arXiv subjects

H. Saio

Publications and source records attributed to H. Saio.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Magnetic Fields or Overstable Convective Modes in HR 7495: Exploring the Underlying Causes of the Spike in the 'Hump & Spike' Features

More than 200 A- and F-type stars observed with Kepler exhibit a distinctive 'hump & spike' feature in their Fourier spectra. The hump is commonly interpreted as unresolved Rossby modes, while the spike has been linked to rotational modulation. Two competing interpretations exist for the spike: magnetic phenomena, such as stellar spots, or Overstable Convective (OsC) modes resonantly exciting low-frequency g modes within the stellar envelope. We analysed photometric data from Kepler and TESS for HR 7495, the brightest 'hump & spike' star (V=5.06), covering 4.5 years and four seasons, respectively. Additionally, radial velocity measurements and spectropolarimetric data were used to investigate magnetic fields and surface features. Furthermore, we analysed model-based artificial light and radial velocity curves to examine the influence of OsC modes on the phase-folded light curves. The phase-folded light curves show that the spike characteristics of HR 7495 align more closely with rotational modulation by stellar spots than with OsC modes. No significant magnetic fields were detected, limiting the field's possible amplitude and geometry. This supports the hypothesis of a subsurface convective layer operating a dynamo, producing low-amplitude, complex magnetic fields. The variability patterns suggest multiple evolving spots. A comparison of contemporaneously observed light and RV data with modelled OsC modes reveals a 0.5 phase offset, strongly disfavouring pulsations as the cause of the spike. While the evolutionary stage of HR 7495 does not entirely preclude the possibility of OsC modes, the observational data overwhelmingly support the stellar spots hypothesis. Our analysis, combined with previous literature, suggests that if not all A- and F-type, at least the 'hump & spike' stars, harbour an undetected weak magnetic field, likely driven by a dynamo mechanism.

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arXiv2024

HD 12098: a highly distorted dipole mode in an obliquely pulsating roAp star

HD 12098 is an roAp star pulsating in the most distorted dipole mode yet observed in this class of star. Using TESS Sector 58 observations we show that there are photometric spots at both the magnetic poles of this star. It pulsates obliquely primarily in a strongly distorted dipole mode with a period of $P_{\rm puls} = 7.85$ min ($\nu_{\rm puls} = 183.34905$ d$^{-1}$; 2.12210 mHz) that gives rise to an unusual quadruplet in the amplitude spectrum. Our magnetic pulsation model cannot account for the strong distortion of the pulsation in one hemisphere, although it is successful in the other hemisphere. There are high-overtone p~modes with frequencies separated by more than the large separation, a challenging problem in mode selection. The mode frequencies observed in the TESS data are in the same frequency range as those previously observed in ground-based Johnson $B$ data, but are not for the same modes. Hence the star has either changed modes, or observations at different atmospheric depth detect different modes. There is also a low-overtone p mode and possibly g modes that are not expected theoretically with the $> 1$ kG magnetic field observed in this star.

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arXiv2023

HD 42477: coupled r modes, g modes and a p mode in an A0Vnne star

Several studies have shown that a number of stars pulsating in p modes lie between the $\beta$ Cep and $\delta$ Sct instability strips in the Hertzsprung-Russell (HR) Diagram. At present, there is no certain understanding of how p~modes can be excited in this $T_{\rm eff}$ range. The goal of this work is to disprove the conjecture that all stars pulsating in p modes and lying in this $T_{\rm eff}$ range are the result of incorrect measurements of $T_{\rm eff}$, contamination, or the presence of unseen cooler companions lying in the $\delta$ Sct instability strip (given the high binary fraction of stars in this region of the HR Diagram). Using TESS data, we show that the A0Vnne star HD 42477 has a single p mode coupled to several r modes and/or g modes. We rule out a contaminating background star with a pixel-by-pixel examination, and we essentially rule out the possibility of a companion $\delta$ Sct star in a binary. We model the pulsations in HD 42477 and suggest that the g modes are excited by overstable convective core modes. We also conjecture that the single p mode is driven by coupling with the g modes, or that the oblateness of this rapidly-rotating star permits driving by He II ionization in the equatorial region.

