arXiv subjects

Marc-Antoine Dupret

Publications and source records attributed to Marc-Antoine Dupret.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Asteroseismology of HD 23734, HD 68703, and HD 73345 using K2-TESS Space-based Photometry and High-resolution Spectroscopy

In this paper, we present a comprehensive study of three stars, HD 23734, HD 68703, and HD 73345, which were previously observed as chemically peculiar candidates within the Nainital-Cape survey and reported as null results for the pulsational variability. Frequency analyses of \ktwo\ and \tess\ time-series photometric data reveal the co-existence of rotational modulation and pulsation. We use the spectrum synthesis technique to determine fundamental parameters and chemical composition, which shows that all the three stars are likely to be chemically normal. The evolutionary status of the target stars corresponds to the main-sequence phases and places them within the $δ$ Scuti instability strip of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram. The line profile variability is observed in all three stars, especially intriguing in HD\,68703 and a typical signature of the non-radial pulsation, demands further detailed examination. Using \tess\ photometry, we identified the radial modes of orders $n$=3 and 4 for HD\,23734, $n$=1, 3, and 4 for HD\,68703, and $n$=3,4 and 5 for HD\,73345. In addition to the presence of pulsation and rotation, HD\,73345 exhibits a steady increase in radial velocity that we interpret as the star being likely to be part of a long-period binary system. Finally, we propose an extended campaign aimed for the in-depth spectroscopic and spectropolarimetric study of selected pulsating stars monitored under the Nainital-Cape survey project.

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arXiv2025

Parametric models of core-helium-burning stars: structural glitches near the core

Understanding the internal structure of core helium burning (CHeB) stars is crucial for evaluating transport processes in nuclear-burning regions, constructing accurate stellar population models, and assessing nucleosynthesis processes that impact the chemical evolution of galaxies. While asteroseismic observations have recently enabled detailed probing of CHeB star interiors, seismic signatures related to structural variations at the boundary between the convective and radiative core, and chemical composition gradients within the radiative core remain underexplored. This paper investigates how such gradients affect the oscillation modes of low-mass CHeB stars, focusing on mixed dipole modes and uncoupled g-modes as diagnostic tools. Using semi-analytical models calibrated with the evolutionary codes $\texttt{BaSTI-IAC}$,$ \texttt{CLES}$, and $\texttt{MESA}$, we examine the impact of density discontinuities and associated structural glitches on mode period spacings. These codes span diverse physical prescriptions, allowing us to isolate robust features relevant for calibration. Our approach enables controlled glitch insertion while preserving a realistic representation of the star. Consistent with prior works, we find that structural glitches introduce periodic components in the period spacings, providing constraints on the location and amplitude of interior variations. We compare models with smooth and sharp transitions, demonstrating how glitch sharpness affects period spacing and mode trapping. Simulations based on four-year $\textit{Kepler}$ data show that our models yield oscillation frequencies closely matching observations. Ultimately, our results offer realistic predictions of how specific structural features affect the power spectral density, validating our theoretical framework and guiding future efforts to interpret glitch signatures in high-precision asteroseismic data.

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arXiv2024

Asteroseismology of the mild Am $δ$ Sct star HD 118660 : TESS photometry and modelling

We present the results of an asteroseismic study of HD 118660 (TIC 171729860), being a chemically peculiar (mild Am) star exhibiting $δ$ Scuti ($δ$ Sct) pulsations. It is based on the analysis of two sectors of time-series photometry from the space mission TESS and seismic modelling. It yielded the detection of 15 and 16 frequencies for TESS sectors 23 and 50, respectively. The identified pulsation modes include four radial ($\ell=0$) and five dipolar ($\ell=1$) ones. The radial modes are overtones with order $n$ ranging from $3$ and $6$. Such high values of $n$ are theoretically not expected for stars with the effective temperature of HD 118660 ($\rm T_{\rm eff}\approx 7550 \rm K$ ) located near the red edge of the $δ$ Sct instability strip. To estimate the asteroseismic parameters, we have generated a grid of stellar models assuming a solar metallicity ($Z=0.014$) and different values for the convective overshooting parameter ($0.1\leq α_{\rm ov}\leq 0.3$). We conclude that the analysis of the radial modes is insufficient to constrain $α_{\rm ov}$ and $Z$ for $δ$ Sct stars. The value for the equatorial velocity of HD 118660 derived from the seismic radius and the rotational frequency is consistent with values found in the literature.

