated Survey (ASAS) data, covering nearly 70% of the whole sky south of declination +28 deg, were recently used to discover about 300 Beta Cephei stars brighter than V~11.5 mag. As this means a nearly fourfold increase in the number of known stars of this type, new possibilities in studying these pulsators open up, including statistical work. The homogeneity of the ASAS survey allows us to study their distribution in the local Galaxy. We discuss this distribution in the context of the location of nearby spiral arms. In addition, we show pulsational (periods, amplitudes) propert…
The quantity and quality of satellite photometric data strings is revealing details in Cepheid variation at very low levels. Specifically, we observed a Cepheid pulsating in the fundamental mode and one pulsating in the first overtone with the Canadian MOST satellite. The 3.7-d period fundamental mode pulsator (RT Aur) has a light curve that repeats precisely, and can be modeled by a Fourier series very accurately. The overtone pulsator (SZ Tau, 3.1 d period) on the other hand shows light curve variation from cycle to cycle which we characterize by the variations in the Fourier parameters. We …
We present an analysis of the high-mass eclipsing binary system VV Ori based on photometry from the TESS satellite. The primary star (B1V, 9.5 Msun) shows beta Cephei pulsations and the secondary (B7V, 3.8 Msun) is possibly a slowly-pulsating B star. We detect 51 significant oscillation frequencies, including two multiplets with separations equal to the orbital frequency, indicating that the pulsations are tidally perturbed. We analyse the TESS light curve and published radial velocities to determine the physical properties of the system. Both stars are only the second of their pulsation type …
We present results of a {\bf comprehensive} asteroseismic modelling of the $β$ Cephei variable $θ$ Ophiuchi. {\bf We call these studies {\it complex asteroseismology} because our goal is to reproduce both pulsational frequencies as well as corresponding values of a complex, nonadiabatic parameter, $f$, defined by the radiative flux perturbation.} To this end, we apply the method of simultaneous determination of the spherical harmonic degree, $\ell$, of excited pulsational mode and the corresponding nonadiabatic $f$ parameter from combined multicolour photometry and radial velocity data. Using …
Single star evolution does not allow extremely low-mass stars to cross the classical instability strip (IS) during the Hubble time. However, within binary evolution framework low-mass stars can appear inside the IS once the mass transfer (MT) is taken into account. Triggered by a discovery of low-mass 0.26 Msun RR Lyrae-like variable in a binary system, OGLE-BLG-RRLYR-02792, we investigate the occurrence of similar binary components in the IS, which set up a new class of low-mass pulsators. They are referred to as Binary Evolution Pulsators (BEPs) to underline the interaction between component…
Only for very few beta Cephei stars has the behaviour of the magnetic field been studied over the rotation cycle. During the past two years we have obtained multi-epoch polarimetric spectra of the beta Cephei star V1449 Aql with SOFIN at the Nordic Optical Telescope to search for a rotation period and to constrain the geometry of the magnetic field. The mean longitudinal magnetic field is measured at 13 different epochs. The new measurements, together with the previous FORS1 measurements, have been used for the frequency analysis and the characterization of the magnetic field. V1449 Aql so far…
We present a spectroscopic and photometric analysis of the multiple system and early-type eclipsing binary SZ Cam (O9IV + B0.5V), which consists of an eclipsing SB2 pair of orbital period P=2.7 days in a long orbit (about 55 yrs) around a non-eclipsing SB1 pair of orbital period P=2.8 days. We have reconstructed the spectra of the individual components of SZ Cam from the observed composite spectra using the technique of spectral disentangling. We used them together with extensive and accurate BVI CCD photometry to obtain an orbital solution. Our photometry revealed the presence of a beta Cep v…
Period-colour and amplitude-colour (PCAC) relations can be used to probe both the hydrodynamics of outer envelope structure and evolutionary status of Cepheids and RR Lyraes. In this work, we incorporate the PCAC relations for RR Lyraes, BL Her, W Vir and classical Cepheids in a single unifying theory that involves the interaction of the hydrogen ionization front (HIF) and stellar photosphere and the theory of stellar evolution. PC relations for RR Lyraes and classical Cepheids using OGLE-IV data are found to be consistent with this theory: RR Lyraes have shallow/sloped relations at minimum/ma…
Studying stellar pulsations in open clusters offers the possibility to perform ensemble asteroseismology. The reasonable assumption that the cluster members have the same age, distance, and overall metallicity aids in the seismic modelling process and tightly constrains it. Therefore it is important to identify open clusters with many pulsators. New pulsating stars of the Beta Cephei type were searched for among the members of the open cluster NGC 637. Thirty-one hours of time resolved V filter CCD photometry were obtained. The measurements confirmed two previously known variables, and reveale…
Is a 1D perturbative method sufficient for asteroseismic modelling of $β$ Cephei pulsators? Implications for measurements of rotation and internal magnetic fields
We present preliminary results of seismic modeling of Beta Cephei-type stars in NGC 6910 based on simultaneous photometric and spectroscopic observations carried out in 2013 in Bialkow (photometry) and Apache Point (spectroscopy) observatories.
