arXiv subjects

Timothy Van Reeth

Publications and source records attributed to Timothy Van Reeth.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Isochrone-cloud fitting and asteroseismology of the Kepler open cluster NGC6866

We investigate how isochrones computed with different input physics and initial conditions affect the age dating of the open cluster NGC 6866, and compare the results with asteroseismic ages derived from Kepler photometry. Using Gaia DR3 data, we identified 180 cluster members with a clustering algorithm. We then developed an isochrone-cloud fitting method that accounts for a range of free parameters in the input physics. Variable stars were subsequently identified among the cluster members. For 19 g-mode pulsators, we carried out modelling with a dedicated grid of rotating stellar models, constrained by spectroscopic and photometric parameters, the asymptotic gravity-mode period spacing, and the near-core rotation rate. We considered two cases: modelling each pulsator individually and modelling them under the assumption of a common cluster age. PARSEC and MIST isochrones yield discrepant ages of 690 and 467 Myr, respectively. The isochrone-cloud fit indicates an initial critical rotation distribution peaking at 0.6, about a factor of two higher than inferred from asteroseismology. The seismic modelling shows agreement between seismic and isochronal masses, but substantial differences in the derived ages due to differences in internal mixing. When the g-mode pulsators are modelled with a shared cluster age, we obtain 759 Myr, consistent with the PARSEC isochronal age. We conclude that age dating of open clusters is sensitive to the adopted input physics and initial conditions, highlighting the need for better calibrated stellar evolutionary models.

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arXiv2025

Evolution of the near-core rotation frequency of 2,497 intermediate-mass stars from their dominant gravito-inertial mode

We combined Gaia DR3 and TESS photometric light curves to estimate the internal physical properties of 2,497 gravity-mode pulsators. We relied on asteroseismic properties of Kepler $\gamma\,$Dor and SPB stars to derive the near-core rotation frequency, $f_{\rm rot}$, of the Gaia-discovered pulsators from their dominant prograde dipole gravito-inertial pulsation mode. We offer a recipe based on linear regression to deduce $f_{\rm rot}$ from the dominant gravito-inertial mode frequency. It is applicable to prograde dipole modes with an amplitude above 4mmag and occurring in the sub-inertial regime. By applying it to the 2,497 pulsators, we have increased the sample of intermediate-mass dwarfs with such an asteroseismic observable by a factor of 4. We used the estimate of $f_{\rm rot}$ to deduce spin parameters between 2 and 6, while the sample's near-core rotation rates range from 0.7% to 25% of the critical Keplerian rate. We used $f_{\rm rot}$, along with the Gaia effective temperature and luminosity to deduce the (convective core) mass, radius, and evolutionary stage from grid modelling based on rotating stellar models. We derived a decline of $f_{\rm rot}$ with a factor of 2 during the main-sequence evolution for this population of field stars, which covers a mass range from 1.3M$_\odot$ to 7M$_\odot$. We found observational evidence for an increase in the radial order of excited gravity modes as the stars evolve. For 969 pulsators, we derived an upper limit of the radial differential rotation between the convective core boundary and the surface from Gaia's vbroad measurement and found values up to 5.4. Our recipe for the near-core rotation frequency from the dominant gravito-inertial mode detected in the independent Gaia and TESS light curves is easy to use, facilitates applications to large samples, and allows to map their angular momentum and evolutionary stage in the Milky Way.

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arXiv2024

KIC 4150611: A quadruply eclipsing heptuple star system with a g-mode period-spacing pattern Asteroseismic modelling of the g-mode period-spacing pattern

In this work, we aim to estimate the stellar parameters of the primary (Aa) by performing asteroseismic analysis on its period-spacing pattern. We use the C-3PO neural network to perform asteroseismic modelling of the g-mode period-spacing pattern of Aa, discussing the interplay of this information with external constraints from spectroscopy ($T_{\rm eff}$ and $\log(g)$) and eclipse modelling ($R$). To estimate the level of uncertainty due to different frequency extraction and pattern identification processes, we consider four different variations on the period-spacing patterns. To better understand the correlations between and the uncertainty structure of our parameter estimates, we also employed a classical, parameter-based MCMC grid search on four different stellar grids. The best-fitting, externally constrained model to the period-spacing pattern arrives at estimates of the stellar properties for Aa of: $M=1.51 \pm 0.05 M_\odot$, $X_c =0.43 \pm 0.04$, $R=1.66 \pm 0.1 R_\odot$, $f_{\rm ov}=0.010$, $\Omega_c=1.58 \pm 0.01$ d$^{-1}$ with rigid rotation to within the measurement errors, $\log(T_{\rm eff})=3.856 \pm 0.008$ dex, $\log(g)=4.18 \pm 0.04$ dex, and $\log(L)=0.809 \pm 0.005$ dex, which agree well with previous measurements from eclipse modelling, spectroscopy, and the Gaia DR3 luminosity. We find that the near-core properties of the best-fitting asteroseismic models are consistent with external constraints from eclipse modelling and spectroscopy. Aa appears to be a typical example of a $\gamma$ Dor star, fitting well within existing populations. We find that Aa is quasi-rigidly rotating to within the uncertainties, and note that the asteroseismic age estimate for Aa (1100 $\pm$ 100 Myr) is considerably older than the young (35 Myr) age implied by previous isochrone fits to the B binary in the literature. Our MCMC parameter-based grid-search agrees well with our pattern-modelling approach.

