arXiv subjects

A. Frasca

Publications and source records attributed to A. Frasca.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

arXiv2014

Magnetic activity, differential rotation and dynamo action in the pulsating F9IV star KIC 5955122

We present photometric spot modeling of the nearly four-year long light-curve of the Kepler target KIC 5955122 in terms of persisting dark circular surface features. With a Bayesian technique, we produced a plausible surface map that shows dozens of small spots. After some artifacts are removed, the residuals are at $\pm 0.16$\,mmag. The shortest rotational period found is $P = 16.4 \pm 0.2$ days. The equator-to-pole extrapolated differential rotation is $0.25 \pm 0.02$ rad/d. The spots are roughly half as bright as the unperturbed stellar photosphere. Spot latitudes are restricted to the zone $\pm 60^\circ$ latitude. There is no indication for any near-pole spots. In addition, the p-mode pulsations enabled us to determine the evolutionary status of the star, the extension of the convective zone, and its radius and mass. We discuss the possibility that the clear signature of active regions in the light curve of the F9IV star KIC 5955122 is produced by a flux-transport dynamo action at the base of the convection zone. In particular, we argue that this star has evolved from an active to a quiet status during the Q0--Q16 period of observation, and we predict, according to our dynamo model, that the characteristic activity cycle is of the order of the solar one.

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arXiv2014

The Gaia-ESO Survey: metallicity of the Chamaeleon I star forming region

Context. Recent metallicity determinations in young open clusters and star-forming regions suggest that the latter may be characterized by a slightly lower metallicity than the Sun and older clusters in the solar vicinity. However, these results are based on small statistics and inhomogeneous analyses. The Gaia-ESO Survey is observing and homogeneously analyzing large samples of stars in several young clusters and star-forming regions, hence allowing us to further investigate this issue. Aims. We present a new metallicity determination of the Chamaeleon I star-forming region, based on the products distributed in the first internal release of the Gaia-ESO Survey. Methods. 48 candidate members of Chamaeleon I have been observed with the high-resolution spectrograph UVES. We use the surface gravity, lithium line equivalent width and position in the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram to confirm the cluster members and we use the iron abundance to derive the mean metallicity of the region. Results. Out of the 48 targets, we confirm 15 high probability members. Considering the metallicity measurements for 9 of them, we find that the iron abundance of Chamaeleon I is slightly subsolar with a mean value [Fe/H]=-0.08+/-0.04 dex. This result is in agreement with the metallicity determination of other nearby star-forming regions and suggests that the chemical pattern of the youngest stars in the solar neighborhood is indeed more metal-poor than the Sun. We argue that this evidence may be related to the chemical distribution of the Gould Belt that contains most of the nearby star-forming regions and young clusters.

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arXiv2014

Complex Analysis of the Stellar Binary V446\,Cep; A New Massive Eclipsing Binary in Cepheus\,OB2 Association

We present new spectroscopic observations of the early type, double-lined eclipsing binary V446\,Cep. The radial velocities and the photometric data obtained by $Hipparcos$ were analysed for deriving the astrophysical parameters of the components. Masses and radii were determined as M$_p$=17.94$\pm$1.16 M$_{\odot}$ and R$_p$=8.33$\pm$0.29 R$_{\odot}$, M$_s$=2.64$\pm$0.30 M$_{\odot}$ and R$_s$=2.13$\pm$0.10 R$_{\odot}$ for the components of V446\,Cep. Our analyses show that V446\,Cep is a detached Algol-type system. Based on the position of the components plotted on the theoretical Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, we estimate that the age of V446\,Cep is about 10 Myr, neglecting the effects of mass-loss and mass exchange between the components. Using the UBVJHK magnitudes and interstellar absorption we estimated the mean distance to the system V446\,Cep as 1100$\pm$62\,pc.

