Abundance analysis of prime B-type targets for asteroseismology. I. Nitrogen excess in slowly-rotating beta Cephei stars

in Astronomy and Astrophysics (2006), 457

Seismic modelling of the β Cephei stars promises major advances in our understanding of the physics of early B-type stars on (or close to) the main sequence. However, a precise knowledge of their ... [more ▼]

Seismic modelling of the β Cephei stars promises major advances in our understanding of the physics of early B-type stars on (or close to) the main sequence. However, a precise knowledge of their physical parameters and metallicity is a prerequisite for correct mode identification and inferences regarding their internal structure. Here we present the results of a detailed NLTE abundance study of nine prime targets for theoretical modelling: <ASTROBJ>γ Peg</ASTROBJ>, <ASTROBJ>δ Cet</ASTROBJ>, <ASTROBJ>ν Eri</ASTROBJ>, <ASTROBJ>β CMa</ASTROBJ>, <ASTROBJ>ξ1 CMa</ASTROBJ>, <ASTROBJ>V836 Cen</ASTROBJ>, <ASTROBJ>V2052 Oph</ASTROBJ>, <ASTROBJ>β Cep</ASTROBJ> and DD (12) Lac (hereafter <ASTROBJ>12 Lac</ASTROBJ>). The following chemical elements are considered: He, C, N, O, Mg, Al, Si, S and Fe. Our curve-of-growth abundance analysis is based on a large number of time-resolved, high-resolution optical spectra covering in most cases the entire oscillation cycle of the stars. Nitrogen is found to be enhanced by up to 0.6 dex in four stars, three of which have severe constraints on their equatorial rotational velocity, Ω R, from seismic or line-profile variation studies: <ASTROBJ>β Cep</ASTROBJ> (Ω R ~ 26 km s[SUP]-1[/SUP]), <ASTROBJ>V2052 Oph</ASTROBJ> (Ω R ~ 56 km s[SUP]-1[/SUP]), <ASTROBJ>δ Cet</ASTROBJ> (Ω R < 28 km s[SUP]-1[/SUP]) and <ASTROBJ>ξ1 CMa</ASTROBJ> (Ω R sin i ⪠10 km s[SUP]-1[/SUP]). The existence of core-processed material at the surface of such largely unevolved, slowly-rotating objects is not predicted by current evolutionary models including rotation. We draw attention to the fact that three stars in this subsample have a detected magnetic field and briefly discuss recent theoretical work pointing to the occurrence of diffusion effects in β Cephei stars possibly capable of altering the nitrogen surface abundance. On the other hand, the abundances of all the other chemical elements considered are, within the errors, indistinguishable from the values found for OB dwarfs in the solar neighbourhood. Despite the mild nitrogen excess observed in some objects, we thus find no evidence for a significantly higher photospheric metal content in the studied β Cephei stars compared to non-pulsating B-type stars of similar characteristics. [less ▲]

Analysis of MERCATOR data - Part I: variable B stars

in Communications in Asteroseismology (2006), 147

We re-classified 31 variable B stars which were observed more than 50 times in the Geneva photometric system with the p7 photometer attached to the MERCATOR telescope (La Palma) during its first 3 years ... [more ▼]

We re-classified 31 variable B stars which were observed more than 50 times in the Geneva photometric system with the p7 photometer attached to the MERCATOR telescope (La Palma) during its first 3 years of scientific observations. HD 89688 is a possible beta Cephei/slowly pulsating B star hybrid and the main mode of the COROT target HD 180642 shows non-linear effects. The Maia candidates are re-classified as either ellipsoidal variables or spotted stars. Although the mode identification is still ongoing, all the well-identified modes so far have l <= 2. [less ▲]

An asteroseismic study of the beta Cephei star beta Canis Majoris

in Communications in Asteroseismology (2006), 147

We present a spectroscopic study of the beta Cephei star beta Canis Majoris. Hundreds of high-resolution spectra were gathered during 4.5 years and the Si III line profiles centered on 4560 A were ... [more ▼]

We present a spectroscopic study of the beta Cephei star beta Canis Majoris. Hundreds of high-resolution spectra were gathered during 4.5 years and the Si III line profiles centered on 4560 A were subjected to a detailed line profile analysis. We searched for oscillation frequencies in different line diagnostics, compared them with those known from photometric studies and concluded the presence of three frequencies in our dataset: f_1 = 3.97933 c/d, f_2 = 3.99959 c/d and f_3= 4.1832 c/d, which were already found earlier from photometric data. By means of the moment method and from amplitude and phase variations across the profiles we could identify two of the modes as (l_1,m_1)=(2,2) and (l_2,m_2)=(0,0$. We present our first results of modelling based on the oscillation frequencies and place constraints on the mass, age and core overshooting of this massive evolved beta Cephei star. [less ▲]