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arXiv2024

Photometric detection of internal gravity waves in upper main-sequence stars. IV. Comparable stochastic low-frequency variability in SMC, LMC, and Galactic massive stars

Massive main-sequence stars have convective cores and radiative envelopes, but also sub-surface convection zones caused by partial ionisation. However, the convective properties depend on opacity and a star's metallicity. Non-rotating 1D evolution models of main-sequence stars with the metallicity of the SMC suggest tenuous sub-surface convection zones using the Rayleigh number as a criterion for convection owing to their lower metallicity. We test whether massive stars of different metallicities both inside and outside of asteroseismically calibrated stability windows for sub-surface convection exhibit different properties in stochastic low-frequency (SLF) variability. We extracted customised light curves from the TESS mission for a sample of massive stars using an effective point spread function (ePSF) method, and compared their morphologies in terms of characteristic frequency and amplitude using a Gaussian process (GP) regression methodology. We demonstrate that the properties of SLF variability are generally consistent across the metallicity range from the Milky Way down to the SMC, for stars both inside and outside of the sub-surface stability windows. We conclude that non-rotating 1D stellar structure models cannot alone be used to explain SLF variability in light curves of massive stars. The similar properties of SLF variability across a range of metallicity values, which follow the same trends in mass and age in the HR diagram at both high and low metallicity, support a transition in the dominant mechanism causing SLF variability from younger to more evolved stars. Specifically, core-excited internal gravity waves (IGWs) are favoured for younger stars lacking sub-surface convection zones, especially at low metallicity, and sub-surface convection zones are favoured for more evolved massive stars. (abstract abridged for arXiv)

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arXiv2024

Estimates of (convective core) masses, radii, and relative ages for $\sim$14,000 Gaia-discovered gravity-mode pulsators monitored by TESS

Gravito-inertial asteroseismology saw its birth from the 4-years long light curves of rotating main-sequence stars assembled by the Kepler space telescope. High-precision measurements of internal rotation and mixing are available for about 600 stars of intermediate mass so far that are used to challenge the state-of-the-art stellar structure and evolution models. Our aim is to prepare for future large ensemble modelling of gravity (g)-mode pulsators by relying on a new sample of such stars recently discovered from the third Data Release of the Gaia space mission and confirmed by space photometry from the TESS mission. This sample of potential asteroseismic targets is about 23 times larger than the Kepler sample. We use the effective temperature and luminosity inferred from Gaia to deduce evolutionary masses, convective core masses, radii, and ages for ~14,000 g-mode pulsators classified as such from their nominal TESS light curves. We do so by constructing two dedicated grids of evolutionary models for rotating stars with input physics from the asteroseismic calibrations of Kepler $\gamma$ Dor pulsators. We find the new g-mode pulsators to cover an extended observational instability region covering masses from about 1.3 to 9Msun. We provide their mass-luminosity and mass-radius relations, as well as convective core masses. Our results suggest that oscillations excited by the opacity mechanism occur uninterruptedly for the mass range above about 2Msun, where stars have a radiative envelope aside from thin convection zones in their excitation layers. Our evolutionary parameters for the sample of Gaia-discovered g-mode pulsators with confirmed modes by TESS offer a fruitful starting point for future TESS ensemble asteroseismology once a sufficient number of modes is identified in terms of the geometrical wave numbers and overtone for each of the pulsators.