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arXiv2014

Analysis of the Massive Eclipsing Binary V1441\,Aql

We present new spectroscopic observations of the early type, double-lined eclipsing binary V1441\,Aql. The radial velocities and the available photometric data obtained by $ASAS$ is analysed for deriving the parameters of the components. The components of V1441\,Aql are shown to be a B3\,IV primary with a mass M$_p$=8.02$\pm$0.51 M$_{\odot}$ and radius R$_p$=7.33$\pm$0.19 R$_{\odot}$ and a B9 III secondary with a mass M$_s$=1.92$\pm$0.14 M$_{\odot}$ and radius R$_s$=4.22$\pm$0.11 R$_{\odot}$. Our analyses show that V1441\,Aql is a double-contact system with rapidly rotating components. Based on the position of the components plotted on the theoretical Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, we estimate that the ages of V1441\,Aql is about 30\,Myr, neglecting the effects of mass exchange between the components. Using the UBVJHK magnitudes and interstellar absorption we estimated the mean distance to the system V1441\,Aql as 550$\pm$25\,pc.

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arXiv2014

The Gaia-ESO Survey: the first abundance determination of the pre-main-sequence cluster Gamma Velorum

Knowledge of the abundance distribution of star forming regions and young clusters is critical to investigate a variety of issues, from triggered star formation and chemical enrichment by nearby supernova explosions to the ability to form planetary systems.In spite of this, detailed abundance studies are currently available for relatively few regions. In this context, we present the analysis of the metallicity of the Gamma Velorum cluster, based on the products distributed in the first internal release of the Gaia-ESO Survey. The Gamma Velorum candidate members have been observed with FLAMES, using both UVES and Giraffe, depending on the target brightness and spectral type. In order to derive a solid metallicity determination for the cluster, membership of the observed stars must be first assessed. To this aim, we use several membership criteria including radial velocities, surface gravity estimates, and the detection of the photospheric lithium line. Out of the 80 targets observed with UVES, we identify 14 high-probability members. We find that the metallicity of the cluster is slightly subsolar, with a mean [Fe/H]=-0.057+/-0.018 dex. Although J08095427-4721419 is one of the high-probability members, its metallicity is significantly larger than the cluster average. We speculate about its origin as the result of recent accretion episodes of rocky bodies of ~60 M_Sun hydrogen-depleted material from the circumstellar disk.

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arXiv2014

The Gaia-ESO Survey: Kinematic structure in the Gamma Velorum Cluster

Context: A key science goal of the Gaia-ESO survey (GES) is to use the kinematics of low-mass stars in young clusters to probe their dynamical histories and how they populate the field as they become unbound. The clustering of low-mass stars around the massive W-R binary gamma^2 Velorum was one of the first GES targets. Aims: To empirically determine the radial velocity (RV) precision of GES data, construct a kinematically unbiased sample of cluster members and characterise their dynamical state. Methods: Targets were selected from colour-magnitude diagrams and intermediate resolution spectroscopy used to derive RVs and assess membership from the strength of the Li6708A line. The RV distribution was analysed using a maximum likelihood technique that accounts for unresolved binaries. Results: The GES RV precision is about 0.25km/s and sufficient to resolve velocity structure in the low-mass population around gamma^2 Vel. The structure is well fitted by two kinematic components with roughly equal numbers of stars; the first has an intrinsic dispersion of 0.34+/-0.16km/s, consistent with virial equilibrium. The second has a broader dispersion of 1.60+/-0.37km/s and is offset from the first by ~2km/s. The first population is older by 1-2Myr based on a greater level of Li depletion seen among its M-stars and is probably more centrally concentrated around gamma^2 Vel. Conclusions: We consider several formation scenarios, concluding that the two kinematic components are a bound remnant of the original, denser cluster that formed gamma^2 Vel, and a dispersed population from the wider Vela OB2 association, of which gamma^2 Vel is the most massive member. The apparent youth of gamma^2 Vel compared to the older (>=10Myr) low-mass population surrounding it suggests a scenario where the massive binary formed in a clustered environment after the formation of the bulk of the low-mass stars.[abridged]

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arXiv2013

X-Shooter spectroscopy of young stellar objects: IV -- Accretion in low-mass stars and sub-stellar objects in Lupus