We present time-series uvby-beta photometry of 41 classical Cepheid stars. A brief discussion of the comparison between the presented data and previous photometric data has been done.
We report the discovery of the first type II Cepheids (BL Herculis stars) pulsating solely in the first overtone. We found two such objects among tens of millions of stars regularly observed by the OGLE survey in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Our classification and the pulsation mode identification is based on the position of these stars on the period-luminosity and color-magnitude diagrams and on the light curve analysis. We discuss why single-mode first-overtone BL Her pulsators must be very rare. For the two discovered stars we present non-linear models that successfully reproduce their light…
In spite of recent detections of magnetic fields in a number of beta Cephei and slowly pulsating B (SPB) stars, their impact on stellar rotation, pulsations, and element diffusion is not sufficiently studied yet. The reason for this is the lack of knowledge of rotation periods, the magnetic field strength distribution and temporal variability, and the field geometry. New longitudinal field measurements of four beta Cephei and candidate beta Cephei stars, and two SPB stars were acquired with FORS2 at the VLT. These measurements allowed us to carry out a search for rotation periods and to constr…
Tidally Trapped Two-pole Pulsations Discovered in a Close Binary with a Massive $β$ Cephei Star
Yunnan Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)（中国科学院云南天文台）；University of Chinese Academy of Sciences（中国科学院大学）；School of Physics and Astronomy, Yunnan University（云南大学物理与天文学院）
Anomalous Cepheids (ACs) are metal-deficient, core-helium-burning pulsating stars with masses in the range 1.2-2.2 M_S. Until recently, all known ACs were pure single-mode pulsators. The first candidate for an AC pulsating in more than one radial mode - OGLE-GAL-ACEP-091 - was recently identified in the Milky Way based on the photometric database of the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) survey. We analyze this object showing that it is actually a triple-mode pulsator. Its position in the Petersen diagram, the light-curve morphology quantified by Fourier coefficients, and absolute…
We study the energetic aspects of hybrid pressure-gravity modes pulsations. The case of hybrid beta Cephei-SPB pulsators is considered with special attention. In addition to the already known sensitivity of the driving mechanism to the heavy elements mixture (mainly the iron abundance), we show that the characteristics of the propagation and evanescent regions play also a major role, determining the extension of the stable gap in the frequency domain between the unstable low order pressure and high order gravity modes. Finally, we consider the case of hybrid delta Sct-gamma Dor pulsators.
We have used Lomb-Scargle periodogram analysis and Monte Carlo significance tests to detect periodicities above the 3-sigma level in the Beta Cephei stars V400 Car, V401 Car, V403 Car and V405 Car. These methods produce six previously unreported periodicities in the expected frequency range of excited pulsations: one in V400 Car, three in V401 Car, one in V403 Car and one in V405 Car. One of these six frequencies is significant above the 4-sigma level. We provide statistical significances for all of the periodicities found in these four stars.
