[en] The B-type pulsators known as β Cephei and slowly pulsating B (SPB) stars present pulsations driven by the κ mechanism, which operates thanks to an opacity bump due to the iron-group elements. In low-metallicity environments such as the Magellanic Clouds, β Cep and SPB pulsations are not expected. Nevertheless, recent observations show evidence for the presence of B-type pulsator candidates in both galaxies.
We seek an explanation for the excitation of β Cep and SPB modes in those galaxies by examining basic input physics in stellar modelling: (i) the specific metal mixture of B-type stars in the Magellanic Clouds and (ii) the role of a potential underestimation of stellar opacities.
We first derive the present-day chemical mixtures of B-type stars in the Magellanic Clouds. Then, we compute stellar models for that metal mixture and perform a non-adiabatic analysis of these models. In the second approach, we simulate parametric enhancements of stellar opacities due to different iron-group elements. We then study their effects in models of B stars and their stability.
We find that adopting a representative chemical mixture of B stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud cannot explain the presence of B-type pulsators there. An increase of the opacity in the region of the iron-group bump could drive B-type pulsations, but only if this increase occurs at the temperature corresponding to the maximum contribution of Ni to this opacity bump. We recommend an accurate computation of the Ni opacity to understand B-type pulsators in the Small Magellanic Cloud, as well as the frequency domain observed in some Galactic hybrid β Cep–SPB stars.
Disciplines :
Space science, astronomy & astrophysics
Author, co-author :
Salmon, Sébastien ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Astrophysique stellaire théorique et astérosismologie
Montalban Iglesias, Josefa ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Astrophysique stellaire théorique et astérosismologie
Morel, Thierry ; Université de Liège - ULiège > GAPHE : Astrophysique observationnelle (sol et espace)
Miglio, Andrea; University of Birmingham
Dupret, Marc-Antoine ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Astrophysique stellaire théorique et astérosismologie
Noels-Grötsch, Arlette ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO)
Language :
English
Title :
Testing the effects of opacity and the chemical mixture on the excitation of pulsations in B stars of the Magellanic Clouds
Publication date :
June 2012
Journal title :
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
ISSN :
0035-8711
eISSN :
1365-2966
Publisher :
Blackwell Publishing, Oxford, United Kingdom
Volume :
422
Pages :
3460–3474
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Funders :
FRIA - Fonds pour la Formation à la Recherche dans l'Industrie et dans l'Agriculture [BE]
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