No Arabic abstract
We present results from high-resolution, optical to near-IR imaging of host stars of Kepler Objects of Interest (KOIs), identified in the original Kepler field. Part of the data were obtained under the Kepler imaging follow-up observation program over seven years (2009 - 2015). Almost 90% of stars that are hosts to planet candidates or confirmed planets were observed. We combine measurements of companions to KOI host stars from different bands to create a comprehensive catalog of projected separations, position angles, and magnitude differences for all detected companion stars (some of which may not be bound). Our compilation includes 2297 companions around 1903 primary stars. From high-resolution imaging, we find that ~10% (~30%) of the observed stars have at least one companion detected within 1 (4). The true fraction of systems with close (< ~4) companions is larger than the observed one due to the limited sensitivities of the imaging data. We derive correction factors for planet radii caused by the dilution of the transit depth: assuming that planets orbit the primary stars or the brightest companion stars, the average correction factors are 1.06 and 3.09, respectively. The true effect of transit dilution lies in between these two cases and varies with each system. Applying these factors to planet radii decreases the number of KOI planets with radii smaller than 2 R_Earth by ~2-23% and thus affects planet occurrence rates. This effect will also be important for the yield of small planets from future transit missions such as TESS.
We present results from spectroscopic follow-up observations of stars identified in the Kepler field and carried out by teams of the Kepler Follow-Up Observation Program. Two samples of stars were observed over six years (2009-2015): 614 standard stars (divided into platinum and gold categories) selected based on their asteroseismic detections and 2667 host stars of Kepler Objects of Interest (KOIs), most of them planet candidates. Four data analysis pipelines were used to derive stellar parameters for the observed stars. We compare the $T_{mathrm{eff}}$, $log$(g), and [Fe/H] values derived for the same stars by different pipelines; from the average of the standard deviations of the differences in these parameter values, we derive error floors of $sim$ 100 K, 0.2 dex, and 0.1 dex for $T_{mathrm{eff}}$, $log$(g), and [Fe/H], respectively. Noticeable disagreements are seen mostly at the largest and smallest parameter values (e.g., in the giant star regime). Most of the $log$(g) values derived from spectra for the platinum stars agree on average within 0.025 dex (but with a spread of 0.1-0.2 dex) with the asteroseismic $log$(g) values. Compared to the Kepler Input Catalog (KIC), the spectroscopically derived stellar parameters agree within the uncertainties of the KIC, but are more precise and are thus an important contribution towards deriving more reliable planetary radii.
The Kepler space mission, successfully launched in March 2009, is providing continuous, high-precision photometry of thousands of stars simultaneously. The uninterrupted time-series of stars of all known pulsation types are a precious source for asteroseismic studies. The Kepler data do not provide information on the physical parameters, such as effective temperature, surface gravity, metallicity, and vsini, which are crucial for successful asteroseismic modelling. Additional ground-based time-series data are needed to characterize mode parameters in several types of pulsating stars. Therefore, ground-based multi-colour photometry and mid/high-resolution spectroscopy are needed to complement the space data. We present ground-based activities within KASC on selected asteroseismic Kepler targets of several pulsation types. (Based on observations made with the Isaac Newton Telescope, William Herschel Telescope, Nordic Optical Telescope, Telescopio Nazionale Galileo, Mercator Telescope (La Palma, Spain), and IAC-80 (Tenerife, Spain). Also based on observations taken at the observatories of Sierra Nevada, San Pedro Martir, Vienna, Xinglong, Apache Point, Lulin, Tautenburg, Loiano, Serra la Nave, Asiago, McDonald, Skinakas, Pic du Midi, Mauna Kea, Steward Observatory, Mt Wilson, Bialkow Observatory of the Wroclaw University, Piszkesteto Mountain Station, Observatoire de Haute Provence, and Centro Astronomico Hispano Aleman at Calar Alto. Based on data from the AAVSO International Database.)