We present new optical time-resolved photometry and medium-resolution spectroscopy of V2187 Cyg. We confirm its classification as a beta Cephei star based on sinusoidal light variations with a period of 0.2539 days and mean amplitudes of 0.037 and 0.042 magnitudes in "i" and "V", respectively. We classified the spectrum of this star B2-3V with no evidence of variations in the profiles of its absorption lines in timescales of hours or days. The stellar spectrum is totally absent of emission lines. We detected unexpected faint radio continuum emission (between 0.4 and 0.8 mJy at 6-cm) showing a …
Pulsating stars in eclipsing binary systems play an important role in asteroseismology. The combination of their spectroscopic and photometric orbital solutions can be used to determine, or at least to constrain, the masses and radii of components. To successfully perform any seismic modelling of a star, one has to identify at least some of the detected modes, which requires precise time-series photometric and spectroscopic observations. This work presents a progress report on the analysis of two beta Cephei-type stars in eclipsing binaries: HD 101794 (V916 Cen) and HD 167003 (V4386 Sgr).
We report an analysis of the first known Beta Cep pulsator observed by the TESS mission, the runaway star PHL 346 = HN Aqr. The star, previously known as a singly-periodic pulsator, has at least 34 oscillation modes excited, 12 of those in the g-mode domain and 22 p modes. Analysis of archival data implies that the amplitude and frequency of the dominant mode and the stellar radial velocity were variable over time. A binary nature would be inconsistent with the inferred ejection velocity from the Galactic disc of 420 km/s, which is too large to be survivable by a runaway binary system. A kinem…
The CoRoT observations of the beta Cephei star HD180642 uncover an unexpectedly rich frequency spectrum, in addition to several heat-driven modes. So far, two processes have been proposed to explain this behaviour: the presence of stochastic oscillations, and the excitation of time-dependent frequencies by nonlinear resonance. I argue for a third explanation for the observations, in the form of chaos due to the nonlinear behaviour of the dominant radial mode. The long-term frequency stability of the dominant radial mode is studied using archival data spanning roughly 20 years. Nonlinear time s…
We present the properties of the recently discovered class of variable stars, Blue Large-Amplitude Pulsators (BLAPs). These extremely rare, short-period pulsating objects were detected thanks to regular, high-cadence observations of hundreds of millions of Milky Way stars by the OGLE variability survey. The new variables closely resemble classical pulsators, Cepheids, and RR Lyrae-type stars, but at effective temperatures at which pulsations are due to the presence of iron-group elements. Theory shows that BLAPs are evolved low-mass stars with a giant-like structure, but their origin remains a…
Beta Cephei-type variables are early B-type stars that are characterized by oscillations observable in their optical light curves. At least one Beta Cep-variable also shows periodic variability in X-rays. Here we study the X-ray light curves in a sample of beta Cep-variables to investigate how common X-ray pulsations are for this type of stars. We searched the Chandra and XMM-Newton X-ray archives and selected stars that were observed by these telescopes for at least three optical pulsational periods. We retrieved and analyzed the X-ray data for kappa Sco, beta Cru, and alpha Vir. The X-ray li…
We present the results of a search for Galactic Beta Cephei stars, which are massive pulsating stars with both pressure modes and mixed modes. Thus, these stars can serve as benchmarks for seismological studies of the interiors of massive stars. We conducted the search by performing a frequency analysis on the optical light curves of known O- and B-type stars with data from the KELT exoplanet survey. We identify 113 Beta Cephei stars, of which 86 are new discoveries, which altogether represents a ~70% increase in the number presently known. An additional 96 candidates are identified. Among our…
We have acquired simultaneous high-precision space photometry and radial velocities of the bright hybrid Beta Cep/SPB pulsator Gamma Peg. Frequency analyses reveal the presence of six g modes of high radial order together with eight low-order Beta Cep oscillations in both data sets. Mode identification shows that all pulsations have spherical degrees l = 0 - 2. An 8.5 solar mass model reproduces the observed pulsation frequencies; all theoretically predicted modes are detected. We suggest, contrary to previous authors, that Gamma Peg is a single star; the claimed orbital variations are due to …
