arXiv subjects

Marica Valentini

Publications and source records attributed to Marica Valentini.

21 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2013

GAUFRE: a tool for an automated determination of atmospheric parameters from spectroscopy

We present an automated tool for measuring atmospheric parameters (T_eff, log(g), [Fe/H]) for F-G-K dwarf and giant stars. The tool, called GAUFRE, is written in C++ and composed of several routines: GAUFRE-RV measures radial velocity from spectra via cross-correlation against a synthetic template, GAUFRE-EW measures atmospheric parameters through the classic line-by-line technique and GAUFRE-CHI2 performs a chi^2 fitting to a library of synthetic spectra. A set of F-G-K stars extensively studied in the literature were used as a benchmark for the program: their high signal-to-noise and high resolution spectra were analysed by using GAUFRE and results were compared with those present in literature. The tool is also implemented in order to perform the spectral analysis after fixing the surface gravity (log(g)) to the accurate value provided by asteroseismology. A set of CoRoT stars, belonging to LRc01 and LRa01 fields was used for first testing the performances and the behaviour of the program when using the seismic log(g).

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2011

Fast core rotation in red-giant stars revealed by gravity-dominated mixed modes

When the core hydrogen is exhausted during stellar evolution, the central region of a star contracts and the outer envelope expands and cools, giving rise to a red giant, in which convection occupies a large fraction of the star. Conservation of angular momentum requires that the cores of these stars rotate faster than their envelopes, and indirect evidence supports this. Information about the angular momentum distribution is inaccessible to direct observations, but it can be extracted from the effect of rotation on oscillation modes that probe the stellar interior. Here, we report the detection of non-rigid rotation in the interiors of red-giant stars by exploiting the rotational frequency splitting of recently detected mixed modes. We demonstrate an increasing rotation rate from the surface of the star to the stellar core. Comparing with theoretical stellar models, we conclude that the core must rotate at least ten times faster than the surface. This observational result confirms the theoretical prediction of a steep gradient in the rotation profile towards the deep stellar interior.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2011

Solar-like pulsating stars as distance indicators: G-K giants in the CoRoT and Kepler fields

The detection of radial and non-radial solar-like oscillations in thousands of G-K giants with CoRoT and Kepler is paving the road for detailed studies of stellar populations in the Galaxy. The available average seismic constraints allow a precise and largely model-independent determination of stellar radii (hence distances) and masses. We here briefly report on the distance determination of thousands of giants in the CoRoT and Kepler fields of view.

astro-ph.GA↗