The raw light curves of both KIC 10684673 and KIC 12216817 show variability. Both are listed in the Kepler Eclipsing Binary Catalog (hereafter KEBC), however both are flagged as uncertain in nature. In the present study we show their light curves can be modeled by considering each target as a single, multi-modal delta Scuti pulsator. While this does not exclude the possibility of eclipsing systems, we argue, while spectroscopy on the systems is still lacking, the delta Scuti model is a simpler explanation and therefore more probable.
Recent progress in the studies of pulsating variable stars is summarized from an observational point of view. A number of unexpected phenomena have been revealed in the case of pulsators in the classical instability strip. These discoveries -- lacking theoretical explanation yet -- make pulsating stars more valuable objects for astrophysics than before. The emphasis is laid on Cepheids of all kind and RR Lyrae type variables, as well as binarity among pulsating variable stars.
We report the results of our search for pulsating subdwarf B stars in Full Frame Images collected during Year 2 of the TESS mission and covering the northern ecliptic hemisphere. This is a continuation of our effort we presented in Paper I. We found 13 likely new pulsating subdwarf B stars, 10 pulsating candidates that are identified as other hot subdwarfs, and 30 spectroscopically unclassified objects that show amplitude spectra typical of pulsating subdwarf B stars. We found 506 variable objects, most of them spectroscopically unclassified, hence their specific variability class yet to be co…
Thanks to relatively firm mode identification, possible based on period ratios only, High Amplitude Delta 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. mas…
Stellar evolution calculations for population II stars with initial composition $Y_0=0.25$, $Z_0=10^{-3}$ and the initial stellar mass $M_0 = 0.82M_\odot$ were carried out from the main sequence to the white dwarf stage. Twelve AGB and post--AGB evolutionary sequences were computed with different values of the parameter in the Blocker mass loss rate formula ($0.01\leη_B\le 0.12$). Selected models of evolutionary sequences with masses $M=0.536M_\odot$, $0.530M_\odot$ and $0.526M_\odot$ that experience the loop in the Hertzsprung--Russel diagram due to the final helium flash were used as initial…
Mutual gravitation between a pulsating star and an orbital companion leads to a time-dependent variation in path length for starlight traveling to Earth. These variations can be used for coherently pulsating stars, such as the δ Scuti variables, to constrain the masses and orbits of their companions. Observing these variations for δ Scuti stars has previously relied on subdividing the light curve and measuring the average pulsation phase in equally sized subdivisions, which leads to under-sampling near periapsis. We introduce a new approach that simultaneously forward-models each sample in the…
From TESS photometry, 493 mid- to late-B stars with high frequencies (Maia variables) have been identified. The distribution of projected rotational velocities shows that the rotation rates of Maia variables are no different from those of SPB stars. Moreover, many Maia stars pulsate with frequencies exceeding 60 c/d. Rapid rotation is ruled out as a possible factor in understanding the Maia variables. There is clearly a serious problem with current pulsational models. Not only are the models unable to account for the Maia stars, but they also fail to account for the fact that SPB and gamma Dor…
Here, we study the microlensing of radially pulsating stars. Discerning and characterizing the properties of distant, faint pulsating stars is achievable through high-cadence microlensing observations. Combining stellar variability period with microlensing gives the source distance, type, and radius and helps better determine the lens parameters. Considering periodically variations in their radius and surface temperature, their microlensing light curves are resulted from multiplication of the magnification factor with variable finite size effect by the intrinsic brightness curves of pulsing so…
Using TESS 20-sec cadence data, we have discovered an unusual combination of pulsating stars in what we infer to be a binary system. The binary consists of a standard $δ$ Scuti star with pulsations over the range 32-41 d$^{-1}$; this is in a likely wide orbit with a hot subdwarf B (sdB) star, which itself has a large-amplitude p-mode pulsation at 524 d$^{-1}$. We establish constraints on the period of the putative binary by using radial velocity measurements of the $δ$~Scuti star and show that any sdB companion star must orbit with a period greater than a few tens of days. Our identification o…