In this review we focus on non-linear phenomena in pulsating stars the mode selection and amplitude limitation. Of many linearly excited modes only a fraction is detected in pulsating stars. Which of them and why (the problem of mode selection) and to what amplitude (the problem of amplitude limitation) are intrinsically non-linear and still unsolved problems. Tools for studying these problems are briefly discussed and our understanding of mode selection and amplitude limitation in selected groups of self-excited pulsators is presented. Focus is put on classical pulsators (Cepheids and RR Lyra…
The shape of light cures of fundamental-mode and of first-overtone pulsators, as observed in RR~Lyrae variables and Cepheids, differ characteristically. The stellar physical origin of the morphological differences is not well documented and the topic seems not to be part of the elementary curriculum of students of stellar variability. To ameliorate the situation, this exposition analyzes hydrodynamical simulations of radial pulsations computed with the newly available numerical instrument RSP in MESA. The stellar physical processes that affect the light curves are identified and contrasted to …
We have obtained 40 high-resolution circular spectropolarimetric measurements of 12 slowly-pulsating B (SPB) stars, 8 Beta Cephei stars and two Be stars with the ESPaDOnS and NARVAL spectropolarimeters. The aim of these observations is to evaluate recent claims of a high incidence of magnetic field detections in stars of these types obtained using low-resolution spectropolarimetry by Hubrig (2006), Hubrig (2007) and Hubrig (2009). The precision achieved is generally comparable to or superior to that obtained by Hubrig et al., although our new observations are distinguished by their resolution …
Recent photometric and spectroscopic observations of the hybrid variable Gamma Pegasi (Handler et al. 2009, Handler 2009) revealed 6 frequencies of the SPB type and 8 of the Beta Cep type pulsations. Standard seismic models, which have been constructed with OPAL (Iglesias & Rogers 1996) and OP (Seaton 2005) opacities by fitting three frequencies (those of the radial fundamental and two dipole modes), do not reproduce the frequency range of observed pulsations and do not fit the observed individual frequencies with a satisfactory accuracy. We argue that better fitting can be achieved with opaci…
V446 Cephei: a $β$ Cep pulsator in a multiple system
Keele University（基尔大学）；University of Zagreb（萨格勒布大学）；Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center, Polish Academy of Sciences（波兰科学院尼古拉·哥白尼天文学中心）；Université Côte d’Azur, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Laboratoire Lagrange（蔚蓝海岸大学，蔚蓝海岸天文台，法国国家科学研究中心，拉格朗日实验室）；Newcastle University（纽卡斯尔大学）；KU Leuven（荷语鲁汶大学）；Villanova University（维拉诺瓦大学）
We determine the fundamental parameters of SPB and Beta Cep candidate stars observed by the Kepler satellite mission and estimate the expected types of non-radial pulsators by comparing newly obtained high-resolution spectra with synthetic spectra computed on a grid of stellar parameters assuming LTE and check for NLTE effects for the hottest stars. For comparison, we determine Teff independently from fitting the spectral energy distribution of the stars obtained from the available photometry. We determine Teff, log(g), micro-turbulent velocity, vsin(i), metallicity, and elemental abundance fo…
We present the results of our survey searching for new white dwarf pulsators for observations by the TESS space telescope. We collected photometric time-series data on 14 white dwarf variable-candidates at Konkoly Observatory, and found two new bright ZZ Ceti stars, namely EGGR 120 and WD 1310+583. We performed the Fourier-analysis of the datasets. In the case of EGGR 120, which was observed on one night only, we found one significant frequency at 1332 microHz with 2.3 mmag amplitude. We successfully observed WD 1310+583 on eight nights, and determined 17 significant frequencies by the whole d…
We used Johnson UBV photometric CCD observations to identify pulsating and other variable stars in the young open cluster NGC 6231. The multi-color information was used to classify pulsating variables, perform frequency analysis, and - where possible - to compare observed to theoretical amplitude ratios for mode identification. The data reduction was performed with standard IRAF tools. Differential light curves have been obtained by identifying a set of suitable comparison stars and the frequency analysis was then conducted on the basis of Fourier methods. Our classification of pulsating stars…