We present X-Shooter/VLT observations of a sample of 36 accreting low-mass stellar and sub-stellar objects (YSOs) in the Lupus star forming region, spanning a range in mass from ~0.03 to ~1.2Msun, but mostly with 0.1Msun < Mstar < 0.5Msun. Our aim is twofold: firstly, analyse the relationship between excess-continuum and line emission accretion diagnostics, and, secondly, to investigate the accretion properties in terms of the physical properties of the central object. The accretion luminosity (Lacc), and from it the accretion rate (Macc), is derived by modelling the excess emission, from the UV to the near-IR, as the continuum emission of a slab of hydrogen. The flux and luminosity (Ll) of a large number of emission lines of H, He, CaII, etc., observed simultaneously in the range from ~330nm to 2500nm, were computed. The luminosity of all the lines is well correlated with Lacc. We provide empirical relationships between Lacc and the luminosity of 39 emission lines, which have a lower dispersion as compared to previous relationships in the literature. Our measurements extend the Pab and Brg relationships to Lacc values about two orders of magnitude lower than those reported in previous studies. We confirm that different methodologies to measure Lacc and Macc yield significantly different results: Ha line profile modelling may underestimate Macc by 0.6 to 0.8dex with respect to Macc derived from continuum-excess measures. Such differences may explain the likely spurious bi-modal relationships between Macc and other YSOs properties reported in the literature. We derive Macc in the range 2e-12 -- 4e-8 Msun/yr and conclude that Macc is proportional to Mstar^1.8(+/-0.2), with a dispersion lower by a factor of about 2 than in previous studies. A number of properties indicate that the physical conditions of the accreting gas are similar over more than 5 orders of magnitude in Macc.

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arXiv2013

Kepler-77b: a very low albedo, Saturn-mass transiting planet around a metal-rich solar-like star

We report the discovery of Kepler-77b (alias KOI-127.01), a Saturn-mass transiting planet in a 3.6-day orbit around a metal-rich solar-like star. We combined the publicly available Kepler photometry (quarters 1-13) with high-resolution spectroscopy from the Sandiford@McDonald and FIES@NOT spectrographs. We derived the system parameters via a simultaneous joint fit to the photometric and radial velocity measurements. Our analysis is based on the Bayesian approach and is carried out by sampling the parameter posterior distributions using a Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation. Kepler-77b is a moderately inflated planet with a mass of Mp=0.430+/-0.032 Mjup, a radius of Rp=0.960+/-0.016 Rjup, and a bulk density of 0.603+/-0.055 g/cm^3. It orbits a slowly rotating (P=36+/-6 days) G5V star with M*=0.95+/-0.04 Msun, R*=0.99+/-0.02 Rsun, Teff=5520+/-60 K, [M/H]=0.20+/-0.05, that has an age of 7.5+/-2.0 Gyr. The lack of detectable planetary occultation with a depth higher than about 10 ppm implies a planet geometric and Bond albedo of Ag<0.087+/-0.008 and Ab<0.058+/-0.006, respectively, placing Kepler-77b among the gas-giant planets with the lowest albedo known so far. We found neither additional planetary transit signals nor transit-timing variations at a level of about 0.5 minutes, in accordance with the trend that close-in gas giant planets seem to belong to single-planet systems. The 106 transits observed in short-cadence mode by Kepler for nearly 1.2 years show no detectable signatures of the planet's passage in front of starspots. We explored the implications of the absence of detectable spot-crossing events for the inclination of the stellar spin-axis, the sky-projected spin-orbit obliquity, and the latitude of magnetically active regions.

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arXiv2013

X-Shooter spectroscopy of young stellar objects III. Photospheric and chromospheric properties of Class III objects

