The exploitation of the CoRoT treasure of stars observed in the exoplanetary field allowed the detection of a unusual triple-mode Cepheid in the Milky Way, CoRoT 0223989566. The two modes with the largest amplitudes and period ratio of 0.80 are ident
ified with the first (P1=1.29 d) and second (P2=1.03 d) radial overtones. The third period, which has the smallest amplitude but able to produce combination terms with the other two, is the longest one (P3=1.89 d). The ratio of 0.68 between the first-overtone period and the third period is the unusual feature. Its identification with the fundamental radial or a nonradial mode is discussed with respect to similar cases in the Magellanic Clouds. In both cases the period triplet and the respective ratios make the star unique in our Galaxy. The distance derived from the period-luminosity relation and the galactic coordinates put CoRoT~0223989566 in the metal-rich environment of the outer arm of the Milky Way.
Pulsating stars in binary systems are ideal laboratories to test stellar evolution and pulsation theory, since a direct, model-independent determination of component masses is possible. The high-precision CoRoT photometry allows a detailed view of th
e frequency content of pulsating stars, enabling detection of patterns in their distribution. The object HD 51844 is such a case showing periastron brightening instead of eclipses. We present a comprehensive study of the HD 51844 system, where we derive physical parameters of both components, the pulsation content and frequency patterns. Additionally, we obtain the orbital elements, including masses, and the chemical composition of the stars. Time series analysis using standard tools was mployed to extract the pulsation frequencies. Photospheric abundances of 21 chemical elements were derived by means of spectrum synthesis. We derived orbital elements both by fitting the observed radial velocities and the light curves, and we did asteroseismic modelling as well. We found that HD 51844 is a double lined spectroscopic binary. The determined abundances are consistent with delta Delphini classification. We determined the orbital period (33.498 +- 0.002 d), the eccentricity (0.484 +- 0.020), the mass ratio (0.988 +- 0.02), and the masses to 2.0 +- 0.2 M_sun for both components. Only one component showed pulsation. Two p modes (f_22 and f_36) and one g mode (f_orb) may be tidally excited. Among the 115 frequencies, we detected triplets due to the frequency modulation, frequency differences connected to the orbital period, and unexpected resonances (3:2, 3:5, and 3:4), which is a new discovery for a delta Scuti star.
BRITE-Constellation (where BRITE stands for BRIght Target Explorer) is an international nanosatellite mission to monitor photometrically, in two colours, brightness and temperature variations of stars brighter than V = 4. The current mission design c
onsists of three pairs of 7 kg nanosats from Austria, Canada and Poland carrying optical telescopes and CCDs. One instrument in each pair is equipped with a blue filter; the other, a red filter. The first two nanosats are UNIBRITE, designed and built by University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies - Space Flight Laboratory and its twin, BRITE-Austria, built by the Technical University Graz with support of UTIAS-SFL. They were launched on 25 February 2013 by the Indian Space Agency under contract to the Canadian Space Agency into a low-Earth dusk-dawn polar orbit.
Low frequency oscillation, typical for Gamma Doradus g-mode type stellar core sensitive pulsation, as well as higher frequency Delta Scuti type pulsation typical for p-modes, sensitive to the envelope, make HD 8801 a remarkable hybrid pulsator with t
he potential to probe a stellar structure over a wide range of radius. In addition HD 8801 is a rare pulsating metallic line (Am) star. We determined the astrophysical fundamental parameters to locate HD 8801 in the HR diagram. We analyzed the element abundances, paying close attention to the errors involved, and confirm the nature of HD 8801 as a metallic line (Am) star. We also determined an upper limit on the magnetic field strength. Our abundance analysis is based on classical techniques, but uses for the final step a model atmosphere calculated with the abundances determined by us. We also discuss spectropolarimetric observations obtained for HD 8801. This object is remarkable in several respects. It is a non-magnetic metallic line (Am) star, pulsating simultaneously in p- and g-modes, but also shows oscillations with periods in between these two domains, whose excitation requires explanation. Overall, the pulsational incidence in unevolved classical Am stars is believed to be quite low; HD 8801 does not conform to this picture. Finally, about 75% of Am stars are located in short-period binaries, but there is no evidence that HD 8801 has a companion.
Precise time-series photometry with the MOST satellite has led to identification of 10 pulsation frequencies in the rapidly oscillating Ap (roAp) star HD 134214. We have fitted the observed frequencies with theoretical frequencies of axisymmetric mod
es in a grid of stellar models with dipole magnetic fields. We find that, among models with a standard composition of $(X,Z) = (0.70,0.02)$ and with suppressed convection, eigenfrequencies of a $1.65,{rm M}_odot$ model with $log T_{rm eff} = 3.858$ and a polar magnetic field strength of 4.1kG agree best with the observed frequencies. We identify the observed pulsation frequency with the largest amplitude as a deformed dipole ($ell = 1$) mode, and the four next-largest-amplitude frequencies as deformed $ell = 2$ modes. These modes have a radial quasi-node in the outermost atmospheric layers ($tau sim 10^{-3}$). Although the model frequencies agree roughly with observed ones, they are all above the acoustic cut-off frequency for the model atmosphere and hence are predicted to be damped. The excitation mechanism for the pulsations of HD 134214 is not clear, but further investigation of these modes may be a probe of the atmospheric structure in this magnetic chemically peculiar star.