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arXiv2021

A tidally tilted sectoral dipole pulsation mode in the eclipsing binary TIC 63328020

We report the discovery of the third tidally tilted pulsator, TIC 63328020. Observations with the TESS satellite reveal binary eclipses with an orbital period of 1.1057 d, and $δ$ Scuti-type pulsations with a mode frequency of 21.09533 d$^{-1}$. This pulsation exhibits a septuplet of orbital sidelobes as well as a harmonic quintuplet. Using the oblique pulsator model, the primary oscillation is identified as a sectoral dipole mode with $l = 1, |m| = 1$. We find the pulsating star to have $M_1 \simeq 2.5\, {\rm M}_\odot$, $R_1 \simeq 3 \, {\rm R}_\odot$, and $T_{\rm eff,1} \simeq 8000$ K, while the secondary has $M_2 \simeq 1.1 \, {\rm M}_\odot$, $R_2 \simeq 2 \, {\rm R}_\odot$, and $T_{\rm eff,2} \simeq 5600$ K. Both stars appear to be close to filling their respective Roche lobes. The properties of this binary as well as the tidally tilted pulsations differ from the previous two tidally tilted pulsators, HD74423 and CO Cam, in important ways. We also study the prior history of this system with binary evolution models and conclude that extensive mass transfer has occurred from the current secondary to the primary.

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arXiv2020

Transport of angular momentum by stochastically excited waves as an explanation for the outburst of the rapidly rotating Be star HD49330

HD49330 is a Be star that underwent an outburst during its five-month observation with the CoRoT satellite. An analysis of its light curve revealed several independent p and g pulsation modes, in addition to showing that the amplitude of the modes is directly correlated with the outburst. We modelled the results obtained with CoRoT. We modelled the flattening of the structure of the star due to rapid rotation in two ways: Chandrasekhar-Milne's expansion and 2D structure computed with ROTORC. We then modelled kappa-driven pulsations. We also adapted the formalism of the excitation and amplitude of stochastically excited gravito-inertial modes to rapidly rotating stars, and we modelled those pulsations as well. We find that while pulsation p modes are excited by the kappa mechanism, the observed g modes are a result of stochastic excitation. In contrast, g and r waves are stochastically excited in the convective core and transport angular momentum to the surface, increasing its rotation rate. This destabilises the external layers of the star, which then emits transient stochastically excited g waves. These transient waves produce most of the low-frequency signal detected in the CoRoT data and ignite the outburst. During this unstable phase, p modes disappear at the surface because their cavity is broken. Following the outburst and ejection of the surface layer, relaxation occurs, making the transient g waves disappear and p modes reappear. This work includes the first coherent model of stochastically excited gravito-inertial pulsation modes in a rapidly rotating Be star. It provides an explanation for the correlation between the variation in the amplitude of frequencies detected in the CoRoT data and the occurrence of an outburst. This scenario could apply to other pulsating Be stars, providing an explanation to the long-standing questions surrounding Be outbursts and disks.

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arXiv2020

The single-sided pulsator CO~Camelopardalis

CO~Cam (TIC 160268882) is the second ``single-sided pulsator'' to be discovered. These are stars where one hemisphere pulsates with a significantly higher amplitude than the other side of the star. CO~Cam is a binary star comprised of an Am $δ$~Sct primary star with $T_{\rm eff} = 7070 \pm 150$\,K, and a spectroscopically undetected G main-sequence secondary star. The dominant pulsating side of the primary star is centred on the L$_1$ point. We have modelled the spectral energy distribution combined with radial velocities, and independently the {\em TESS} light curve combined with radial velocities. Both of these give excellent agreement and robust system parameters for both stars. The $δ$~Sct star is an oblique pulsator with at least four low radial overtone (probably) f~modes with the pulsation axis coinciding with the tidal axis of the star, the line of apsides. Preliminary theoretical modelling indicates that the modes must produce much larger flux perturbations near the L$_1$ point, although this is difficult to understand because the pulsating star does not come near to filling its Roche lobe. More detailed models of distorted pulsating stars should be developed. These newly discovered single-sided pulsators offer new opportunities for astrophysical inference from stars that are oblique pulsators in close binary stars.

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arXiv2020

Tidally Trapped Pulsations in a close binary star system discovered by TESS

It has long been suspected that tidal forces in close binary stars could modify the orientation of the pulsation axis of the constituent stars. Such stars have been searched for, but until now never detected. Here we report the discovery of tidally trapped pulsations in the ellipsoidal variable HD 74423 in TESS space photometry data. The system contains a Delta Scuti pulsator in a 1.6-d orbit, whose pulsation mode amplitude is strongly modulated at the orbital frequency, which can be explained if the pulsations have a much larger amplitude in one hemisphere of the star. We interpret this as an obliquely pulsating distorted dipole oscillation with a pulsation axis aligned with the tidal axis. This is the first time that oblique pulsation along a tidal axis has been recognized. It is unclear whether the pulsations are trapped in the hemisphere directed towards the companion or in the side facing away from it, but future spectral measurements can provide the solution. In the meantime, the single-sided pulsator HD 74423 stands out as the prototype of a new class of obliquely pulsating stars in which the interactions of stellar pulsations and tidal distortion can be studied.