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arXiv2023

Asteroseismology of the young open cluster NGC 2516 I: Photometric and spectroscopic observations

Asteroseismic modelling of isolated star presents significant challenges due to the difficulty in accurately determining stellar parameters, particularly the stellar age. These challenges can be overcomed by observing stars in open clusters, whose coeval members share an initial chemical composition. The light curves by TESS allow us to investigate and analyse stellar variations in clusters with an unprecedented level. We aim to detect gravity-mode oscillations in the early-type main-sequence members of the young open cluster NGC 2516. We selected the 301 member stars as our sample and analysed the TESS FFI light curves. We also collected high-resolution spectra using the FEROS for the g-mode pulsators. By fitting the theoretical isochrones to the colour-magnitude diagram (CMD) of a cluster, we determined an age of 102 $\pm$ 15 Myr and inferred the extinction at 550 nm ($A_0$) is 0.53 $\pm$ 0.04 mag. We identified 147 stars with surface brightness modulations, 24 with g-mode pulsations ($\gamma$ Doradus or Slowly Pulsating B stars), and 35 with p-mode pulsations ($\delta$ Sct stars). When sorted by colour index, the amplitude spectra of the $\delta$ Sct stars show a distinct ordering and reveal a discernible frequency-temperature relationship. The near-core rotation rates, measured from period spacing patterns in two SPB and nine $\gamma$ Dor stars, reach up to 3/d . This is at the high end of the values found from Kepler data of field stars of similar variability type. The $\gamma$ Dor stars have internal rotation rates as high as 50% of their critical value, whereas the SPB stars exhibit rotation rates close to their critical rate. We did not find long-term brightness and colour variations in the mid-infrared, which suggests that there are no disk or shell formation events in our sample. We also discussed the results of our spectroscopic observations for the g-mode pulsators.

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arXiv2023

Physical properties of the eclipsing binary KIC 9851944 and analysis of its tidally-perturbed p- and g-mode pulsations

Stars that are both pulsating and eclipsing offer an important opportunity to better understand many of the physical phenomena that occur in stars, because it is possible to measure the pulsation frequencies of stars for which the masses and radii are known precisely and accurately. KIC 9851944 is a double-lined detached eclipsing binary containing two F-stars which show both pressure and gravity mode pulsations. We present an analysis of new high-resolution spectroscopy of the system and high quality light curves from the Kepler and TESS space missions. We determine the masses and effective temperatures of the stars to 0.6% precision, and their radii to 1.0% and 1.5% precision. The secondary component is cooler, but larger and more massive than the primary so is more evolved; both lie inside the {\delta} Scuti and {\gamma} Doradus instability strips. We measure a total of 133 significant pulsation frequencies in the light curve, including 14 multiplets that each contain between 3 and 19 frequencies. We find evidence for tidal perturbations to some of the p- and g-modes, attribute a subset of the frequencies to either the primary or secondary star, and measure a buoyancy radius and near-core rotational frequency for the primary component. KIC 9851944 is mildly metal-rich and MIST isochrones from the MESA evolutionary code agree well with the observed properties of the system for an age of 1.25 Gyr.

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arXiv2023

Probing the physics in the core boundary layers of the double-lined B-type binary KIC4930889 from its gravito-inertial modes

Stellar evolution models of B-type stars are still uncertain in terms of internal mixing properties, notably in the area between the convective core and the radiative envelope. This impacts age determination of such stars in addition to the computation of chemical yields produced at the end of their life. We investigated the thermal and chemical structure and rotation rate in the near-core boundary layer of the double-lined B-type binary KIC4930889 from its four-year Kepler light curve, ground-based spectroscopy, and Gaia astrometry. We computed grids of 1D stellar structure and evolution models for different mixing profiles and prescriptions of the temperature gradient in the near-core region. We examined the preferred prescription and the near-core rotation rate using 22 prograde dipole modes detected by Kepler photometry. We employed a Mahalanobis distance merit function and considered various nested stellar model grids, rewarding goodness of fit but penalising model complexity. Furthermore, we found a preference for either an exponentially decaying mixing profile in the near-core region or absence of additional near-core mixing, but found no preference for the temperature gradient in this region. The frequency (co)variances of our theoretical predictions are much larger than the errors on the observed frequencies. This forms the main limitation on further constraining the individual parameters of our models. Additionally, non-adiabatic pulsation computations of our best models indicate a need for opacity enhancements to accurately reproduce the observed mode excitation. The eccentric close binary system KIC4930889 proves to be a promising target to investigate additional physics in close binaries by developing new modelling methods with the capacity to include the effect of tidal interactions for full exploitation of all detected oscillation modes.