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arXiv2024

A method for non-linear inversion of the stellar structure applied to gravity-mode pulsators

We present a method for a non-linear asteroseismic inversion suitable for gravity-mode pulsators and apply it to slowly pulsating B-type (SPB) stars. Our inversion method is based on the iterative improvement of a parameterised static stellar structure model, which in turn is based on constraints from the observed oscillation periods. We present tests to demonstrate that the method is successful in recovering the properties of artificial targets both inside and outside the parameter space. We also present a test of our method on the well-studied SPB star KIC 7760680. We believe that this method is promising for carrying out detailed analyses of observations of SPB and $γ$ Dor stars and will provide complementary information to evolutionary models.

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arXiv2023

Asteroseismic modelling strategies in the PLATO era I. Mean density inversions and direct treatment of the seismic information

Asteroseismic modelling will be part of the pipeline of the PLATO mission and will play a key role in the mission precision requirements on stellar mass, radius and age. It is therefore crucial to compare how current modelling strategies perform, and discuss the limitations and remaining challenges for PLATO, such as the so-called surface effects, the choice of physical ingredients, and stellar activity. In this context, we carried out a systematic study of the impact of surface effects on the estimation of stellar parameters. In this work, we demonstrated how combining a mean density inversion with a fit of frequencies separation ratios can efficiently damp the surface effects and achieve precise and accurate stellar parameters for ten Kepler LEGACY targets, well within the PLATO mission requirements. We applied and compared two modelling approaches, directly fitting the individual frequencies, or coupling a mean density inversion with a fit of the ratios, to six synthetic targets with a patched 3D atmosphere from Sonoi et al. (2015) and ten actual targets from the LEGACY sample. The fit of the individual frequencies is unsurprisingly very sensitive to surface effects and the stellar parameters tend to be biased, which constitutes a fundamental limit to both accuracy and precision. In contrast, coupling a mean density inversion and a fit of the ratios efficiently damps the surface effects, and allows us to get both precise and accurate stellar parameters. The average statistical precision of our selection of LEGACY targets with this second strategy is 1.9% for the mass, 0.7% for the radius, and 4.1% for the age, well within the PLATO requirements. Using the mean density in the constraints significantly improves the precision of the mass, radius and age determinations, on average by 20%, 33%, and 16%, respectively.

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arXiv2023

Study with WhoSGlAd of the acoustic depth of the helium glitch across the seismic HR diagram and its impact on the inferred helium abundance

The acoustic glitches' signature present in solar-like stars holds invaluable information. Indeed, it is caused by a sharp variation in the sound speed, therefore carrying localised information. One such glitch is the helium glitch caused by the hydrogen and first and second partial helium ionisation region, allowing us to constrain the surface helium abundance. However, the function adjusted to the glitch signature depends non-linearly on the acoustic depth at which it occurs, He. Retrieving the faint glitch signature and estimating $τ_{\textrm{He}}$ are difficult but crucial tasks to accurately measure the glitch parameters and, ultimately, accurately infer the helium abundance. In the present paper, we aim at providing a way to estimate $τ_{\textrm{He}}$ using precise seismic indicators, independent of stellar modelling. Consequently, we aim at improving the WhoSGlAd (Whole Spectrum and Glitches Adjustment) method by automatically providing a model independent measure of the glitch's parameters. We compute the evolution of $T_{\textrm{He}}$, a dimensionless form of the acoustic depth, along a grid of models and adjust an empirical linear relation between $T_{\textrm{He}}$ and the mean large separation and frequency ratio as defined in WhoSGlAd. We further optimise over the value of this estimate to ensure the stability and accuracy of the approach. The proposed approach provides an excellent estimate of the acoustic depth and allows us to swiftly retrieve the glitch signature of observed spectra. We demonstrate that the we can accurately model the helium abundance of four Kepler targets by comparing model (both versions of WhoSGlAd) and literature values.