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arXiv2018

An astrophysical interpretation of the remarkable g-mode frequency groups of the rapidly rotating $γ$ Dor star, KIC 5608334

The Fourier spectrum of the $γ$-Dor variable KIC 5608334 shows remarkable frequency groups at $\sim$3, $\sim$6, $\sim$9, and 11--12\,d$^{-1}$. We explain the four frequency groups as prograde sectoral g modes in a rapidly rotating star. Frequencies of intermediate-to-high radial order prograde sectoral g modes in a rapidly rotating star are proportional to $|m|$ (i.e., $ν\propto |m|$) in the co-rotating frame as well as in the inertial frame. This property is consistent with the frequency groups of KIC 5608334 as well as the period vs. period-spacing relation present within each frequency group, if we assume a rotation frequency of $2.2$\,d$^{-1}$, and that each frequency group consists of prograde sectoral g modes of $|m| = 1, 2, 3,$ and 4, respectively. In addition, these modes naturally satisfy near-resonance conditions $ν_i\approxν_j+ν_k$ with $m_i=m_j+m_k$. We even find exact resonance frequency conditions (within the precise measurement uncertainties) in many cases, which correspond to combination frequencies.

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arXiv2017

Period-luminosity relations of fast-rotating B-type stars in the young open cluster NGC3766

We study the pulsational properties of rapidly rotating main-sequence B-type stars using linear non-adiabatic analysis of non-radial low-frequency modes taking into account the effect of rotation. We compare the properties of prograde sectoral $g$ and retrograde $r$ modes excited by the $κ$ mechanism at the Fe opacity peak with the newly discovered period-luminosity relation that is obeyed by a group of fast-rotating B-type stars in the young open cluster NGC 3766. The observed relation consists of two sequences in the period versus magnitude diagram, at periods shorter than 0.5 days. We find that this property is consistent with similar period-luminosity relations predicted for excited sectoral prograde $g$-modes of azimuthal orders $m=-1$ and $m=-2$ in fast-rotating stars along an isochrone. We further show that some of the rapidly rotating stars that have photometric variability with periods longer than a day may be caused by $r$-mode pulsation predicted to be excited in these stars. One fast-rotating star, in particular, shows both short and long periods that can be explained by the simultaneous excitation of $g$- and $r$-mode pulsations in models of fast-rotating stars.

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arXiv2016

Radial pulsation as a function of hydrogen abundance

Using linear non-adabatic pulsation analysis, we explore the radial-mode (p-mode) stability of stars across a wide range of mass (0.2 <= M <= 50 Msun), composition (0 <= X <= 0.7, Z=0.001, 0.02), effective temperature (3 000 <= T_eff <= 40 000 K), and luminosity (0.01 <= L/M <= 100,000 solar units).We identify the instability boundaries associated with low- to high-order radial oscillations (0 <= n <=16). The instability boundaries are a strong function of both composition and radial order (n). With decreasing hydrogen abundance we find that i) the classical blue edge of the Cepheid instability strip shifts to higher effective temperature and luminosity, and ii) high-order modes are more easily excited and small islands of high radial-order instability develop, some of which correspond with real stars. Driving in all cases is by the classical kappa-mechanism and/or strange modes. We identify regions of parameter space where new classes of pulsating variable may, in future, be discovered. The majority of these are associated with reduced hydrogen abundance in the envelope; one has not been identified previously.