We analyzed X-Shooter/VLT spectra of 24 ClassIII sources from three nearby star-forming regions (sigmaOrionis, LupusIII, and TWHya). We determined the effective temperature, surface gravity, rotational velocity, and radial velocity by comparing the observed spectra with synthetic BT-Settl model spectra. We investigated in detail the emission lines emerging from the stellar chromospheres and combined these data with archival X-ray data to allow for a comparison between chromospheric and coronal emissions. Both X-ray and Halpha luminosity as measured in terms of the bolometric luminosity are independent of the effective temperature for early-M stars but decline toward the end of the spectral M sequence. For the saturated early-M stars the average emission level is almost one dex higher for X-rays than for Halpha: log(L_x/L_bol) = -2.85 +- 0.36 vs. log(L_Halpha/L_bol) = -3.72 +- 0.21. When all chromospheric emission lines (including the Balmer series up to H11, CaII HK, the CaII infrared triplet, and several HeI lines) are summed up the coronal flux still dominates that of the chromosphere, typically by a factor 2-5. Flux-flux relations between activity diagnostics that probe different atmospheric layers (from the lower chromosphere to the corona) separate our sample of active pre-main sequence stars from the bulk of field M dwarfs studied in the literature. Flux ratios between individual optical emission lines show a smooth dependence on the effective temperature. The Balmer decrements can roughly be reproduced by an NLTE radiative transfer model devised for another young star of similar age. Future, more complete chromospheric model grids can be tested against this data set.

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arXiv2013

X-Shooter spectroscopy of brown dwarfs in the TW Hya association

We present broad-band mid-resolution X-Shooter/VLT spectra for four brown dwarfs of the TW Hya association. Our targets comprise substellar analogs representing the different evolutionary phases in young stellar evolution: For the two diskless brown dwarfs, TWA-26 and TWA-29, we determine the stellar parameters and we study their chromospheric emission line spectrum. For the two accreting brown dwarfs, TWA-27 and TWA-28, we estimate the mass accretion rates from empirical correlations between emission line luminosities and the accretion luminosity.

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arXiv2013

Atmospheric Parameters of 169 F, G, K and M-type Stars in the Kepler Field

The asteroseismic and planetary studies, like all research related to stars, need precise and accurate stellar atmospheric parameters as input. We aim at deriving the effective temperature (Teff), the surface gravity (log g), the metallicity ([Fe/H]), the projected rotational velocity (v sin i) and the MK type for 169 F, G, K, and M-type Kepler targets which were observed spectroscopically from the ground with five different instruments. We use two different spectroscopic methods to analyse 189 high-resolution, high-signal-to-noise spectra acquired for the 169 stars. For 67 stars, the spectroscopic atmospheric parameters are derived for the first time. KIC 9693187 and 11179629 are discovered to be double-lined spectroscopic binary systems. The results obtained for those stars for which independent determinations of the atmospheric parameters are available in the literature are used for a comparative analysis. As a result, we show that for solar-type stars the accuracy of present determinations of atmospheric parameters is +/- 150 K in Teff, +/- 0.15 dex in [Fe/H], and +/-? 0.3 dex in log g. Finally, we confirm that the curve-of-growth analysis and the method of spectral synthesis yield systematically different atmospheric parameters when they are applied to stars hotter than 6,000 K.

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arXiv2012

Characterizing two solar-type Kepler subgiants with asteroseismology: KIC10920273 and KIC11395018

Determining fundamental properties of stars through stellar modeling has improved substantially due to recent advances in asteroseismology. Thanks to the unprecedented data quality obtained by space missions, particularly CoRoT and Kepler, invaluable information is extracted from the high-precision stellar oscillation frequencies, which provide very strong constraints on possible stellar models for a given set of classical observations. In this work, we have characterized two relatively faint stars, KIC10920273 and KIC11395018, using oscillation data from Kepler photometry and atmospheric constraints from ground-based spectroscopy. Both stars have very similar atmospheric properties; however, using the individual frequencies extracted from the Kepler data, we have determined quite distinct global properties, with increased precision compared to that of earlier results. We found that both stars have left the main sequence and characterized them as follows: KIC10920273 is a one-solar-mass star (M=1.00 +/- 0.04 M_sun), but much older than our Sun (t=7.12 +/- 0.47 Gyr), while KIC11395018 is significantly more massive than the Sun (M=1.27 +/- 0.04 M_sun) with an age close to that of the Sun (t=4.57 +/- 0.23 Gyr). We confirm that the high lithium abundance reported for these stars should not be considered to represent young ages, as we precisely determined them to be evolved subgiants. We discuss the use of surface lithium abundance, rotation and activity relations as potential age diagnostics.

