Secular variability of the longitudinal magnetic field of the Ap star γ Equ

We present an analysis of the secular variability of the longitudinal magnetic field B _e in the roAp star γ Equ (HD 201601). Measurements of the stellar magnetic field B _e were mostly compiled from the literature, and we appended also our 33 new B _e measurements which were obtained with the 1-m optical telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory (Russia). All the available data cover the time period of 58 yr, and include both phases of the maximum and minimum B _e. We determined that the period of the long-term magnetic B _e variations equals  91.1 ± 3.6 yr  , with   B _e(max) =+577 ± 31 G  and   B _e(min) =−1101 ± 31 G  .     

The sixth frequency of roAp star HR 1217

The frequency of the sixth mode observed in HR 1217 cannot currently be understood in the light of the asymptotic theory for high-frequency acoustic modes, valid for adiabatic pulsations in spherically symmetric stars. Deviations from spherical symmetry will change the frequency of the observed oscillations away from the frequencies predicted by the asymptotic theory. Among other things, the presence of a magnetic field in the star will introduce such deviations from spherical symmetry. In the present work we inspect the effect of the magnetic field on the oscillations of HR 1217. Although we model HR 1217 in a rather simplified manner, we believe, as argued in the text, that the essence of the conclusions would not be modified if a more sophisticated model were to be used instead. The results show that the frequency of the sixth mode observed in HR 1217 might be understood if the effect of the magnetic field on the frequencies of the oscillations is fully taken into account. Moreover, we interpret the sixth frequency as a mode of even degree, and explain the absence from the observations of an intermediate l =1 , m =0 mode as the result of large energy losses associated with the coupling of the latter with Alfvénic waves, in the strongly magnetized outer layers of the star. Finally, we show how, in the light of this explanation, the frequency of the sixth mode might be used in order to put constraints on the parameters characterizing the star.     

Composite spectra Paper 11: α Equulei, an astrometric binary with an Am secondary

The spectrum of the secondary component of the bright composite-binary system α Equ, whose visual orbit is already known accurately, is isolated by the method of spectrum subtraction and classified accurately for the first time. The primary is a normal giant of type ∼G7, while the secondary is an Am star of type ∼kA3hA4mA9. The system's mass ratio, q , is determined to be  1.15±0.03  from measurements of the relative radial-velocity displacements between the components. Random and systematic errors in q are evaluated on the basis of the scatter of results derived from sets of spectra obtained from three different sources, and from tests conducted on independent versions of the secondary's spectrum. A spectroscopic analysis of a composite system such as α Equ is strongly challenged by the blending of a great many lines that are common to both spectra. Even when the primary spectrum is thought to have been subtracted adequately, a seemingly unavoidable ghost spectrum of faint residuals can bias wavelength measurements of the secondary's lines. That blending was the principal cause of a history of puzzling and discrepant measurements of q in α Equ. The derived masses of  M₁=2.3 M_⊙  ,  M₂=2.0 M_⊙  for the giant and dwarf, respectively, constrain the choice of models for fitting evolutionary tracks in the (log  T _eff, log  L ) plane; the stellar points fit a single isochrone (for 0.74 Gyr). Both components are found to be slightly over-luminous compared to normal for their supposed luminosity classes. The giant appears to be commencing its first ascent of the red-giant branch. The dwarf has started to evolve away from the main sequence; its M _V is similar to that of a sub-giant.     

Spectroscopy of the roAp star α Cir — I. Velocities of Hα and metal lines

We present radial velocity measurements of the rapidly oscillating Ap (roAp) star α Cir, obtained from dual-site observations with medium-dispersion spectrographs. The amplitude and phase of the principal pulsation mode vary significantly, depending on which line is being measured. The amplitude is observed to be as high as 1000 m s⁻¹ in some wavelength bands, despite a previous upper limit of 36 m s⁻¹. Furthermore, some lines are apparently pulsating in anti-phase with others. We suggest this indicates a high-overtone standing wave with a velocity node in the atmosphere of the star.     

Radial velocity study of the roAp star α Circinus

We present results of 548 high-dispersion spectra of the roAp star α Circinus over a five-night period. The pulsational radial velocities measured from the rare-earth elements, Nd iii , Hα and Hβ are easily measured and occur at the photometric period. The amplitude is largest in Nd iii and Hα, is lower in the rare earths and Hβ, and cannot be measured in other metal lines. This behaviour can be understood in terms of an increase of pulsational amplitude with height in the atmosphere coupled with abundance stratification. The radial velocities show a significant variation at the rotational period of 4.463 d and a marginally significant periodicity at a frequency of 8.16 cycle d⁻¹. The latter may be a very low-amplitude δ Scuti pulsation.     

How to drive roAp stars

Rapidly oscillating Ap stars constitute a unique class of pulsators with which to study non-radial oscillations under some — even for stars — unusual physical conditions. These stars are chemically peculiar, they have strong magnetic fields and they often pulsate in several high-order acoustic modes simultaneously. We discuss here an excitation mechanism for short-period oscillation modes based on the classical κ mechanism. We particularly stress the conditions that must be fulfilled for successful driving. Specifically, we discuss the roles of the chemical peculiarity and strong magnetic field on the oscillation modes and what separates these pulsators from δ Scuti and Am-type stars.     