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arXiv2016

The roAp star $α$ Circini as seen by BRITE-Constellation

We report on an analysis of high-precision, multi-colour photometric observations of the rapidly-oscillating Ap (roAp) star $α$ Cir. These observations were obtained with the BRITE-Constellation, which is a coordinated mission of five nanosatellites that collects continuous millimagnitude-precision photometry of dozens of bright stars for up to 180 days at a time in two colours (Johnson B and R). BRITE stands for BRight Target Explorer. The object $α$ Cir is the brightest roAp star and an ideal target for such investigations, facilitating the determination of oscillation frequencies with high resolution. This star is bright enough for complementary interferometry and time-resolved spectroscopy. Four BRITE satellites observed $α$ Cir for 146 d or 33 rotational cycles. Phasing the photometry according to the 4.4790 d rotational period reveals qualitatively different light variations in the two photometric bands. The phased red-band photometry is in good agreement with previously-published WIRE data, showing a light curve symmetric about phase 0.5 with a strong contribution from the first harmonic. The phased blue-band data, in contrast, show an essentially sinusoidal variation. We model both light curves with Bayesian Photometric Imaging, which suggests the presence of two large-scale, photometrically bright (relative to the surrounding photosphere) spots. We also examine the high-frequency pulsation spectrum as encoded in the BRITE photometry. Our analysis establishes the stability of the main pulsation frequency over the last 20 years, confirms the presence of frequency f7, which was not detected (or the mode not excited) prior to 2006, and excludes quadrupolar modes for the main pulsation frequency.

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arXiv2014

Combining observational techniques to constrain convection in evolved massive star models

Recent stellar evolution computations indicate that massive stars in the range ~ 20 - 30 Msun are located in the blue supergiant (BSG) region of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram at two different stages of their life: immediately after the main sequence (MS, group 1) and during a blueward evolution after the red supergiant phase (group 2). From the observation of the pulsationnal properties of a subgroup of variable BSGs (alpha Cyg variables), one can deduce that these stars belongs to group 2. It is however difficult to simultaneously fit the observed surface abundances and gravity for these stars, and this allows to constrain the physical processes of chemical species transport in massive stars. We will show here that the surface abundances are extremely sensitive to the physics of convection, particularly the location of the intermediate convective shell that appears at the ignition of the hydrogen shell burning after the MS. Our results show that the use of the Ledoux criterion to determine the convective regions in the stellar models leads to a better fit of the surface abundances for alpha Cyg variables than the Schwarzschild one.

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arXiv2013

Be star outbursts: transport of angular momentum by waves

The Be phenomenon, that is the ejection of matter from Be stars into a circumstellar disk, has been a long lasting mystery. In the last few years, the CoRoT (Convection, Rotation and planetary Transits) satellite brought clear evidence that Be outbursts are directly correlated with pulsations. We found that it may be the transport of angular momentum by waves or pulsation modes that brings the already rapid stellar rotation to its critical value at the surface, and allows the star to eject material. The recent discovery of stochastically excited gravito-inertial modes by CoRoT in a hot Be star strengthens this scenario. We present the CoRoT observations and modeling of several Be stars and describe the new picture of the Be phenomenon which arose from these results.

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arXiv2011

Pulsation models for the roAp star HD 134214

Precise time-series photometry with the MOST satellite has led to identification of 10 pulsation frequencies in the rapidly oscillating Ap (roAp) star HD 134214. We have fitted the observed frequencies with theoretical frequencies of axisymmetric modes in a grid of stellar models with dipole magnetic fields. We find that, among models with a standard composition of $(X,Z) = (0.70,0.02)$ and with suppressed convection, eigenfrequencies of a $1.65\,{\rm M}_\odot$ model with $\log T_{\rm eff} = 3.858$ and a polar magnetic field strength of 4.1kG agree best with the observed frequencies. We identify the observed pulsation frequency with the largest amplitude as a deformed dipole ($\ell = 1$) mode, and the four next-largest-amplitude frequencies as deformed $\ell = 2$ modes. These modes have a radial quasi-node in the outermost atmospheric layers ($τ\sim 10^{-3}$). Although the model frequencies agree roughly with observed ones, they are all above the acoustic cut-off frequency for the model atmosphere and hence are predicted to be damped. The excitation mechanism for the pulsations of HD 134214 is not clear, but further investigation of these modes may be a probe of the atmospheric structure in this magnetic chemically peculiar star.

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arXiv2011

New SPB stars in the field of the young open cluster NGC 2244 discovered by the MOST photometric satellite

During two weeks of nearly continuous optical photometry of the young open cluster NGC 2244 obtained by the MOST satellite, we discovered two new SPB stars, GSC 00154-00785 and GSC 00154-01871. We present frequency analyses of the MOST light curves of these stars, which reveal two oscillation frequencies (0.61 and 0.71 c/d) in GSC 00154-00785 and two (0.40 and 0.51 c/d) in GSC 00154-01871. These frequency ranges are consistent with g-modes of $\ell \leq 2$ excited in models of main-sequence or pre-main-sequence (PMS) stars of masses 4.5 - 5 $M_{\odot}$ and solar composition $(X, Z)= (0.7, 0.02)$. Published proper motion measurements and radial velocities are insufficient to establish unambiguously cluster membership for these two stars. However, the PMS models which fit best their eigenspectra have ages consistent with NGC 2244. If cluster membership can be confirmed, these would be the first known PMS SPB stars, and would open a new window on testing asteroseismically the interior structures of PMS stars.