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arXiv2021

HAYDN -- High-precision AsteroseismologY of DeNse stellar fields (ESA Voyage 2050 White Paper)

In the last decade, the Kepler and CoRoT space-photometry missions have demonstrated the potential of asteroseismology as a novel, versatile and powerful tool to perform exquisite tests of stellar physics, and to enable precise and accurate characterisations of stellar properties, with impact on both exoplanetary and Galactic astrophysics. Based on our improved understanding of the strengths and limitations of such a tool, we argue for a new small/medium space mission dedicated to gathering high-precision, high-cadence, long photometric series in dense stellar fields. Such a mission will lead to breakthroughs in stellar astrophysics, especially in the metal poor regime, will elucidate the evolution and formation of open and globular clusters, and aid our understanding of the assembly history and chemodynamics of the Milky Way's bulge and few nearby dwarf galaxies.

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arXiv2020

Reinvestigating $α$ Cen AB in light of asteroseismic forward and inverse methods

The $α$ Cen stellar system is the closest neighbour to our Sun. Its main component is a binary composed of two main-sequence stars, one more massive than the Sun and one less massive. The system's bright magnitude led to a wealth of astronomical observations over a long period, making it an appealing testbed for stellar physics. In particular, detection of stellar pulsations in both $α$ Cen A and B has revealed the potential of asteroseismology for determining its fundamental stellar parameters. Asteroseismic studies have also focused on the presence of a convective core in the A component, but as yet without definitive confirmation. Progress in the determination of solar surface abundances and stellar opacities have yielded new input for stellar theoretical models. We investigate their impact on a reference system such as $α$ Cen AB. We seek to confirm the presence of a convective core in $α$ Cen A by analysing the role of different stellar physics and the potential of asteroseismic inverse methods. We present a new series of asteroseismic calibrations carried out using forward approach modelling and including updated chemical mixture and opacities in the models. We then complement our analysis with help of recent asteroseismic diagnostic tools based on inverse methods developed for solar-like stars. The inclusion of an updated chemical mixture -- that is less metal-rich -- appears to reduce the predicted asteroseismic masses of each component. Neither classical asteroseismic indicators such as frequency ratios, nor asteroseismic inversions favour the presence of a convective core in $α$ Cen A. The quality of the observational seismic dataset is the main limiting factor to settle the issue. Implementing new observing strategies to improve the precision on the pulsation frequencies would certainly refine the outcome of asteroseismology for this binary system.

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arXiv2020

Detection and characterisation of oscillating red giants: first results from the TESS satellite

Since the onset of the `space revolution' of high-precision high-cadence photometry, asteroseismology has been demonstrated as a powerful tool for informing Galactic archaeology investigations. The launch of the NASA TESS mission has enabled seismic-based inferences to go full sky -- providing a clear advantage for large ensemble studies of the different Milky Way components. Here we demonstrate its potential for investigating the Galaxy by carrying out the first asteroseismic ensemble study of red giant stars observed by TESS. We use a sample of 25 stars for which we measure their global asteroseimic observables and estimate their fundamental stellar properties, such as radius, mass, and age. Significant improvements are seen in the uncertainties of our estimates when combining seismic observables from TESS with astrometric measurements from the Gaia mission compared to when the seismology and astrometry are applied separately. Specifically, when combined we show that stellar radii can be determined to a precision of a few percent, masses to 5-10% and ages to the 20% level. This is comparable to the precision typically obtained using end-of-mission Kepler data

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arXiv2019

Current problems in stellar pulsation theory

The last decade lead to major progress in asteroseismology and stellar physics with the advent of space missions. Thanks to the richness and precision of current oscillation spectra, sophisticated seismic probing techniques allow us now to pinpoint the limits of our current models of stellar structure and evolution. However, the accuracy of the seismic diagnosis depends on the accuracy of the pulsation models. In solar-like oscillations, the main source of inaccuracy comes from the near-surface layers where the oscillations are non-adiabatic and strongly coupled with turbulent convection. Some pulsating stars rotate fast and this must be accurately taken into account in the modeling of their pulsations. In others, the magnetic field or the dynamic tides could play some role. I propose here an overview of the great achievements and current limitation of asteroseismology.