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arXiv2023

Unresolved Rossby and gravity modes in 214 A and F stars showing rotational modulation

Here we report an ensemble study of 214 A- and F-type stars observed by \textit{Kepler}, exhibiting the so-called \textit{hump and spike} periodic signal, explained by Rossby modes (r~modes) -- the \textit{hump} -- and magnetic stellar spots or overstable convective (OsC) modes -- the \textit{spike} -- respectively. We determine the power confined in the non-resolved hump features and find additional gravity~modes (g~modes) humps always occurring at higher frequencies than the spike. Furthermore, we derive projected rotational velocities from FIES, SONG and HERMES spectra for 28 stars and the stellar inclination angle for 89 stars. We find a strong correlation between the spike amplitude and the power in the r and g~modes, which suggests that both types of oscillations are mechanically excited by either stellar spots or OsC modes. Our analysis suggests that stars with a higher power in $m=1$ r~modes humps are more likely to also exhibit humps at higher azimuthal orders ($m$ = 2, 3, or 4). Interestingly, all stars that show g~modes humps are hotter and more luminous than the observed red edge of the $\delta$ Scuti instability strip, suggesting that either magnetic fields or convection in the outer layers could play an important role.

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arXiv2023

The ESO UVES/FEROS Large Programs of TESS OB pulsators. I. Global stellar parameters from high-resolution spectroscopy

Modern stellar structure and evolution theory experiences a lack of observational calibrations for the interior physics of intermediate- and high-mass stars. This leads to discrepancies between theoretical predictions and observed phenomena mostly related to angular momentum and element transport. Analyses of large samples of massive stars connecting state-of-the-art spectroscopy to asteroseismology may provide clues on how to improve our understanding of their interior structure. We aim to deliver a sample of O- and B-type stars at metallicity regimes of the Milky Way and the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) galaxies with accurate atmospheric parameters from high-resolution spectroscopy, along with a detailed investigation of line-profile broadening, for future asteroseismic studies. After describing the general aims of our two Large Programs, we develop dedicated methodology to fit spectral lines and deduce accurate global stellar parameters from high-resolution multi-epoch UVES and FEROS spectroscopy. We use the best available atmosphere models for three regimes covered by our global sample, given its breadth in terms of mass, effective temperature, and evolutionary stage. Aside from accurate atmospheric parameters and locations in the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, we deliver detailed analyses of macroturbulent line broadening, including estimation of the radial and tangential components. We find that these two components are difficult to disentangle from spectra with signal-to-noise ratios below 250. Future asteroseismic modelling of the deep interior physics of the most promising stars in our sample will improve the existing dearth of such knowledge for large samples of OB stars, including those of low metallicity in the LMC.

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arXiv2022

Internal rotation and buoyancy travel time of 60 gamma Doradus stars from uninterrupted TESS light curves spanning 352 days

Context. Gamma Doradus (hereafter $\gamma$~Dor) stars are gravity-mode pulsators whose periods carry information about the internal structure of the star. These periods are especially sensitive to the internal rotation and chemical mixing, two processes that are currently not well constrained in the theory of stellar evolution. Aims. We aim to identify the pulsation modes and deduce the internal rotation and buoyancy travel time for 106 $\gamma$ Dor stars observed by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission in its southern continuous viewing zone (hereafter S-CVZ). We rely on 140 previously detected period-spacing patterns, that is, series of (near-)consecutive pulsation mode periods. Methods. We used the asymptotic expression to compute gravity-mode frequencies for ranges of the rotation rate and buoyancy travel time that cover the physical range in $\gamma$~Dor stars. Those frequencies were fitted to the observed period-spacing patterns by minimising a custom cost function. The effects of rotation were evaluated using the traditional approximation of rotation, using the stellar pulsation code GYRE. Results. We obtained the pulsation mode identification, internal rotation and buoyancy travel time for 60 TESS $\gamma$~Dor stars. For the remaining 46 targets, the detected patterns are either too short or contained too many missing modes for unambiguous mode identification, and longer light curves are required. For the successfully analysed stars, we found that period-spacing patterns from 1-yr long TESS light curves can constrain the internal rotation and buoyancy travel time to a precision of $\rm 0.03~d^{-1}$ and 400s, respectively, which is about half as precise as literature results based on 4-yr Kepler light curves of $\gamma$~Dor stars.