We calculate precise stellar radii and surface gravities from the asteroseismic analysis of over 500 solar-type pulsating stars observed by the Kepler space telescope. These physical stellar properties are compared with those given in the Kepler Input Catalog (KIC), determined from ground-based multi-color photometry. For the stars in our sample, we find general agreement but we detect an average overestimation bias of 0.23 dex in the KIC determination of log (g) for stars with log (g)_KIC > 4.0 dex, and a resultant underestimation bias of up to 50% in the KIC radii estimates for stars with R_KIC < 2 R sun. Part of the difference may arise from selection bias in the asteroseismic sample; nevertheless, this result implies there may be fewer stars characterized in the KIC with R ~ 1 R sun than is suggested by the physical properties in the KIC. Furthermore, if the radius estimates are taken from the KIC for these affected stars and then used to calculate the size of transiting planets, a similar underestimation bias may be applied to the planetary radii.
(Abridged) We present the first APOKASC catalog of spectroscopic and asteroseismic data for 415 dwarfs and subgiants. Asteroseismic data have been obtained by Kepler in short cadence. The spectroscopic parameters are based on spectra taken as part of APOGEE and correspond to DR13 of SDSS. We analyze our data using two Teff scales, the spectroscopic values from DR13 and those derived from SDSS griz photometry. We use the differences in our results arising from these choices as a test of systematic Teff, and find that they can lead to significant differences in the derived stellar properties. Determinations of surface gravity ($log{g}$), mean density ($rho$), radius ($R$), mass ($M$), and age ($tau$) for the whole sample have been carried out with stellar grid-based modeling. We have assessed random and systematic error sources in the spectroscopic and seismic data, as well as in the grid-based modeling determination of the stellar quantities in the catalog. We provide stellar properties for both Teff scales. The median combined (random and systematic) uncertainties are 2% (0.01 dex; $log{g}$), 3.4% ($rho$), 2.6% ($R$), 5.1% ($M$), and 19% ($tau$) for the photometric Teff scale and 2% ($log{g}$), 3.5% ($rho$), 2.7% ($R$), 6.3% ($M$), and 23% ($tau$) for the spectroscopic scale. Comparisons with stellar quantities in the catalog by Chaplin et al.(2014) highlight the importance of metallicity measurements for determining stellar parameters accurately. We compare our results with those from other sources, including stellar radii determined from TGAS parallaxes and asteroseismic analyses based on individual frequencies. We find a very good agreement in all cases. Comparisons give strong support to the determination of stellar quantities based on global seismology, a relevant result for future missions such as TESS and PLATO. Table 5 corrected (wrongly listed SDSS Teff before).
Very metal-poor halo stars are the best candidates for being among the oldest objects in our Galaxy. Samples of halo stars with age determination and detailed chemical composition measurements provide key information for constraining the nature of the first stellar generations and the nucleosynthesis in the metal-poor regime.} Age estimates are very uncertain and are available for only a small number of metal-poor stars. Here we present the first results of a pilot program aimed at deriving precise masses, ages and chemical abundances for metal-poor halo giants using asteroseismology, and high-resolution spectroscopy. We obtained high-resolution UVES spectra for four metal-poor RAVE stars observed by the K2 satellite. Seismic data obtained from K2 light curves helped improving spectroscopic temperatures, metallicities and individual chemical abundances. Mass and ages were derived using the code PARAM, investigating the effects of different assumptions (e.g. mass loss, [alpha/Fe]-enhancement). Orbits were computed using Gaia DR2 data. {The stars are found to be normal metal-poor halo stars (i.e. non C-enhanced), with an abundance pattern typical of old stars (i.e. alpha and Eu-enhanced), and with masses in the 0.80-1.0 M_sun range. The inferred model-dependent stellar ages are found to range from 7.4 to 13.0 Gyr, with uncertainties of ~ 30%-35%. We also provide revised masses and ages for metal-poor stars with Kepler seismic data from APOGEE survey and a set of M4 stars. {The present work shows that the combination of asteroseismology and high-resolution spectroscopy provides precise ages in the metal-poor regime. Most of the stars analysed in the present work (covering the metallicity range of [Fe/H] ~ -0.8 to -2 dex), are very old >9 Gyr (14 out of 19 stars ), and all of them are older than > 5 Gyr (within the 68 percentile confidence level).