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arXiv2018

Mode identification in rapidly rotating stars from BRITE data

Apart from recent progress in Gamma Dor stars, identifying modes in rapidly rotating stars is a formidable challenge due to the lack of simple, easily identifiable frequency patterns. As a result, it is necessary to look to observational methods for identifying modes. Two popular techniques are spectroscopic mode identification based on line profile variations (LPVs) and photometric mode identification based on amplitude ratios and phase differences between multiple photometric bands. In this respect, the BRITE constellation is particularly interesting as it provides space-based multi-colour photometry. The present contribution describes the latest developments in obtaining theoretical predictions for amplitude ratios and phase differences for pulsation modes in rapidly rotating stars. These developments are based on full 2D non-adiabatic pulsation calculations, using models from the ESTER code, the only code to treat in a self-consistent way the thermal equilibrium of rapidly rotating stars. These predictions are then specifically applied to the BRITE photometric bands to explore the prospects of identifying modes based on BRITE observations.

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arXiv2017

Non-adiabatic pulsations in ESTER models

One of the greatest challenges in interpreting the pulsations of rapidly rotating stars is mode identification, i.e. correctly matching theoretical modes to observed pulsation frequencies. Indeed, the latest observations as well as current theoretical results show the complexity of pulsation spectra in such stars, and the lack of easily recognisable patterns. In the present contribution, the latest results on non-adiabatic effects in such pulsations are described, and we show how these come into play when identifying modes. These calculations fully take into account the effects of rapid rotation, including centrifugal distortion, and are based on models from the ESTER project, currently the only rapidly rotating models in which the energy conservation equation is satisfied, a prerequisite for calculating non-adiabatic effects. Non-adiabatic effects determine which modes are excited and play a key role in the near-surface pulsation-induced temperature variations which intervene in multi-colour amplitude ratios and phase differences, as well as line profile variations.

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arXiv2017

What CoRoT tells us about δ Scuti stars existence of a regular pattern and seismic indices to characterize stars

Inspired by the so appealing example of red giants, where going from a handful of stars to thousands revealed the structure of the eigenspectrum, we inspected a large homogeneous set of around 1860 δ Scuti stars observed with CoRoT. This unique data set reveals a common regular pattern which appears to be in agreement with island modes featured by theoretical non-perturbative treatments of fast rotation. The comparison of these data with models and linear stability calculations suggests that spectra can be fruitfully characterized to first order by a few parameters which might play the role of seismic indices for δ Scuti stars, as {Δν} and {ν_{max}} do for red giants. The existence of this pattern offers an observational support for guiding further theoretical works on fast rotation. It also provides a framework for further investigation of the observational material collected by CoRoT and Kepler. Finally, it sketches out the perspective of using δ Scuti stars pulsations for ensemble asteroseismology.

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arXiv2017

Asteroseismic inversions in the Kepler era: application to the Kepler Legacy sample

In the past few years, the CoRoT and Kepler missions have carried out what is now called the space photometry revolution. This revolution is still ongoing thanks to K2 and will be continued by the Tess and Plato2.0 missions. However, the photometry revolution must also be followed by progress in stellar modelling, in order to lead to more precise and accurate determinations of fundamental stellar parameters such as masses, radii and ages. In this context, the long-lasting problems related to mixing processes in stellar interior is the main obstacle to further improvements of stellar modelling. In this contribution, we will apply structural asteroseismic inversion techniques to targets from the Kepler Legacy sample and analyse how these can help us constrain the fundamental parameters and mixing processes in these stars. Our approach is based on previous studies using the SOLA inversion technique to determine integrated quantities such as the mean density, the acoustic radius, and core conditions indicators, and has already been successfully applied to the 16Cyg binary system. We will show how this technique can be applied to the Kepler Legacy sample and how new indicators can help us to further constrain the chemical composition profiles of stars as well as provide stringent constraints on stellar ages.

