Publications of Valérie Van Grootel     Results 1-20 of 84. 1 2 3 4 5   On Interpreting g-Mode Period Spacings in sdB StarsCharpinet, Stéphane; Brassard, Pierre; Van Grootel, Valérie et alin Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series (in press), 481Long period B subdwarf (sdB) pulsators, when observed from space with the satellites CoRoT and Kepler, show particularly rich g-mode oscillation spectra with often hundreds of frequencies. In many of ... [more ▼]Long period B subdwarf (sdB) pulsators, when observed from space with the satellites CoRoT and Kepler, show particularly rich g-mode oscillation spectra with often hundreds of frequencies. In many of these pulsation spectra, regularities in the observed period distributions typical of high order g-modes in chemically homogeneous stars have been reported. This led to a claim that sdB stars could be much less chemically stratified than previously thought. In this paper, we show that such an interpretation is unfounded. We reinvestigate trapping effects on g-modes in sdB stars in view of current observations and show that ”standard” stratified models can also produce nearly quasi-constant period spacings in the low frequency range which are comparable to those observed in the g-mode spectra of these stars. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 13 (0 ULg) 6th Conference on Hot Subdwarf Stars and Related ObjectsVan Grootel, Valérie ; Green, Elizabeth M.; Fontaine, Gilles et alBook published by Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series (in press)Detailed reference viewed: 11 (0 ULg) Modeling the hot subdwarf PB 8783 by asteroseismologyVan Grootel, Valérie ; Charpinet, Stephane; Fontaine, Gilles et alin Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series (in press), 481We present the preliminary seismic modeling of one of the hottest and most compact subdwarf pulsators, PB 8783 (EO Ceti). This is a well observed hot subdwarf star, including a 78 d campaign in white ... [more ▼]We present the preliminary seismic modeling of one of the hottest and most compact subdwarf pulsators, PB 8783 (EO Ceti). This is a well observed hot subdwarf star, including a 78 d campaign in white light photometry that we carried out at Mount Bigelow, Arizona, during the fall 2007. PB 8783 has also been observed at length in spectroscopy, revealing a spectrum highly contaminated by a main sequence companion. It is extremely difficult to disentangle the contribution of the two components and, as a consequence of this, the exact nature of the hot subdwarf (sdB or sdO star) is undetermined. We propose here to test the two hypotheses by asteroseismology. Although the sdB possibility cannot be excluded, the pulsation modes observed in PB 8783 are much better accommodated in the case of an sdO star. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 7 (0 ULg) The Mass Distribution of sdB Stars Derived by Asteroseismology and Other Means: Implications for Stellar Evolution TheoryVan Grootel, Valérie ; Charpinet, Stéphane; Fontaine, Gilles et alin Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series (in press), 481Understanding the formation of sdB stars is one of the remaining challenges of stellar evolution theory. Competing scenarios have been proposed to account for the existence of such evolved objects. They ... [more ▼]Understanding the formation of sdB stars is one of the remaining challenges of stellar evolution theory. Competing scenarios have been proposed to account for the existence of such evolved objects. They give quite different mass distributions for resulting sdB stars. Detailed asteroseismic analyses, including mass estimates, of 15 pulsating hot B subdwarfs have been published in the past decade. Masses have also been reliably determined by light curve modeling and spectroscopy for 7 sdB components of eclipsing or reflection binaries. We present here the empirical mass distribution of sdB stars on the basis of these samples. Implications are also briefly discussed. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 9 (0 ULg) Mode Identification in Subdwarf B Stars from Multi-Wavelength ObservationsRandall, Suzanna K; Fontaine, Gilles; Brassard, Pierre et alin Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series (in press), 481We present several examples of partial mode identification for rapidly pulsating subdwarf B stars on the basis of multi-colour observations. Three targets (V391 Per, Balloon 090100001, and EC 11583−2708 ... [more ▼]We present several examples of partial mode identification for rapidly pulsating subdwarf B stars on the basis of multi-colour observations. Three targets (V391 Per, Balloon 090100001, and EC 11583−2708) were analysed from multi-colour photometry, while studies were conducted from time-series spectrophotometry for two further stars (EC 20338−1925 and EC 01541−1409). In all cases, periodicities strongly dominating the frequency spectrum are associated with radial modes, indicating a clear hierarchy according to visibility when integrating over the visible disk of the star. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 10 (0 ULg) Basic Principles of White Dwarf AsteroseismologyFontaine, Gilles; Brassard, Pierre; Charpinet, Stéphane et alin Napiwotzki, R.; Burleigh, M. (Eds.) The White Dwarfs Stars (in press)Detailed reference viewed: 31 (4 ULg) Precision and Accuracy of Asteroseismology Applied to sdB stars Using the Forward Modeling MethodCharpinet, Stéphane; Van Grootel, Valérie ; Brassard, Pierre et alin Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series (in press), 481Detailed seismic studies of hot B subdwarf (sdB) stars using the forward modeling approach provide measurements of their fundamental parameters at very interesting precisions. For instance, masses, radii ... [more ▼]Detailed seismic studies of hot B subdwarf (sdB) stars using the forward modeling approach provide measurements of their fundamental parameters at very interesting precisions. For instance, masses, radii, and log g values derived this way are typically claimed at ∼ 1 − 2%, ∼ 0.5%, and ∼ 0.1 % precision, respectively. However, this method relies on still imperfect stellar models that contains various uncertainties associated with their inner structure and the underlying microphysics. A signature of these imperfections is the inability of current best-fit seismic models to reproduce all the observed oscillation frequencies at the precision of the observations. Therefore, the question of the accuracy (as opposed to the precision) of the derived parameters obtained from this approach is legitimate. Here, we revisit the question of precision and accuracy based on new, third generation, complete static models of sdB stars developed for asteroseismology and applied to the case of the eclipsing system PG 1336-018. This allows us to evaluate the reliability of the method and quantify the impact of various uncertainties in the stellar models on the derived stellar parameters. Finally, we discuss the intrinsic potential of asteroseismology for precise measurements of stellar parameters and show that we are far from having fully exploited this technique in terms of precision that can, in principle, be achieved. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 10 (0 ULg) Observational Asteroseismology of Hot Subdwarf Stars with the Mont4K/Kuiper Combination at the Steward Observatory Mount Bigelow StationFontaine, Gilles; Green, Elizabeth M.; Charpinet, Stéphane et alin Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series (in press), 481In the last few years, we have carried out several extensive observational campaigns on pulsating hot subdwarf stars using the Mont4K CCD camera attached to the 1.55 m Kuiper Telescope on Mount Bigelow ... [more ▼]In the last few years, we have carried out several extensive observational campaigns on pulsating hot subdwarf stars using the Mont4K CCD camera attached to the 1.55 m Kuiper Telescope on Mount Bigelow. The Mont4K is a joint partnership between the University of Arizona and Universite ́ de Montre ́al. It was designed and built at Steward Observatory. Using the Mont4K/Kuiper combination, we have so far, and among others, gathered high-sensitivity broadband light curves for PG 1219+534, PB8783, HS 0702+6043, and Feige 48. We report very briefly on some of the most interesting observational results that came out of these campaigns. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 25 (1 ULg) The soundtrack of RR Lyrae in Omega Cen at high-frequencyCalamida, A.S.; Randall, S.K.; Monelli, M. et alin Memorie della Società Astronomica Italiana : Journal of the Italian Astronomical Society (in press)Detailed reference viewed: 52 (0 ULg) Transit confirmation and improved stellar and planet parameters for the super-Earth HD 97658 b and its host starVan Grootel, Valérie ; Gillon, Michaël ; Valencia, D. et alin Astrophysical Journal (in press)Super-Earths transiting nearby bright stars are key objects that simultaneously allow for accurate measurements of both their mass and radius, providing essential constraints on their internal composition ... [more ▼]Super-Earths transiting nearby bright stars are key objects that simultaneously allow for accurate measurements of both their mass and radius, providing essential constraints on their internal composition. We present here the confirmation, based on Spitzer transit observations, that the super-Earth HD 97658 b transits its host star. HD 97658 is a low-mass ($M_*=0.77\pm0.05\,M_{\odot}$) K1 dwarf, as determined from the Hipparcos parallax and stellar evolution modeling. To constrain the planet parameters, we carry out Bayesian global analyses of Keck-HIRES radial velocities, and MOST and Spitzer photometry. HD 97658 b is a massive ($M_P=7.55^{+0.83}_{-0.79} M_{\oplus}$) and large ($R_{P} = 2.247^{+0.098}_{-0.095} R_{\oplus}$ at 4.5 $\mu$m) super-Earth. We investigate the possible internal compositions for HD 97658 b. Our results indicate a large rocky component, by at least 60% by mass, and very little H-He components, at most 2% by mass. We also discuss how future asteroseismic observations can improve the knowledge of the HD 97658 system, in particular by constraining its age. Orbiting a bright host star, HD 97658 b will be a key target for coming space missions TESS, CHEOPS, PLATO, and also JWST, to characterize thoroughly its structure and atmosphere. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 12 (4 ULg) Mode identification based on time-series spectrophotometry for the bright rapid sdB pulsator EC 01541-1409Randall, Suzanna K; Fontaine, Gilles; Geier, Stephan et alin Astronomy and Astrophysics (2014), 563We present an analysis of time-resolved spectrophotometry gathered with FORS/VLT for the rapidly pulsating hot B subdwarf EC 01541-1409 with the aim of identifying the degree index ℓ of the larger ... [more ▼]We present an analysis of time-resolved spectrophotometry gathered with FORS/VLT for the rapidly pulsating hot B subdwarf EC 01541-1409 with the aim of identifying the degree index ℓ of the larger amplitude modes. This mode identification can be extremely useful in detailed searches for viable asteroseismic models in parameter space, and can be crucial for testing the validity of a solution a posteriori. To achieve it, we exploit the ℓ-dependence of the monochromatic amplitude, phase, and velocity-to-amplitude ratio of a mode as a function of wavelength. We use the ℓ-sensitive phase lag between the flux perturbation and the radial velocity as an additional diagnostic tool. On this basis, we are able to unambiguously identify the dominant 140.5 s pulsation of our target as a radial mode, and the second-highest amplitude periodicity at 145.8 s as an ℓ = 2 mode. We further exploit the exceptionally high-sensitivity data that we gathered for the dominant mode to infer modal properties that are usually quite difficult to estimate in sdB pulsators, namely the physical values of the dimensionless radius, temperature, and surface gravity perturbations. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 14 (0 ULg) Transiting planets from WASP-South, Euler and TRAPPIST: WASP-68 b, WASP-73 b and WASP-88 b, three hot Jupiters transiting evolved solar-type starsDelrez, Laetitia ; Van Grootel, Valérie ; Anderson, D. R. et alin Astronomy and Astrophysics (2014)We report the discovery by the WASP transit survey of three new hot Jupiters, WASP-68 b, WASP-73 b and WASP-88 b. WASP-68 b has a mass of 0.95+-0.03 M_Jup, a radius of 1.24-0.06+0.10 R_Jup, and orbits a V ... [more ▼]We report the discovery by the WASP transit survey of three new hot Jupiters, WASP-68 b, WASP-73 b and WASP-88 b. WASP-68 b has a mass of 0.95+-0.03 M_Jup, a radius of 1.24-0.06+0.10 R_Jup, and orbits a V=10.7 G0-type star (1.24+-0.03 M_sun, 1.69-0.06+0.11 R_sun, T_eff=5911+-60 K) with a period of 5.084298+-0.000015 days. Its size is typical of hot Jupiters with similar masses. WASP-73 b is significantly more massive (1.88-0.06+0.07 M_Jup) and slightly larger (1.16-0.08+0.12 R_Jup) than Jupiter. It orbits a V=10.5 F9-type star (1.34-0.04+0.05 M_sun, 2.07-0.08+0.19 R_sun, T_eff=6036+-120 K) every 4.08722+-0.00022 days. Despite its high irradiation (2.3 10^9 erg s^-1 cm^-2), WASP-73 b has a high mean density (1.20-0.30+0.26 \rho_Jup) that suggests an enrichment of the planet in heavy elements. WASP-88 b is a 0.56+-0.08 M_Jup planet orbiting a V=11.4 F6-type star (1.45+-0.05 M_sun, 2.08-0.06+0.12 R_sun, T_eff=6431+-130 K) with a period of 4.954000+-0.000019 days. With a radius of 1.70-0.07+0.13 R_Jup, it joins the handful of planets with super-inflated radii. The ranges of ages we determine through stellar evolution modeling are 4.5-7.0 Gyr for WASP-68, 2.8-5.7 Gyr for WASP-73 and 1.8-4.3 Gyr for WASP-88. WASP-73 appears to be a significantly evolved star, close to or already in the subgiant phase. WASP-68 and WASP-88 are less evolved, although in an advanced stage of core H-burning. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 10 (2 ULg) G-mode trapping and period spacings in hot B subdwarf starsCharpinet, Stéphane; Van Grootel, Valérie ; Brassard, Pierre et alin Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union (2014, February), 301Hot B subdwarfs (sdB) are hot and compact helium core burning stars of nearly half a solar mass that can develop pulsational instabilities driving acoustic and/or gravity modes. These evolved stars are ... [more ▼]Hot B subdwarfs (sdB) are hot and compact helium core burning stars of nearly half a solar mass that can develop pulsational instabilities driving acoustic and/or gravity modes. These evolved stars are expected to be chemically stratified with an almost pure hydrogen envelope surrounding a helium mantle on top of a carbon/oxygen enriched core. However, the sdB stars pulsating in g-modes show regularities in their observed period distributions that, surprisingly (at first sight), are typical of the behavior of high order g-modes in chemically homogeneous (i.e., non-stratified) stars. This led to a claim that hot B subdwarfs could be much less chemically stratified than previously thought. Here, we reinvestigate trapping effects affecting g-modes in sdB stars. We show that standard stratified models of such stars can also produce nearly constant period spacings in the low frequency range similar to those found in g-mode spectra of sdB stars monitored with Kepler. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 8 (0 ULg) Origin and Pulsation of Hot SubdwarfsRandall, Suzanna K; Fontaine, Gilles; Charpinet, Stéphane et alin Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union (2014, February), 301We briefly introduce hot subdwarfs and their evolutionary status before discussing the different types of known pulsators in more detail. Currently, at least six apparently distinct types of variable are ... [more ▼]We briefly introduce hot subdwarfs and their evolutionary status before discussing the different types of known pulsators in more detail. Currently, at least six apparently distinct types of variable are known among hot subdwarfs, encompassing p- as well as g-mode pulsators and objects in the Galactic field as well as in globular clusters. Most of the oscillations detected can be explained in terms of an iron opacity mechanism, and quantitative asteroseismology has been very successful for some of the pulsators. In addition to helping constrain possible evolutionary scenarios, studies focussing on stellar pulsations have also been used to infer planets and characterize the rotation of the host star. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 9 (0 ULg) Pulsations in white dwarf starsFontaine, Gilles; Bergeron, Pierre; Brassard, Pierre et alin Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union (2014, February), 301We first present a brief description of the six distinct families of pulsating white dwarfs that are now known. These are all opacity-driven pulsators showing low- to mid-order, low-degree gravity modes ... [more ▼]We first present a brief description of the six distinct families of pulsating white dwarfs that are now known. These are all opacity-driven pulsators showing low- to mid-order, low-degree gravity modes. We then discuss some recent highlights that have come up in the field of white dwarf asteroseismology. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 5 (0 ULg) WASP-103b: a new planet at the edge of tidal disruptionGillon, Michaël ; Anderson, D. R.; Collier-Cameron, A. et alin Astronomy and Astrophysics (2014)We report the discovery of WASP-103b, a new ultra-short-period planet (P=22.2 hr) transiting a 12.1 V-magnitude F8-type main-sequence star (1.22+-0.04 Msun, 1.44-0.03+0.05 Rsun, Teff = 6110+-160 K). WASP ... [more ▼]We report the discovery of WASP-103b, a new ultra-short-period planet (P=22.2 hr) transiting a 12.1 V-magnitude F8-type main-sequence star (1.22+-0.04 Msun, 1.44-0.03+0.05 Rsun, Teff = 6110+-160 K). WASP-103b is significantly more massive (1.49+-0.09 Mjup) and larger (1.53-0.07+0.05 Rjup) than Jupiter. Its large size and extreme irradiation (around 9 10^9 erg/s/cm^2) make it an exquisite target for a thorough atmospheric characterization with existing facilities. Furthermore, its orbital distance is less than 20% larger than its Roche radius, meaning that it might be significantly distorted by tides and might experience mass loss through Roche-lobe overflow. It thus represents a new key object for understanding the last stage of the tidal evolution of hot Jupiters. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 13 (3 ULg) Reaching the 1% accuracy level on stellar mass and radius determinations from asteroseismologyVan Grootel, Valérie ; Charpinet, Stephane; Fontaine, Gilles et alin Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union (2014), 301Asteroseismic modeling of subdwarf B (sdB) stars provides measurements of their fundamental parameters with a very good precision; in particular, the masses and radii deter- mined from asteroseismology ... [more ▼]Asteroseismic modeling of subdwarf B (sdB) stars provides measurements of their fundamental parameters with a very good precision; in particular, the masses and radii deter- mined from asteroseismology are found to typically reach a precision of 1% containing various uncertainties associated with their inner structure and the underlying microphysics (composition and transition zones profiles, nuclear reaction rates, etc.). Therefore, the question of the accuracy of the stellar parameters derived by asteroseismology is legitimate. We present here the seismic modeling of the pulsating sdB star in the eclipsing binary PG 1336-018, for which the mass and the radius are independently and precisely known from the modeling of the reflection/irradiation effect and the eclipses observed in the light curve. This allows us to quantitatively evaluate the reliability of the seismic method and test the impact of uncertainties in our stellar models on the derived parameters. We conclude that the sdB star parameters inferred from asteroseismology are precise, accurate, and robust against model uncertainties. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 6 (0 ULg) The instability strip of ZZ Ceti white dwarfs and its extension to the extremely low mass pulsatorsVan Grootel, Valérie ; Fontaine, Gilles; Brassard, Pierre et alin Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series (2013, December), 479The determination of the location of the theoretical ZZ Ceti instability strip in the log g − Teff diagram has remained a challenge over the years, due to the lack of a suitable treatment for convection ... [more ▼]The determination of the location of the theoretical ZZ Ceti instability strip in the log g − Teff diagram has remained a challenge over the years, due to the lack of a suitable treatment for convection in these stars. We report here a detailed stability survey over the whole ZZ Ceti regime, including the very low masses where three pulsators have recently been found. We computed to this aim 29 evolutionary sequences of DA models with various masses and chemical layering. These models are characterized by the so-called ML2/α=1.0 convective efficiency and take into account the important feedback effect of convection on the atmospheric structure. We pulsated these models with the Liege nonadiabatic pulsation code MAD, which is the only one to conveniently incorporate a full time-dependent convection treatment and, thus, provides the best available description of the blue edge of the instability strip. On the other hand, given the failure of all nonadiabatic codes to account properly for the red edge of the strip, including MAD, we tested the idea that the red edge is due to energy leakage through the atmosphere. Using this approach, we found that our theoretical ZZ Ceti instability strip accounts remarkably well for the boundaries of the empirical strip. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 14 (3 ULg) White Dwarf Stars: A Brief OverviewFontaine, Gilles; Brassard, Pierre; Charpinet, Stephane et alin Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series (2013, December), 479We present a brief summary of what is currently known about white dwarf stars, with an emphasis on their evolutionary and internal properties. As is well known, white dwarfs represent the end products of ... [more ▼]We present a brief summary of what is currently known about white dwarf stars, with an emphasis on their evolutionary and internal properties. As is well known, white dwarfs represent the end products of stellar evolution for the vast majority of stars and, as such, bear the signatures of past events (such as mass-loss, mixing phases, loss and redistribution of angular momentum, and thermonuclear burning) that are of essential importance in the evolution of stars in general. In addition, white dwarf stars represent ideal testbeds for our understanding of matter under extreme conditions, and work on their constitutive physics (neutrino production rates, conductive and radiative opacities, interior liquid and solid equations of state, partially ionized and partially degenerate envelope equations of state, diffusion coefficients, line broadening mechanisms) is still being actively pursued. Given a set of constitutive physics, cooling white dwarfs can be used advantageously as cosmochronometers. Moreover, the field has been blessed by the existence of four distinct families of pulsating white dwarfs, each mapping a different evolutionary phase, and this allows the application of the asteroseismological method to probe and test their internal structure and evolutionary state. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 10 (0 ULg) g-Mode Oscillations in Hot B Subdwarf StarsCharpinet, Stéphane; Van Grootel, Valérie ; Fontaine, Gilles et alin Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series (2013, December), 479Observations from space with CoRoT and Kepler have revealed the rich pulsation spectra that characterize the long period hot B subdwarf (sdB) pulsators of the V1093 Her type. These evolved and compact ... [more ▼]Observations from space with CoRoT and Kepler have revealed the rich pulsation spectra that characterize the long period hot B subdwarf (sdB) pulsators of the V1093 Her type. These evolved and compact helium core burning stars can develop low amplitude oscillations with periods in the range ∼ 1 − 4 hours that correspond to low degree, mid to high order g-modes. These modes have the property to penetrate deep inside the star, down to the boundary of the central convective core. They are consequently particularly interesting as asteroseismic probes. Here we briefly review how the g-modes behave in sdB stars, focusing in particular on the seismic signatures coming from the core itself. We also briefly summarize the first seismic results obtained from space data in pioneering efforts to exploit the potential of long period sdB pulsators as deep probes of the core structure. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 11 (0 ULg) 1 2 3 4 5