Classification of over 50000 TESS stars in sectors 1-18 has resulted in the detection of 766 pulsating main sequence B stars as well as over 5000 $δ$ Scuti, 2300 $γ$ Doradus and 114 roAp candidates. It is found that a distinct group of $β$ Cephei stars, defined as B stars with frequencies greater than 2.5 d$^{-1}$ and predicted by models, does not exist. Instead, high frequencies are to be found over the whole B-star range, eventually merging with $δ$ Scuti stars. The cool B stars pulsating in high frequencies are the Maia variables. It is shown that Maia variables are not rapidly-rotating $β$…
Period-color (PC) relations may be used to study the interaction of the stellar photosphere and the hydrogen ionization front (HIF). RR Lyraes (RRLs) and long period classical Cepheids (P > 10d) have been found to exhibit different PC behavior at minimum and maximum light which can be explained by the HIF-photosphere interaction based on their location on the HR diagram. In this work, we extend the study to include type II Cepheids (T2Cs) with an aim to test the HIF-photosphere interaction theory across a broad spectrum of variable star types. We find W Vir stars and BL Her stars to have simil…
The All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae (ASAS-SN) has recently used over 2000 days of data to identify more than 50,000 variable stars, automatically classify these, determine periods and amplitudes for those that are periodic -- part of a remarkable project to classify 412,000 known variable stars, and determine their basic properties. This information about the newly-discovered variables, along with the photometric data is freely available on-line. In this paper, we analyze ASAS-SN data on two small random samples of pulsating red giants (PRGs) in detail, and compare our results with tho…
We update the capabilities of the open-knowledge software instrument Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics (MESA). RSP is a new functionality in MESAstar that models the non-linear radial stellar pulsations that characterize RR Lyrae, Cepheids, and other classes of variable stars. We significantly enhance numerical energy conservation capabilities, including during mass changes. For example, this enables calculations through the He flash that conserve energy to better than 0.001 %. To improve the modeling of rotating stars in MESA, we introduce a new approach to modifying the pressur…
Measuring phase modulation in pulsating stars has proved to be a highly successful way of finding binary systems. The class of pulsating main-sequence A and F variables known as delta Scuti stars are particularly good targets for this, and the \textit{Kepler} sample of these has been almost fully exploited. However, some \textit{Kepler} $δ$ Scuti stars have incorrect temperatures in stellar properties catalogues, and were missed in previous analyses. We used an automated pulsation classification algorithm to find 93 new $δ$ Scuti pulsators among tens of thousands of F-type stars, which we then…
The NASA Kepler and follow-on K2 missions (2009-2018) left a legacy of data and discoveries, finding thousands of exoplanets, and also obtaining high-precision long time-series data for hundreds of thousands of stars, including many types of pulsating variables. Here we highlight a few of the ongoing discoveries from Kepler data on $δ$ Scuti pulsating variables, which are core hydrogen-burning stars of about twice the mass of the Sun. We discuss many unsolved problems surrounding the properties of the variability in these stars, and the progress enabled by Kepler data in using pulsations to in…
Evolutionary tracks of stars with masses on the main sequence $0.84M_\odot\le M_\textrm{ZAMS}\le 0.95M_\odot$ and initial metal abundances $Z=0.006$ and $Z=0.01$ were computed under various assumptions about the mass loss rate at the red giant stage as well as at the AGB and the post--AGB stages. Among 160 evolutionary sequences we selected nearly 30 sequences where the final thermal flash of the helium shell source occurs in the early post--AGB stage when the ratio of the hydrogen envelope mass to the stellar mass ranges from 0.01 to 0.08. Selected evolutionary sequences were used for calcula…
About 766 $δ$ Scuti stars were observed by LAMOST by June 16, 2017. Stellar atmospheric parameters of 525 variables were determined, while spectral types were obtained for all samples. In the paper, those spectroscopic data are catalogued. We detect a group of 131 unusual and cool variable stars (UCVs) that are distinguished from the normal $δ$ Scuti stars (NDSTs). On the H-R diagram and the $\log g-T$ diagram, the UCVs are far beyond the red edge of pulsational instability trip. Their effective temperatures are lower than 6700\,K with periods in the range from 0.09 to 0.22\,days. NDSTs have m…