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arXiv2017

Linear approximation of seismic inversions: new kernels and structural effects

Thanks to the space-based photometry missions CoRoT and Kepler, we now benefit from a wealth of seismic data for stars other than the sun. In the future, K2, Tess and Plato will provide further observations. The quality of this data may allow kernel-based linear structural inversion techniques to be used for stars other than the sun. To understand the limitations of this approach, we analyse the validity of the linear assumption used in these inversion techniques. We inspect various structural pairs and see how they are affected by structural changes. We show that uncertainties in radius strongly affect structural pairs of nondimensional variables, and that various other effects might come into play. Amongst these, the importance of micro-physics give the most striking example of how uncertainties in stellar models impact the verification of the linear relations. We also point out that including seismic constraints in the forward modelling fit helps with satisfying the linear relations.

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arXiv2016

Interaction Between Convection and Pulsation

This article reviews our current understanding of modelling convection dynamics in stars. Several semi-analytical time-dependent convection models have been proposed for pulsating one-dimensional stellar structures with different formulations for how the convective turbulent velocity field couples with the global stellar oscillations. In this review we put emphasis on two, widely used, time-dependent convection formulations for estimating pulsation properties in one-dimensional stellar models. Applications to pulsating stars are presented with results for oscillation properties, such as the effects of convection dynamics on the oscillation frequencies, or the stability of pulsation modes, in classical pulsators and in stars supporting solar-type oscillations.

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arXiv2015

Pulsations of rapidly rotating stars: II. Realistic modelling for intermediate-mass stars

Very high precision seismic space missions such as CoRoT and Kepler provide the means for testing the modelling of transport processes in stellar interiors. For some stars, such as $δ$ Scuti $γ$ Doradus and Be stars, for instance, the observed pulsation spectra are modified by rotation to such an extent that it prevents any fruitful interpretation. Our aim is to characterise acoustic pulsation spectra of realistic stellar models in order to be able to interpret asteroseismic data from such stars. The 2-dimensional oscillation code ACOR, which treats rotation in a non-perturbative manner, is used to study pulsation spectra of highly distorted evolved models of stars. 2D models of stars are obtained by a self-consistent method which distorts spherically averaged stellar models a posteriori, at any stage of evolution, and for any type of rotation law. Four types of modes are calculated in a very dense frequency spectrum, among which are island modes. The regularity of the island modes spectrum is confirmed and yields a new set of quantum numbers, with which an échelle diagram can be built. Mixed gravito-acoustic modes are calculated in rapidly rotating models for the first time.

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arXiv2014

Stellar acoustic radii, mean densities and ages from seismic inversion techniques

Context. Determining stellar characteristics such as the radius, the mass or the age is crucial when studying stellar evolution, exoplanetary systems or characterising stellar populations in the Galaxy. Asteroseismology is the golden path to accurately obtain these characteristics. In this context, a key question is how to make these methods less model-dependant. Aims. Building on the work of Reese et al. (2012), we wish to extend the SOLA inversion technique to new stellar global characteristics in addition to the mean density. The goal is to provide a general framework in which to estimate these characteristics as accurately as possible in low mass main sequence stars. Methods. First, we describe our framework and discuss the reliability of the inversion technique and the possible sources of error.We then apply this methodology to the acoustic radius, an age indicator based on the sound speed derivative and the mean density and compare it to estimates based on the average large and small frequency separations. These inversions are carried out for several test cases which include: various metallicities, different mixing-lengths, non-adiabatic effects and turbulent pressure. Results. We observe that the SOLA method yields accurate results in all test cases whereas results based on the large and small frequency separations are less accurate and more sensitive to surface effects and structural differences in the models. If we include the surface corrections of Kjeldsen et al. (2008), we obtain results of comparable accuracy for the mean density. Overall, the mean density and acoustic radius inversions are more robust than the inversions for the age indicator. Moreover, the current approach is limited to relatively young stars with radiative cores. Increasing the number of observed frequencies improves the reliability and accuracy of the method.

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