On the excitation mechanism in roAp stars

We investigate a model for the excitation of high-order oscillations in roAp stars. In this model we assume that the strong concentration of magnetic field about the magnetic poles is enough to suppress convection. Thus the model considered is composed of two polar regions, in which convection is presumed to be suppressed totally, and an equatorial region, where the convection is unaffected. This model is generated by building pairs of locally spherically symmetrical equilibria to represent the polar and equatorial regions of the star, which are patched together below the base of the convection zone. Gravitational settling of heavy elements is taken into account by choosing appropriate chemical composition profiles for both the polar and equatorial regions. Our results indicate that the composite model is unstable against axisymmetric non-radial high-order modes of pulsation that are aligned with the magnetic poles. The oscillations are excited by the κ mechanism acting principally in the hydrogen ionization zones of the polar regions. The effect of the lateral inhomogeneity on the second frequency differences is also investigated; we find that the perturbation to them by the inhomogeneity is of the same order as the second differences themselves, thereby hindering potential attempts to use such differences to identify the degrees of the modes in a straightforward way.     

The pulsating λ Bootis star HD 105759

We present spectroscopic and multisite time series photometric observations of the star HD 105759 which confirm that this is a new pulsating λ Bootis star. Our spectroscopy indicates an overall metallicity of [Z] = log Z − log Z_⊙ = −1 and that T _eff = 8000 ± 300 K and log  g  = 4.0 ± 0.2. The photometric data reveal that this star pulsates with at least five frequencies: 8.62, 12.69, 20.15, 21.27 and 23.66 d⁻¹. These frequencies do not all match those found in an earlier single-site study, indicating that the pulsation spectrum changes with time.     

Magnetic perturbations to the acoustic modes of roAp stars

We study the effect of a large-scale surface magnetic field on the non-radial acoustic modes of roAp stars. Special attention is given to the use of a variational principle which is used for determining the shifts in the frequencies with relative ease, enabling us to avoid having to calculate the perturbed eigenfunctions. With knowledge of the frequency shifts we then estimate the eigenfunctions in a simpler, albeit approximate way. The results indicate frequency shifts of the order of few μHz, which depend on the order, degree and azimuthal order of the mode. The loss of energy through Alfvén waves is also estimated from the imaginary parts of the frequency shifts. The results indicate that the loss is particularly high near specific frequencies. This might indicate the presence of a selection effect, which could make some modes more likely to be excited than others. However, our results do not explain why the modes observed appear always to be aligned with the axis of the magnetic field. Finally, the estimated perturbed eigenfunctions contain strong components of spherical harmonics that differ from those of the original unperturbed modes.     

The magnetic field and rotational period of 53 Camelopardalis

The magnetic Ap star 53 Cam has been described as the best object for testing theories of elemental diffusion in the presence of a stellar magnetic field. It is thus vital to determine the rotational period of this very important star as accurately as possible. An improved period (8.026 81±0.000 04 d) is derived here by combining new measurements of the effective magnetic field with previously published values.     

Confirmation of simultaneous p and g mode excitation in HD 8801 and γ Peg from time-resolved multicolour photometry of six candidate 'hybrid' pulsators

We carried out a multicolour time-series photometric study of six stars claimed as 'hybrid' p and g mode pulsators in the literature. γ Peg was confirmed to show short-period oscillations of the β Cep type and simultaneous long-period pulsations typical of Slowly Pulsating B (SPB) stars. From the measured amplitude ratios in the Strömgren uvy passbands, the stronger of the two short period pulsation modes was identified as radial; the second is  ℓ= 1  . Three of the four SPB-type modes are most likely  ℓ= 1  or 2. Comparison with theoretical model calculations suggests that γ Peg is either a  ∼8.5 M_⊙  radial fundamental mode pulsator or a  ∼9.6 M_⊙  first radial overtone pulsator. HD 8801 was corroborated as a 'hybrid'δ Sct/γ Dor star; four pulsation modes of the γ Dor type were detected, and two modes of the δ Sct type were confirmed. Two pulsational signals between the frequency domains of these two known classes of variables were confirmed and another was newly detected. These are either previously unknown types of pulsation or do not originate from HD 8801. The O-type star HD 13745 showed small-amplitude slow variability on a time-scale of 3.2 d. This object may be related to the suspected new type of supergiant SPB stars, but a rotational origin of its light variations cannot be ruled out at this point. 53 Psc is an SPB star for which two pulsation frequencies were determined and identified with low spherical degree. Small-amplitude variability was formally detected for 53 Ari but is suspected not to be intrinsic. The behaviour of ι Her is consistent with non-variability during our observations, and we could not confirm light variations of the comparison star 34 Psc previously suspected. The use of signal-to-noise criteria in the analysis of data sets with strong aliasing is critically discussed.     

High-precision magnetic field measurements of Ap and Bp stars

In this paper we describe a new approach for measuring the mean longitudinal magnetic field and net linear polarization of Ap and Bp stars. As was demonstrated by Wade et al., least-squares deconvolution (LSD; Donati et al.) provides a powerful technique for detecting weak Stokes V , Q and U Zeeman signatures in stellar spectral lines. These signatures have the potential to apply strong new constraints to models of stellar magnetic field structure. Here we point out two important uses of LSD Stokes profiles. First, they can provide very precise determinations of the mean longitudinal magnetic field. In particular, this method allows one frequently to obtain 1 σ error bars better than 50 G, and smaller than 20 G in some cases. This method is applicable to both broad- and sharp-lined stars, with both weak and strong magnetic fields, and effectively redefines the quality standard of longitudinal field determinations. Secondly, LSD profiles can in some cases provide a measure of the net linear polarization, a quantity analogous to the broad-band linear polarization recently used to derive detailed magnetic field models for a few stars (e.g. Leroy et al.). In this paper we report new high-precision measurements of the longitudinal fields of 14 magnetic Ap/Bp stars, as well as net linear polarization measurements for four of these stars, derived from LSD profiles.