We report a simultaneous ground and space-based photometric study of the Beta Cephei star Nu Eridani. Half a year of observations have been obtained by four of the five satellites constituting BRITE-Constellation, supplemented with ground-based photoelectric photometry. We show that carefully combining the two data sets virtually eliminates the aliasing problem that often hampers time-series analyses. We detect 40 periodic signals intrinsic to the star in the light curves. Despite a lower detection limit we do not recover all the pressure and mixed modes previously reported in the literature, …
Over the recent years, the Petersen diagram for classical pulsators, Cepheids and RR Lyr stars, populated with a few hundreds of new multiperiodic variables. We review our analyses of the OGLE data, which resulted in the significant extension of the known, and in the discovery of a few new and distinct forms of multiperiodic pulsation. The showcase includes not only radial mode pulsators, but also radial-non-radial pulsators and stars with significant modulation observed on top of the beat pulsation. First theoretical models explaining the new forms of stellar variability are briefly discussed…
The mode switching in Cepheids is studied using the methods of the nonlinear theory of stellar pulsation, depending on the main sequence mass $M_0$ and the abundance of elements heavier than helium $Z$. The grid of evolutionary and hydrodynamic models of core--helium burning Cepheids is represented by 30 evolutionary sequences of stars with initial masses $5.7M_\odot\le M_0\le 7.2M_\odot$ and $Z=0.014$, 0.018, 0.022. For considered values of $Z$ the periods of the fundamental mode and the first overtone at the oscillation mode switching are shown to depend on the mean density of the stellar ma…
High-resolution spectroscopy of pulsating stars is a powerful tool to study the dynamical structure of their atmosphere. Lines asymmetry is used to derive the center-of-mass velocity of the star, while a direct measurement of the atmospheric velocity gradient helps determine the projection factor used in the Baade-Wesselink method of distance determination. We aim at deriving the center-of-mass velocity and the projection factor of the beta-Cephei star alpha-Lup. We present HARPS high spectral resolution observations of alpha-Lup. We calculate the first-moment radial velocities and fit the spe…
We analyse time-series observations from the BRITE-Constellation of the well known $β$ Cephei type star $θ$ Ophiuchi. Seven previously known frequencies were confirmed and nineteen new frequency peaks were detected. In particular, high-order g modes, typical for the SPB (Slowly Pulsating B-type star) pulsators, are uncovered. These low-frequency modes are also obtained from the 7-year SMEI light curve. If g modes are associated with the primary component of $θ$ Oph, then our discovery allows, as in the case of other hybrid pulsators, to infer more comprehensive information on the internal stru…
The seventh part of the OGLE-III Catalog of Variable Stars (OIII-CVS) consists of 4630 classical Cepheids in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). The sample includes 2626 fundamental-mode (F), 1644 first-overtone (1O), 83 second-overtone (2O), 59 double-mode F/1O, 215 double-mode 1O/2O, and three triple-mode classical Cepheids. For each object basic parameters, multi-epoch VI photometry collected within 8 or 13 years of observations, and finding charts are provided in the OGLE Internet archive. We present objects of particular interest: exceptionally numerous sample of single-mode second-overtone…
The fourteenth part of the OGLE-III Catalog of Variable Stars (OIII-CVS) contains Cepheid variables detected in the OGLE-II and OGLE-III fields toward the Galactic bulge. The catalog is divided into two main categories: 32 classical Cepheids (21 single-mode fundamental-mode F, four first-overtone 1O, two double-mode F/1O, three double-mode 1O/2O and two triple-mode 1O/2O/3O pulsators) and 335 type II Cepheids (156 BL Her, 128 W Vir and 51 RV Tau stars). Six of the type II Cepheids likely belong to the Sagittarius Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy. The catalog data include the time-series photometry coll…
The $β$ Cephei stars represent an important class of massive star pulsators probing the evolution of B-type stars and the transition from main sequence to hydrogen-shell burning evolution. By understanding $β$ Cep stars, we gain insights into the detailed physics of massive star evolution such as rotational mixing, convective core overshooting, magnetic fields and stellar winds, all of which play important roles. Similarly, modeling their pulsation provides additional information into their interior structures. Furthermore, measurements of the rate of change of pulsation period offer a direct …