The detection of small-amplitude nonradial modes in high-amplitude Delta Sct (HADS) variables has been very elusive until at least five of them were detected in the light curve of V974 Oph obtained from ground-based observations. The combination of r
adial and nonradial modes has a high asteroseismic potential, thanks to the strong constraints we can put in the modelling. The continuous monitoring of ASAS 192647-0030.0=CoRoT 101155310 (P=0.1258 d, V=13.4) ensured from space by the CoRoT (Convection, Rotation and planetary Transits) mission constitutes a unique opportunity to exploit such potential. The 22270 CoRoT measurements were performed in the chromatic mode. They span 152 d and cover 1208 consecutive cycles. After the correction for one jump and the long-term drift, the level of the noise turned out to be 29 micromag. The phase shifts and amplitude ratios of the coloured CoRoT data, the HARPS spectra, and the period-luminosity relation were used to determine a self-consistent physical model. In turn, it allowed us to model the oscillation spectrum, also giving feedback on the internal structure of the star. In addition to the fundamental radial mode f1=7.949 c/d with harmonics up to 10f1, we detected 12 independent terms. Linear combinations were also found and the light curve was solved by means of 61 frequencies (smallest amplitude 0.10 mmag). The newest result is the detection of a periodic modulation of the f1 mode (triplets at +/-0.193 c/d centred on f1 and 2f1), discussed as a rotational effect or as an extension of the Blazhko effect to HADS stars. The physical model suggests that CoRoT 101155310 is an evolved star, with a slight subsolar metallic abundance, close to the terminal age main sequence. All the 12 additional terms are identified with mixed modes in the predicted overstable region.
Chemically Peculiar (CP) stars have been subject of systematic research since more than 50 years. With the discovery of pulsation of some of the cool CP stars, the availability of advanced spectropolarimetric instrumentation and high signal- to-noise
, high resolution spectroscopy, a new era of CP star research emerged about 20 years ago. Together with the success in ground-based observations, new space projects are developed that will greatly benefit for future investigations of these unique objects. In this contribution we will give an overview of some interesting results obtained recently from ground-based observations and discuss on future outstanding Gaia space mission and its impact on CP star research.
Context. Observations and analysis of solar-type oscillations in red-giant stars is an emerging aspect of asteroseismic analysis with a number of open questions yet to be explored. Although stochastic oscillations have previously been detected in red
giants from both radial velocity and photometric measurements, those data were either too short or had sampling that was not complete enough to perform a detailed data analysis of the variability. The quality and quantity of photometric data as provided by the CoRoT satellite is necessary to provide a breakthrough in observing p-mode oscillations in red giants. We have analyzed continuous photometric time-series of about 11 400 relatively faint stars obtained in the exofield of CoRoT during the first 150 days long-run campaign from May to October 2007. We find several hundred stars showing a clear power excess in a frequency and amplitude range expected for red-giant pulsators. In this paper we present first results on a sub-sample of these stars. Aims. Knowing reliable fundamental parameters like mass and radius is essential for detailed asteroseismic studies of red-giant stars. As the CoRoT exofield targets are relatively faint (11-16 mag) there are no (or only weak) constraints on the stars location in the H-R diagram. We therefore aim to extract information about such fundamental parameters solely from the available time series. Methods. We model the convective background noise and the power excess hump due to pulsation with a global model fit and deduce reliable estimates for the stellar mass and radius from scaling relations for the frequency of maximum oscillation power and the characteristic frequency separation.
Context: Several approaches to estimate frequency, phase and amplitude errors in time series analyses were reported in the literature, but they are either time consuming to compute, grossly overestimating the error, or are based on empirically determ
ined criteria. Aims: A simple, but realistic estimate of the frequency uncertainty in time series analyses. Methods: Synthetic data sets with mono- and multi-periodic harmonic signals and with randomly distributed amplitude, frequency and phase were generated and white noise added. We tried to recover the input parameters with classical Fourier techniques and investigated the error as a function of the relative level of noise, signal and frequency difference. Results: We present simple formulas for the upper limit of the amplitude, frequency and phase uncertainties in time-series analyses. We also demonstrate the possibility to detect frequencies which are separated by less than the classical frequency resolution and that the realistic frequency error is at least 4 times smaller than the classical frequency resolution.
