No Arabic abstract
We have computed a new grid of evolutionary subdwarf B star (sdB) models from the start of central He burning, taking into account atomic diffusion due to radiative levitation, gravitational settling, concentration diffusion, and thermal diffusion. We have computed the non-adiabatic pulsation properties of the models and present the predicted p-mode and g-mode instability strips. In previous studies of the sdB instability strips, artificial abundance enhancements of Fe and Ni were introduced in the pulsation driving layers. In our models, the abundance enhancements of Fe and Ni occur naturally, eradicating the need to use artificial enhancements. We find that the abundance increases of Fe and Ni were previously underestimated and show that the instability strip predicted by our simulations solves the so-called blue edge problem of the subdwarf B star g-mode instability strip. The hottest known g-mode pulsator, KIC 10139564, now resides well within the instability strip {even when only modes with low spherical degrees (l<=2) are considered.
We present a new set of nonlinear, convective radial pulsation models for main sequence stars computed assuming three metallicities: Z=0.0001, 0.001 and 0.008. These chemical compositions bracket the metallicity of stellar systems hosting SX Phoenicis stars (SXPs or pulsating Blue Stragglers), namely Galactic globular clusters and nearby dwarf spheroidals. Stellar masses and luminosities of the pulsation models are based on alpha--enhanced evolutionary tracks from the BASTI website. We are able to define the topology of the instability strip (IS), and in turn the pulsation relations for the first four pulsation modes. We found that third overtones approach a stable nonlinear limit cycle. Predicted and empirical IS agree quite well in the case of 49 SXPs belonging to omega Cen. We used theoretical Period-Luminosity relations in B,V bands to identify their pulsation mode. We assumed Z=0.001 and Z=0.008 as mean metallicities of SXPs in omega Cen. We found respectively 13-15 fundamental, 22-6 first and 9-4 second overtone modes. Five are unstable in the third overtone mode only for Z=0.001. Using the above mode identification and applying the proper mass-dependent Period-Luminosity relations we found masses ranging from ~1.0 to 1.2 Mo (<M>=1.12, sigma=0.04 Mo) and from ~1.2 to 1.5 Mo (<M>=1.33, sigma=0.03 Mo) for Z=0.001 and 0.008 respectively. Our investigation supports the use of evolutionary tracks to estimate of SXP masses. We will extend our analysis to higher Helium content that may have an impact in our understanding of the BSS formation scenario.
We construct updated solar models with different sets of solar abundances, including the most recent determinations by Asplund et al. (2009). The latter work predicts a larger ($sim 10%$) solar metallicity compared to previous measurements by the same authors but significantly lower ($sim 25%$) than the recommended value from a decade ago by Grevesse & Sauval (1998). We compare the results of our models with determinations of the solar structure inferred through helioseismology measurements. The model that uses the most recent solar abundance determinations predicts the base of the solar convective envelope to be located at $R_{rm CZ}= 0.724{rm R_odot}$ and a surface helium mass fraction of $Y_{rm surf}=0.231$. These results are in conflict with helioseismology data ($R_{rm CZ}= 0.713pm0.001{rm R_odot}$ and $Y_{rm surf}=0.2485pm0.0035$) at 5$-sigma$ and 11$-sigma$ levels respectively. Using the new solar abundances, we calculate the magnitude by which radiative opacities should be modified in order to restore agreement with helioseismology. We find that a maximum change of $sim 15%$ at the base of the convective zone is required with a smooth decrease towards the core, where the change needed is $sim 5%$. The required change at the base of the convective envelope is about half the value estimated previously. We also present the solar neutrino fluxes predicted by the new models. The most important changes brought about by the new solar abundances are the increase by $sim 10%$ in the predicted $^{13}$N and $^{15}$O fluxes that arise mostly due to the increase in the C and N abundances in the newly determined solar composition.
We reexamine the theoretical instability domain of pulsating DB white dwarfs (DBV or V777 Her variables). We performed an extensive $g$-mode nonadiabatic pulsation analysis of DB evolutionary models considering a wide range of stellar masses, for which the complete evolutionary stages of their progenitors from the ZAMS, through the thermally pulsing AGB and born-again phases, the domain of the PG1159 stars, the hot phase of DO white dwarfs, and then the DB white dwarf stage have been considered. We explicitly account for the evolution of the chemical abundance distribution due to time-dependent chemical diffusion processes. We examine the impact of the different prescriptions of the MLT theory of convection and the effects of small amounts of H in the almost He-pure atmospheres of DB stars on the precise location of the theoretical blue edge of the DBV instability strip.
The overstability of the fundamental radial mode in M dwarf models was theoretically predicted by Rodriguez-Lopez et al. (2012). The periods were found to be in the ranges ~25-40 min and ~4-8 h, depending on stellar age and excitation mechanism. We have extended our initial M dwarf model grid in mass, metallicity, and mixing length parameter. We have also considered models with boundary conditions from PHOENIX NextGen atmospheres to test their influence on the pulsation spectra. We find instability of non-radial modes with radial orders up to k=3, degree l=0-3, including p and g modes, with the period range extending from 20 min up to 11 h. Furthermore, we find theoretical evidence of the potential of M dwarfs as solar-like oscillators.
We present the discovery of nonradial pulsations in five hot subdwarf B (sdB) stars based on 27 days of nearly continuous time-series photometry using the Kepler spacecraft. We find that every sdB star cooler than $approx 27,500,$K that Kepler has observed (seven so far) is a long-period pulsator of the V1093~Her (PG~1716) class or a hybrid star with both short and long periods. The apparently non-binary long-period and hybrid pulsators are described here. The V1093~Her periods range from one to 4.5~h and are associated with $g-$mode pulsations. Three stars also exhibit short periods indicative of $p-$modes with periods of 2 to 5~m and in addition, these stars exhibit periodicities between both classes from 15 to 45~m. We detect the coolest and longest-period V1093~Her-type pulsator to date, KIC010670103 ($T_effapprox 20,900,$K, $P_maxapprox 4.5$~h) as well as a suspected hybrid pulsator, KIC002697388 which is extremely cool ($T_{rm eff}approx 23,900,$K) and for the first time hybrid pulsators which have larger $g-$mode amplitudes than $p-$mode ones. All of these pulsators are quite rich with many frequencies and we are able to apply asymptotic relationships to associate periodicities with modes for KIC010670103. Kepler data are particularly well-suited for these studies as they are long-duration, extremely high duty cycle observations with well-behaved noise properties.