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arXiv2012

Spectroscopic and Photometric Observations of Kepler Asteroseismic Targets

We summarize our ground-based program of spectroscopic and photometric observations of the asteroseismic targets of the Kepler space telescope. We have already determined atmospheric parameters, projected velocity of rotation, and radial velocity of 62 Kepler asteroseismic targets and 33 other stars in the Kepler field of view. We discovered six single-lined and two double-lined spectroscopic binaries, we determined the interstellar reddening for 29 stars in the Kepler field of view, and discovered three delta Sct, two gamma Dor and 14 other variable stars in the field of NGC 6866.

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arXiv2012

From CoRoT 102899501 to the Sun. A time evolution model of chromospheric activity on the main sequence

Using a model based on the rotational modulation of the visibility of active regions, we analyse the high-accuracy CoRoT lightcurve of the active young star CoRoT102899501. Spectroscopic follow-up observations are used to derive its fundamental parameters. We compare its chromospheric activity level with a model of chrosmospheric activity evolution established by combining relationships between the R'HK index and the Rossby number with a recent model of stellar rotation evolution on the main sequence. We measure the spot coverage of the stellar surface as a function of time, and find evidence for a tentative increase from 5-14% at the beginning of the observing run to 13-29% 35 days later. A high level of magnetic activity on CoRoT102899501 is corroborated by a strong emission in the Balmer and Ca II HK lines (logR'HK ~ -4). The starspots used as tracers of the star rotation constrain the rotation period to 1.625+/-0.002 days and do not show evidence for differential rotation. The effective temperature (Teff=5180+/-80 K), surface gravity (logg=4.35+/-0.1), and metallicity ([M/H]=0.05+/-0.07 dex) indicate that the object is located near the evolutionary track of a 1.09+/-0.12 M_Sun pre-main sequence star at an age of 23+/-10 Myrs. This value is consistent with the "gyro-age" of about 8-25 Myrs, inferred using a parameterization of the stellar rotation period as a function of colour index and time established for the I-sequence of stars in stellar clusters. We conclude that the high magnetic activity level and fast rotation of CoRoT102899501 are manifestations of its stellar youth consistent with its estimated evolutionary status and with the detection of a strong Li I 6707.8 A absorption line in its spectrum. We argue that a magnetic activity level comparable to that observed on CoRoT102899501 could have been present on the Sun at the time of planet formation.

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arXiv2012

Fundamental Properties of Stars using Asteroseismology from Kepler & CoRoT and Interferometry from the CHARA Array

We present results of a long-baseline interferometry campaign using the PAVO beam combiner at the CHARA Array to measure the angular sizes of five main-sequence stars, one subgiant and four red giant stars for which solar-like oscillations have been detected by either Kepler or CoRoT. By combining interferometric angular diameters, Hipparcos parallaxes, asteroseismic densities, bolometric fluxes and high-resolution spectroscopy we derive a full set of near model-independent fundamental properties for the sample. We first use these properties to test asteroseismic scaling relations for the frequency of maximum power (nu_max) and the large frequency separation (Delta_nu). We find excellent agreement within the observational uncertainties, and empirically show that simple estimates of asteroseismic radii for main-sequence stars are accurate to <~4%. We furthermore find good agreement of our measured effective temperatures with spectroscopic and photometric estimates with mean deviations for stars between T_eff = 4600-6200 K of -22+/-32 K (with a scatter of 97K) and -58+/-31 K (with a scatter of 93 K), respectively. Finally we present a first comparison with evolutionary models, and find differences between observed and theoretical properties for the metal-rich main-sequence star HD173701. We conclude that the constraints presented in this study will have strong potential for testing stellar model physics, in particular when combined with detailed modelling of individual oscillation frequencies.