The recent detection of both pressure and high-order gravity modes in the classical B-type pulsator Gamma Pegasi offers promising prospects for probing its internal structure through seismic studies. To aid further modelling of this star, we present the results of a detailed NLTE abundance analysis based on a large number of time-resolved, high-quality spectra. A chemical composition typical of nearby B-type stars is found. The hybrid nature of this star is consistent with its location in the overlapping region of the instability strips for beta Cephei and slowly pulsating B stars computed usi…
The VELOCE Modulation Zoo I. Spectroscopic detection of non-radial modes in the first-overtone Cepheids BG Crucis, QZ Normae, V0391 Normae, and V0411 Lacertae
As many as 10\% of OB-type stars have global magnetic fields, which is surprising given their internal structure is radiative near the surface. A direct probe of internal structure is pulsations, and some OB-type stars exhibit pressure modes ($β$ Cep pulsators) or gravity modes (slowly pulsating B-type stars; SPBs); a few rare cases of hybrid $β$ Cep/SPBs occupy a narrow instability strip in the H-R diagram. The most precise fundamental properties of stars are obtained from eclipsing binaries (EBs), and those in clusters with known ages and metallicities provide the most stringent constraints …
The beta Cephei stars and slowly pulsating B (SPB) stars are massive main sequence variables. The strength of their pulsational driving strongly depends on the opacity of iron-group elements. As many of those stars naturally occur in young open clusters, whose metallicities can be determined in several fundamental ways, it is logical to study the incidence of pulsation in several young open clusters. To provide the foundation for such an investigation, Strömgren-Crawford uvbybeta photometry of open cluster target stars was carried out to determine effective temperatures, luminosities, and ther…
Here we report the detection of polarization variations due to nonradial modes in the beta Cephei star beta Crucis. In so doing we confirm 40-year-old predictions of pulsation-induced polarization variability and its utility in asteroseismology for mode identification. In an approach suited to other beta Cep stars, we combine polarimetry with space-based photometry and archival spectroscopy to identify the dominant nonradial mode in polarimetry, f2, as l = 3, m = -3 (in the m-convention of Dziembowski) and determine the stellar axis position angle as 25 (or 205) +/- 8 deg. The rotation axis in…
Non-radial modes are excited in classical pulsators, both in Cepheids and in RR Lyrae stars. Firm evidence come from the first overtone pulsators, in which additional shorter period mode is detected with characteristic period ratio falling in between 0.60 and 0.65. In the case of first overtone Cepheids three separate sequences populated by nearly 200 stars are formed in the Petersen diagram, i.e. the diagram of period ratio versus longer period. In the case of first overtone RR Lyrae stars (RRc stars) situation is less clear. A dozen or so such stars are known which form a clump in the Peters…
Slowly Pulsating B and $β$ Cephei are $κ$ mechanism driven pulsating B stars. That $κ$ mechanism works since a peak in the opacity due to a high number of atomic transitions from iron-group elements occurs in the area of $\log T \approx 5.3$. Theoretical results predict very few SPBs and no $β$ Cep to be encountered in low metallicity environments such as the Small Magellanic Cloud. However recent variability surveys of B stars in the SMC reported the detection of a significant number of SPB and $β$ Cep candidates. Though the iron content plays a major role in the excitation of $β$ Cep and SPB…
The known beta Cephei star HD 180642 was observed by the CoRoT satellite in 2007. From the very high-precision light curve, its pulsation frequency spectrum could be derived for the first time (Degroote and collaborators). In this paper, we obtain additional constraints for forthcoming asteroseismic modeling of the target. Our results are based on both extensive ground-based multicolour photometry and high-resolution spectroscopy. We determine T_eff = 24 500+-1000 K and log g = 3.45+-0.15 dex from spectroscopy. The derived chemical abundances are consistent with those for B stars in the solar …