Disentangling component spectra of κ Scorpii, a spectroscopic binary with a pulsating primary. II. Interpretation of the line-profile variability

in Astronomy and Astrophysics (2005), 432

We analyse the complex short-term SiIII line-profile variability of the spectroscopic binary β Cep star κ Scorpii after orbit subtraction, before and after spectral disentangling. We refine the known ... [more ▼]

We analyse the complex short-term SiIII line-profile variability of the spectroscopic binary β Cep star κ Scorpii after orbit subtraction, before and after spectral disentangling. We refine the known oscillation frequency of the star: f[SUB]1[/SUB]=4.99922 c d[SUP]-1[/SUP] and detect 2f[SUB]1[/SUB]. Variability is also found at frequencies near f[SUB]2[/SUB]≃ 4.85 c d[SUP]-1[/SUP] and f[SUB]3[/SUB]≃ 5.69 c d[SUP]-1[/SUP] or their aliases. These frequencies are not significant if we consider the spectra alone, but they survive our selection after the consideration that they were derived previously from independent ground-based and space photometry by different teams. Moreover, we find dominant variability in the equivalent width with a frequency in the interval [0.22,0.30] c d[SUP]-1[/SUP] which we interpret as the rotational frequency f[SUB]rot[/SUB] of the star. The complex window function does not allow us to determine definite values for f[SUB]2[/SUB], f[SUB]3[/SUB], f[SUB]rot[/SUB]. The variability with f[SUB]1[/SUB] is interpreted as a prograde non-radial oscillation mode with spherical wavenumbers (ℓ,m)=(2,-1) or (1,-1). The additional frequencies are explained in terms of rotational modulation superposed to the main oscillation. We also point out that we cannot disprove the variability in κ Scorpii to originate from co-rotating structures. KOREL disentangling preserves the large-amplitude line-profile variability but its performance for complex low-amplitude variability remains to be studied in detail. Based on observations obtained with the Coudé Échelle Spectrograph on the ESO CAT telescope and with the CORALIE échelle spectrograph on the 1.2-m Euler Swiss telescope, both situated at La Silla, Chile. [less ▲]

Limits for the application of spectroscopic mode ID methods

in IAU Symposium, No. 224, The A-Star Puzzle, held in Poprad, Slovakia, July 8-13, 2004. (2004, December 01)

Spectroscopic mode identification techiques, which monitor intensity variations across an absorption line, provide the possibility of determining the quantum numbers l and m, the inclination and the ... [more ▼]

Spectroscopic mode identification techiques, which monitor intensity variations across an absorption line, provide the possibility of determining the quantum numbers l and m, the inclination and the intrinsic pulsation amplitude of a star. Of course, the uncertainties of the mode identification are dependent on the quality of the observations and the identification method applied. We have focused on the Pixel-by-pixel method/Direct line profile fitting (Mantegazza 2000) and the Moment method (Balona 1987, Briquet & Aerts 2003) for pinpointing mode parameters and tested the impact of various observational effects and stellar properties on the identification. [less ▲]

Asteroseismology of the β Cephei star ν Eridani - III. Extended frequency analysis and mode identification

in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (2004), 351

Using the large photometric and spectroscopic data sets of the ν Eridani multisite campaign given in our two recent papers (Aerts et al. and Handler et al.), we present an extended frequency analysis and ... [more ▼]

Using the large photometric and spectroscopic data sets of the ν Eridani multisite campaign given in our two recent papers (Aerts et al. and Handler et al.), we present an extended frequency analysis and a photometric mode identification. For the extended frequency analysis, we used an improved radial velocity time series, the second-moment time series and the line profiles themselves. In the radial velocity time series, we can now detect an additional pulsation frequency that was previously only found in photometric time series. We also report several new candidate pulsation frequencies. For seven frequencies, the photometric mode identification indicates that they belong to a radial mode and six dipole modes, and for three frequencies the degree l could not be unambiguously determined. We also placed ν Eri in the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram by determining T[SUB]eff[/SUB] using Geneva plus Strömgren photometric calibrations, spectral energy distribution fitting, by non-local thermodynamic equilibrium hydrogen, helium and silicon line profile fitting, and by determining log(L/L[SUB]solar[/SUB]) using the Hipparcos parallax and an Hβ calibration. [less ▲]