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arXiv2012

The Chamaeleon II low-mass star-forming region: radial velocities, elemental abundances, and accretion properties

Radial velocities, elemental abundances, and accretion properties of members of star-forming regions (SFRs) are important for understanding star and planet formation. While infrared observations reveal the evolutionary status of the disk, optical spectroscopy is fundamental to acquire information on the properties of the central star and on the accretion characteristics. 2MASS archive data and the Spitzer c2d survey of the Chamaeleon II dark cloud have provided disk properties of a large number of young stars. We complement these data with spectroscopy with the aim of providing physical stellar parameters and accretion properties. We use FLAMES/UVES+GIRAFFE observations of 40 members of Cha II to measure radial velocities through cross-correlation technique, Li abundances by means of curves of growth, and for a suitable star elemental abundances of Fe, Al, Si, Ca, Ti, and Ni using the code MOOG. From the equivalent widths of the Halpha, Hbeta, and the HeI-5876, 6678, 7065 Angstrom emission lines, we estimate the mass accretion rates, dMacc/dt, for all the objects. We derive a radial velocity distribution for the Cha II stars ( =11.4+-2.0 km/s). We find dMacc/dt prop. to Mstar^1.3 and to Age^(-0.82) in the 0.1-1.0 Msun mass regime, and a mean dMacc/dt for Cha II of ~7*10^(-10) Msun/yr. We also establish a relationship between the HeI-7065 Angstrom line emission and the accretion luminosity. The radial velocity distributions of stars and gas in Cha II are consistent. The spread in dMacc/dt at a given stellar mass is about one order of magnitude and can not be ascribed entirely to short timescale variability. Analyzing the relation between dMacc/dt and the colors in Spitzer and 2MASS bands, we find indications that the inner disk changes from optically thick to optically thin at dMacc/dt~10^(-10) Msun/yr. Finally, the disk fraction is consistent with the age of Cha II.

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arXiv2012

The DWARF project: Eclipsing binaries - precise clocks to discover exoplanets

We present a new observational campaign, DWARF, aimed at detection of circumbinary extrasolar planets using the timing of the minima of low-mass eclipsing binaries. The observations will be performed within an extensive network of relatively small to medium-size telescopes with apertures of ~20-200 cm. The starting sample of the objects to be monitored contains (i) low-mass eclipsing binaries with M and K components, (ii) short-period binaries with sdB or sdO component, and (iii) post-common-envelope systems containing a WD, which enable to determine minima with high precision. Since the amplitude of the timing signal increases with the orbital period of an invisible third component, the timescale of project is long, at least 5-10 years. The paper gives simple formulas to estimate suitability of individual eclipsing binaries for the circumbinary planet detection. Intrinsic variability of the binaries (photospheric spots, flares, pulsation etc.) limiting the accuracy of the minima timing is also discussed. The manuscript also describes the best observing strategy and methods to detect cyclic timing variability in the minima times indicating presence of circumbinary planets. First test observation of the selected targets are presented.

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arXiv2012

Magnetic activity and differential rotation in the young Sun-like stars KIC 7985370 and KIC 7765135

We present a detailed study of the two Sun-like stars KIC 7985370 and KIC 7765135, aimed at determining their activity level, spot distribution, and differential rotation. Both stars were discovered by us to be young stars and were observed by the NASA Kepler mission. The stellar parameters (vsini, spectral type, Teff, log g, and [Fe/H]) were derived from optical spectroscopy which allowed us also to study the chromospheric activity from the emission in the core of Hα and CaII IRT lines. The high-precision Kepler photometric data spanning over 229 days were then fitted with a robust spot model. Model selection and parameter estimation are performed in a Bayesian manner, using a Markov chain Monte Carlo method. Both stars came out to be Sun-like with an age of about 100-200 Myr, based on their lithium content and kinematics. Their youth is confirmed by the high level of chromospheric activity, comparable to that displayed by the early G-type stars in the Pleiades cluster. The flux ratio of the CaII-IRT lines suggests that the cores of these lines are mainly formed in optically-thick regions analogous to solar plages. The model of the light curves requires at least seven enduring spots for KIC 7985370 and nine spots for KIC 7765135 for a satisfactory fit. The assumption of longevity of the star spots, whose area is allowed to evolve in time, is at the heart of our approach. We found, for both stars, a rather high value of the equator-to-pole differential rotation (dΩ~0.18 rad/day) which is in contrast with the predictions of some mean-field models of differential rotation for fast-rotating stars. Our results are instead in agreement with previous works on solar-type stars and with other models which predict a higher latitudinal shear, increasing with equatorial angular velocity.

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