Some thoughts on pulsation and binarity

Intensive monitoring of main-sequence stars for pulsational studies continuously reveals new binaries and multiple systems. The resulting extensive data sets lead to exact orbital parameters, and to accurate masses of the components. This is also the case higher up the main sequence, though less frequently. We discuss a few examples where intensive observational efforts are necessary in order to improve our knowledge of the pulsational behaviour in the upper main-sequence instability domains, but we emphasize that observational efforts alone that turn out more and more of the same type of data, are by far insufficient, and that there is urgent need for theoretical developments. Determination of highly accurate stellar parameters is of paramount importance and is much more needed than time-series observations.     

Stream formation in W Serpentis-type binaries

By the method proposed by Nazarenko (1993) and using observational data obtained by different authors, the physical conditions in the stream in the neighbourhood of the inner Lagrangian point L₁ were calculated for three interacting binary systems of W Ser-type: β Lyr, V367 Cyg, RY Sct. It is shown, that as a result of the evolutional expansion of the mass losing component the deep layers of its atmosphere reach the neighbourhood of the first Lagrangian point L₁ and a stream of axial symmetric shape is formed. Its radius is comparable to the dimension of the mass losing component. The rate of the mass transfer increases up to 10⁻⁵ M_⊙/yr. The calculated parameters of the stream in the neighbourhood of the point L₁ explain the main observational properties of the investigated systems (existence of extended circumstellar matter with a developed structure, high mass transfer rate).     

Present Observational Status of the Intermediate Mass Stars: δ Sct Stars, γ Dor Stars and roAp Stars

The present observational status of the Sct stars, Dor stars and roAp stars is discussed. The Sct stars are the most intensively observed of the three groups, but it has become clear that there are severe problems in extracting asteroseismic information from them. Dozens of frequencies are observed, but hundreds of frequencies are predicted from the models; unique matches of observation and theory still elude us. The Sct stars are observationally complex – some recent `best case' campaigns are discussed. It is possible that substantial observational advances for Sct stars may need to await upcoming satellite missions. New Dor stars are beingdiscovered frequently, and new behaviour is being found for them. They constitutean observationally young field. Their pulsational frequency range is being expanded, their position in the HR diagram is becoming better known (but is yet to be fully constrained), and the possibility exists of hybrid Dor – Sct stars that have greatasteroseismic promise, although it is clear such stars are rare, if they do exist. It has been observationally challenging to extract more than a fewfrequencies for any Dor star so far. Exciting spectroscopic discoveries of new behaviour in roAp stars promise unprecedented information about the structure of the peculiar atmospheres ofthose stars – pulsation amplitude and phase in 3D, magnetic field structurein 3D, abundance stratification in 3D, realistic T- for the most peculiarstars – as well as entirely new information about the interaction of pulsation,rotation and magnetic fields. Recent theoretical work has led to new understandingof the previously inexplicable frequency spacing of HR 1217 with new Whole Earth Telescope observations supporting this theory. An `improved oblique pulsator model' has been developed in which the pulsationaxis is not the magnetic axis; this model has passed several observationaltests and new ones are being devised to examine it further.     

A spectroscopic study of DD UMa: Ursa Major group member and candidate for BRITE

The Ursa Major group is a nearby stellar supercluster which, while not gravitationally bound, is defined by co-moving members. DD UMa is a δ Scuti star whose membership in the Ursa Major group is unclear.The objective of this study is to confirm the membership of DD UMa in the Ursa Major group, as well as perform a detailed spectral analysis of the star. Since DD UMa is a low-amplitude δ Scuti star, we performed a frequency analysis. We determined fundamental parameters, chemical abundances, and derive a mass and age for the star.For this study we observed DD UMa at the Okayama Astrophysical Observatory with the high-resolution spectrograph HIDES, between the 27th of February and the 4th March, 2009. Additional observations were extracted from the ELODIE archive in order to expand our abundance analysis. Group membership of DD UMa was assessed by examining the velocity of the star in Galactic coordinates. Pulsational frequencies were determined by examining line profile variability in the HIDES spectra. Stellar fundamental parameters and chemical abundances were derived by fitting synthetic spectra to both the HIDES and ELODIE observations.DD UMa is found to be a member of the extended stream of the Ursa Major group, based on the space motion of the star. This is supported by the chemical abundances of the star being consistent with those of Ursa Major group members. The star is found to be chemically solar, with T_eff = 7450 ± 150 K and logg = 3.98 ± 0.2. We found pulsational frequencies of 9.4 and 15.0 c/d. While these frequencies are insufficient to perform an asteroseismic study, DD UMa is a good bright star candidate for future study by the BRITE-constellation.     

HD 172189, a Cluster Member Binary System with a δ Scuti Component in the Field of View of COROT

Photometric and spectroscopic results for the star HD 172189, member of the open cluster IC 4756 in the summer field of the space mission COROT, are presented. From photometric observations in the Strömgren system carried out at various epochs, its binary nature as well as the presence of a δ Scuti-type pulsating component have been discovered. The frequency analysis of the whole dataset confirms a dominant frequency of 19.5974 c d^?1 with a maximum amplitude near 0.02 mag plus other frequencies in the range 18–20 c d^?1. A preliminary orbital solution from the light curve and from four FEROS spectra reveals two similar components of around 1.5 M _⊙ orbiting with a period of 5.702 d.     

Mt. Suhora M dwarf survey - Detection of eight short-period variable stars

The Mt. Suhora M dwarf survey searching for pulsations in low mass main sequence stars has acquired CCD photometry of 46 M dwarf stars during the first year of the project (Baran et al., 2011). As a by-product of this search hundreds field stars have been checked for variability. This paper presents our initial result of a search for periodic variables in field stars observed in the course of the survey. On the basis of the periodicity and the shape of the light curves, eight new variables has been detected, among which five are δ Scuti stars and three likely RR Lyrae stars. Although variation in one of the stars has been previously detected, it was classified incorrectly. To support our classification, in August 2010, we performed spectroscopic observations to derive spectral types and luminosity classes for all eight variable stars.