No Arabic abstract
Superflares on giant stars have up to 100,000 times more energy than the high energy solar flares. However, it is disputed, whether scaling up a solar-type dynamo could explain such a magnitude difference. We investigate the flaring activity of KIC 2852961, a late-type spotted giant. We seek for flares in the Kepler Q0-Q17 datasets by an automated technique together with visual inspection. Flare occurence rate and flare energies are analyzed and compared to flare statistics of different targets with similar flare activity at different energy levels. We find that the flare energy distribution of KIC 2852961 does not seem to be consistent with that of superflares on solar-type stars. Also, we believe that in case of KIC 2852961 spot activity should have an important role in producing such superflares.
We report the identification of 61.45 d^-1 (711.2 mu Hz) oscillations, with amplitudes of 62.6-mu mag, in KIC 4768731 (HD 225914) using Kepler photometry. This relatively bright (V=9.17) chemically peculiar star with spectral type A5 Vp SrCr(Eu) has previously been found to exhibit rotational modulation with a period of 5.21 d. Fourier analysis reveals a simple dipole pulsator with an amplitude that has remained stable over a 4-yr time span, but with a frequency that is variable. Analysis of high-resolution spectra yields stellar parameters of T_eff = 8100 +/- 200 K, log g = 4.0 +/- 0.2, [Fe/H] = +0.31 +/- 0.24 and v sin i = 14.8 +/- 1.6 km/s. Line profile variations caused by rotation are also evident. Lines of Sr, Cr, Eu, Mg and Si are strongest when the star is brightest, while Y and Ba vary in anti-phase with the other elements. The abundances of rare earth elements are only modestly enhanced compared to other roAp stars of similar T_eff and log g. Radial velocities in the literature suggest a significant change over the past 30 yr, but the radial velocities presented here show no significant change over a period of 4 yr.
We present the results of the asteroseismic analysis of the red-giant star KIC 4351319 (TYC 3124-914-1), observed for 30 days in short-cadence mode with the Kepler satellite. The analysis has allowed us to determine the large and small frequency separations, and the frequency of maximum oscillation power. The high signal-to-noise ratio of the observations allowed us to identify 25 independent pulsation modes whose frequencies range approximately from 300 to 500 muHz. The observed oscillation frequencies together with the accurate determination of the atmospheric parameters (effective temperature, gravity and metallicity), provided by additional ground-based spectroscopic observations, enabled us to theoretically interpret the observed oscillation spectrum. KIC 4351319 appears to oscillate with a well defined solar-type p-modes pattern due to radial acoustic modes and non-radial nearly pure p modes. In addition, several non-radial mixed modes have been identified. Theoretical models well reproduce the observed oscillation frequencies and indicate that this star, located at the base of the ascending red-giant branch, is in the hydrogen-shell burning phase, with a mass of about 1.3 solar masses, a radius of about 3.4 solar radii and an age of about 5.6 Gyr. The main parameters of this star have been determined with an unprecedent level of precision for a red-giant star, with uncertainties of 2% for mass, 7% for age, 1% for radius, and 4% for luminosity.
We have discovered a new rapidly oscillating Ap star among the Kepler Mission target stars, KIC 10195926. This star shows two pulsation modes with periods that are amongst the longest known for roAp stars at 17.1 min and 18.1 min, indicating that the star is near the terminal age main sequence. The principal pulsation mode is an oblique dipole mode that shows a rotationally split frequency septuplet that provides information on the geometry of the mode. The secondary mode also appears to be a dipole mode with a rotationally split triplet, but we are able to show within the improved oblique pulsator model that these two modes cannot have the same axis of pulsation. This is the first time for any pulsating star that evidence has been found for separate pulsation axes for different modes. The two modes are separated in frequency by 55 microHz, which we model as the large separation. The star is an alpha^2 CVn spotted magnetic variable that shows a complex rotational light variation with a period of Prot = 5.68459 d. For the first time for any spotted magnetic star of the upper main sequence, we find clear evidence of light variation with a period of twice the rotation period; i.e. a subharmonic frequency of $ u_{rm rot}/2$. We propose that this and other subharmonics are the first observed manifestation of torsional modes in an roAp star. From high resolution spectra we determine Teff = 7400 K, log g = 3.6 and v sin i = 21 km/s. We have found a magnetic pulsation model with fundamental parameters close to these values that reproduces the rotational variations of the two obliquely pulsating modes with different pulsation axes. The star shows overabundances of the rare earth elements, but these are not as extreme as most other roAp stars. The spectrum is variable with rotation, indicating surface abundance patches.
We present the first identification of a candidate precursor for an imminent red nova. Our prediction is based on the example of the precursor to the red nova V1309 Sco, which was retrospectively found to be a contact binary with an exponentially decreasing period. We explore the use of this distinctive timing signature to identify precursors, developing the observational and analysis steps needed. We estimate that our Galaxy has roughly 1-10 observable precursors. Specifically, we lay out the observational case for KIC 9832227, which we identified as a tentative candidate two years ago (Molnar et al. 2015, AAS Meeting Abstracts 415.05). Orbital timing over the past two years has followed the tentative exponential fit. As of late 2015, the period time derivative went beyond the range found in other systems (dP/dt < 1x10^{-8}), a necessary criterion for a serious candidate. We estimate time of merger is the year 2022.2(7). Double absorption line spectra confirm directly the 0.458 d light curve period is a contact binary system and yield a mass ratio m_B/m_A = 0.228(3). Closer analysis of the Kepler timing data shows evidence of a component C with orbital period P_C = 590(8) days and m_C x sin i_C = 0.11 solar masses. An alternative interpretation of the long term timing trend, light travel time delay due to orbit around a distant component D, is ruled out by the spectroscopic data for any nondegenerate star. Additional measurements are needed to test further the merging hypothesis and to utilize fully this fortuitous opportunity.
The preliminary results of an analysis of the KIC 5390438 and KIC 5701829 light curves are presented. The variations of these stars were detected by Baran et al. (2011a) in a search for pulsating M dwarfs in the Kepler public database. The objects have been observed by the Kepler spacecraft during the Q2 and Q3 runs in a short-candence mode (integration time of $sim$ 1 min). A Fourier analysis of the time series data has been performed by using the PERIOD04 package. The resulting power spectrum of each star shows a clear excess of power in the frequency range 100 and 350 $mu$Hz with a sequence of spaced peaks typical of solar-like oscillations. A rough estimation of the large and small separations has been obtained. Spectroscopic observations secured at the Observatorio Astronomico Nacional in San Pedro Martir allowed us to derive a spectral classification K2III and K0III for KIC 5390438 and KIC 5701829, respectively. Thus, KIC 5390438 and KIC 5701829 have been identified as solar-like oscillating red giant stars.