Analysis of light curves produced by surface inhomogeneities on magnetic CP stars

The problem of the determination of surface brightness distribution parameters from the observed CP2-star variability, usually explained with the “oblique rotator model”, is discussed. A simple geometrical model of the surface brightness distribution is derived from the common properties of the observed light curves of these stars. This “spot model” which is supported from the known facts concerning the magnetic field structure and the surface distributions of chemical elements serves as a basis of the special inverse problem: the determination of the number of large scale inhomogeneities, their locations and extents and further parameters, from all the observed light curves of a given star. A suitable technique for solving the special inverse problem is explained. The problem of ambiguity which even arises for the proposed simple model and, in connection with that, the remaining possibilities to win the relevant information on the inhomogeneities of surface brightness are discussed. For the purpose of illustration, the result of the light curve analysis of the CP2 star HD 8441 is given.