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arXiv2011

The first evidence for multiple pulsation axes: a new roAp star in the Kepler field, KIC 10195926

We have discovered a new rapidly oscillating Ap star among the Kepler Mission target stars, KIC 10195926. This star shows two pulsation modes with periods that are amongst the longest known for roAp stars at 17.1 min and 18.1 min, indicating that the star is near the terminal age main sequence. The principal pulsation mode is an oblique dipole mode that shows a rotationally split frequency septuplet that provides information on the geometry of the mode. The secondary mode also appears to be a dipole mode with a rotationally split triplet, but we are able to show within the improved oblique pulsator model that these two modes cannot have the same axis of pulsation. This is the first time for any pulsating star that evidence has been found for separate pulsation axes for different modes. The two modes are separated in frequency by 55 microHz, which we model as the large separation. The star is an alpha^2 CVn spotted magnetic variable that shows a complex rotational light variation with a period of Prot = 5.68459 d. For the first time for any spotted magnetic star of the upper main sequence, we find clear evidence of light variation with a period of twice the rotation period; i.e. a subharmonic frequency of $ν_{\rm rot}/2$. We propose that this and other subharmonics are the first observed manifestation of torsional modes in an roAp star. From high resolution spectra we determine Teff = 7400 K, log g = 3.6 and v sin i = 21 km/s. We have found a magnetic pulsation model with fundamental parameters close to these values that reproduces the rotational variations of the two obliquely pulsating modes with different pulsation axes. The star shows overabundances of the rare earth elements, but these are not as extreme as most other roAp stars. The spectrum is variable with rotation, indicating surface abundance patches.

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arXiv2008

MOST detects SPBe pulsations in HD 127756 & HD 217543: Asteroseismic rotation rates independent of vsini

The MOST (Microvariability and Oscillations of Stars) satellite has discovered SPBe (Slowly Pulsating Be) oscillations in the stars HD 127756 (B1/B2 Vne) and HD 217543 (B3 Vpe). For HD 127756, 30 significant frequencies are identified from 31 days of nearly continuous photometry; for HD 217543, up to 40 significant frequencies from 26 days of data. In both cases, the oscillations fall into three distinct frequency ranges, consistent with models of the stars. The variations are caused by nonradial g-modes (and possibly r-modes) distorted by rapid rotation and excited by the opacity mechanism near the iron opacity bump. A comparison of pulsation models and observed frequency groups yields a rotation frequency for each star, independently of vsini. The rotation rates of these stars, as well as those of the SPBe stars previously discovered by MOST, HD 163868 and $β$ CMi, are all close to their critical values.

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arXiv2008

MOST photometry of the roAp star 10 Aql

Context: We present 31.2 days of nearly continuous MOST photometry of the roAp star 10Aql. Aims:The goal was to provide an unambiguous frequency identification for this little studied star, as well as to discuss the detected frequencies in the context of magnetic models and analyze the influence of the magnetic field on the pulsation. Methods: Using traditional Fourier analysis techniques on three independent data reductions, intrinsic frequencies for the star are identified. Theoretical non-adiabatic axisymmetric modes influenced by a magnetic field having polar field strengths Bp = 0-5kG were computed to compare the observations to theory. Results: The high-precision data allow us to identify three definite intrinsic pulsation frequencies and two other candidate frequencies with low S/N. Considering the observed spacings, only one (50.95microHz) is consistent with the main sequence nature of roAp stars. The comparison with theoretical models yields a best fit for a 1.95Msun model having solar metallicity, suppressed envelope convection, and homogenous helium abundance. Furthermore, our analysis confirms the suspected slow rotation of the star and sets new lower limits to the rotation period (Prot>1 month) and inclination (i>30\pm10deg.). Conclusions:The observed frequency spectrum is not rich enough to unambiguously identify a model. On the other hand, the models hardly represent roAp stars in detail due to the approximations needed to describe the interactions of the magnetic field with stellar structure and pulsation. Consequently, errors in the model frequencies needed for the fitting procedure can only be estimated. Nevertheless, it is encouraging that models which suppress convection and include solar metallicity, in agreement with current concepts of roAp stars, fit the observations best.

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