He and Si surface inhomogeneities of four Bp variable stars

in Astronomy and Astrophysics (2004), 413

We present ground-based multi-colour Geneva photometry and high-resolution spectra of four variable B-type stars: HD 105382, HD 131120, HD 138769 and HD 55522. All sets of data reveal monoperiodic stars ... [more ▼]

We present ground-based multi-colour Geneva photometry and high-resolution spectra of four variable B-type stars: HD 105382, HD 131120, HD 138769 and HD 55522. All sets of data reveal monoperiodic stars. A comparison of moment variations of two spectral lines, one silicon line and one helium line, allows us to exclude the pulsation model as being the cause of the observed variability of the four stars. We therefore delete the four stars from the list of candidate slowly pulsating B stars. We attribute the line-profile variations to non-homogeneous distributions of elements on the stellar surface and we derive abundance maps for both elements on the stellar surface by means of the Doppler Imaging technique. We confirm HD 131120 to be a He-weak star and we classify HD 105382, HD 138769 as new He-weak stars. HD 55522 has the solar helium abundance but the mean abundance value of He varies by 0.8 dex during the stellar rotation. For HD 131120 and HD 105382, helium is enhanced in regions of the stellar surface where silicon is depleted and depleted in regions where silicon is enhanced. Based on observations obtained with the Swiss photometric telescope and ESO's CAT/CES telescope, both situated at La Silla, Chile. Appendix A, Tables 1 and 2 and Figs. 9, 11, 13 are only available in electronic form at http://www.edpsciences.org [less ▲]

A Hare and Hound in a BAG: Asteroseismology of Beta Cephei stars

in Communications in Asteroseismology (2003), 143

Several members of the COROT Seismology Working Group (SWG) have performed several ``hare-and-hound'' exercises to prepare the data exploitation of the mission in the past few years. These exercises ... [more ▼]

Several members of the COROT Seismology Working Group (SWG) have performed several ``hare-and-hound'' exercises to prepare the data exploitation of the mission in the past few years. These exercises consist in reproducing a theoretical model on the basis of a light curve obtained from a frequency spectrum computed from an ``unknown'' theoretical model of a solar-like or a Delta Scuti star. Members of the BAG (Belgian Asteroseismology Group) have now shown that such an exercise in the mass range of Beta Cephei stars is extremely convincing, making these stars excellent targets for asteroseismology space missions. [less ▲]

A new seismic analysis of Alpha Centauri

in Astronomy and Astrophysics (2003), 402(1), 293-297

Models of alpha Cen A & B have been computed using the masses determined by Pourbaix et al. (\cite{Po2002}) and the data derived from the spectroscopic analysis of Neuforge & Magain (\cite{Ne1997}). The ... [more ▼]

Models of alpha Cen A & B have been computed using the masses determined by Pourbaix et al. (\cite{Po2002}) and the data derived from the spectroscopic analysis of Neuforge & Magain (\cite{Ne1997}). The seismological data obtained by Bouchy & Carrier (\cite{Bo2001}, \cite{Bo2002}) do help improve our knowledge of the evolutionary status of the system. All the constraints are satisfied with a model which gives an age of about 6 Gyr for the binary. [less ▲]

Spectroscopic mode identification for the beta Cephei star EN (16) Lacertae

in Astronomy and Astrophysics (2003), 399

We perform for the first time spectroscopic mode identification in the eclipsing binary beta Cephei star EN (16) Lac. This mode identification is based upon a time series of 942 line profiles of the He I ... [more ▼]

We perform for the first time spectroscopic mode identification in the eclipsing binary beta Cephei star EN (16) Lac. This mode identification is based upon a time series of 942 line profiles of the He I lambda lambda 6678 Åline in its spectrum. All three known frequencies f[SUB]1[/SUB], f,SUB>2,/SUB>, f[SUB]3[/SUB] of the star are present in the line-profile variations, but we failed to find additional modes. Using different identification methods we find conclusive evidence for the radial nature of the main mode and for the l=2, m=0 identification of the mode with frequency f[SUB]2[/SUB]. A unique identification of the third mode is not possible from the spectra, but we do derive that l[SUB]3[/SUB]<3. Fits to the amplitude and phase variability of the modes imply a rotation frequency between 0.1 and 0.4 c d[SUP]-1[/SUP]. The star's rotation axis is not aligned with the orbital axis. Based on observations gathered with the coudé spectrograph attached to the 2.0 m reflector telescope at Tautenburg Observatory. [less ▲]