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arXiv2022

Tidal perturbations and eclipse mapping in the pulsations in the hierarchical triple system U~Gru

Context. Unambiguous examples of the influence of tides on self-excited, free stellar pulsations have recently been observationally detected in space-based photometric data. Aims. We aim to investigate U Gru and contextualise it within the growing class of tidally influenced pulsators. Initial analysis of U Gru revealed frequencies spaced by the orbital frequency that are difficult to explain by currently proposed tidal mechanisms. Methods. We re-investigate the TESS photometry of U Gru alongside new uves spectroscopy. We analyse the uves spectroscopy with least-squares deconvolution and spectral disentangling techniques, and perform an atmospheric analysis. We remove the binary signature from the light curve using an effective model in order to investigate the pulsation signal in the residuals. We track the amplitudes and phases of the residual pulsations as a function of the orbital period to reveal their tidal influence. Results. We establish that U Gru is likely a hierarchical triple system. We identify a single p mode oscillation to exhibit amplitude and phase variation over the binary orbit. We propose a toy model to demonstrate that the series of frequencies separated by the orbital frequency can be reproduced by eclipse mapping. We find no evidence of modulation to the other independent oscillation modes. Conclusions. We demonstrate that U Gru hosts at least one tidally perturbed pulsation. Additionally we argue that eclipse mapping of the dominant, tidally perturbed mode can produce the series of frequencies separated by the observed orbital frequency. Our simulations show that the effects of eclipse mapping are mode dependent, and are not expected to produce an observable signature for all pulsation modes in an eclipse binary.

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arXiv2022

Can we detect deep axisymmetric toroidal magnetic fields in stars?

One of the major discoveries of asteroseismology is the signature of a strong extraction of angular momentum (AM) in the radiative zones of stars across the entire Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, resulting in weak core-to-surface rotation contrasts. Despite all efforts, a consistent AM transport theory, which reproduces both the internal rotation and mixing probed thanks to the seismology of stars, remains one of the major open problems in modern stellar astrophysics. A possible key ingredient to figure out this puzzle is magnetic field with its various possible topologies. Among them, strong axisymmetric toroidal fields, which are subject to the so-called Tayler MHD instability, could play a major role. They could trigger a dynamo action in radiative layers while the resulting magnetic torque allows an efficient transport of AM. But is it possible to detect signatures of these deep toroidal magnetic fields? The only way to answer this question is asteroseismology and the best laboratories of study are intermediate-mass and massive stars because of their external radiative envelope. Since most of these are rapid rotators during their main-sequence, we have to study stellar pulsations propagating in stably stratified, rotating, and potentially strongly magnetised radiative zones. For that, we generalise the traditional approximation of rotation, which provides in its classic version a flexible treatment of the adiabatic propagation of gravito-inertial modes, by taking simultaneously general axisymmetric differential rotation and toroidal magnetic fields into account. Using this new non-perturbative formalism, we derive the asymptotic properties of magneto-gravito-inertial modes and we explore the different possible field configurations. We found that the magnetic effects should be detectable for equatorial fields using high-precision asteroseismic data.

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arXiv2022

The Nature of Unseen Companions in Massive Single-Line Spectroscopic Binaries

Massive stars are predominantly found in binaries and higher order multiples. While the period and eccentricity distributions of OB stars are now well established across different metallicity regimes, the determination of mass-ratios has been mostly limited to double-lined spectroscopic binaries. As a consequence, the mass-ratio distribution remains subject to significant uncertainties. Open questions include the shape and extent of the companion mass-function towards its low-mass end and the nature of undetected companions in single-lined spectroscopic binaries. In this contribution, we present the results of a large and systematic analysis of a sample of over 80 single-lined O-type spectroscopic binaries (SB1s) in the Milky Way and in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). We report on the developed methodology, the constraints obtained on the nature of SB1 companions, the distribution of O star mass-ratios at LMC metallicity and the occurrence of quiescent OB+black hole binaries.

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arXiv2022

Spinning up the Surface: Evidence for Planetary Engulfment or Unexpected Angular Momentum Transport?

In this paper, we report the potential detection of a nonmonotonic radial rotation profile in a low-mass lower-luminosity giant star. For most low- and intermediate-mass stars, the rotation on the main sequence seems to be close to rigid. As these stars evolve into giants, the core contracts and the envelope expands, which should suggest a radial rotation profile with a fast core and a slower envelope and surface. KIC 9267654, however, seems to show a surface rotation rate that is faster than its bulk envelope rotation rate, in conflict with this simple angular momentum conservation argument. We improve the spectroscopic surface constraint, show that the pulsation frequencies are consistent with the previously published core and envelope rotation rates, and demonstrate that the star does not show strong chemical peculiarities. We discuss the evidence against any tidally interacting stellar companion. Finally, we discuss the possible origin of this unusual rotation profile, including the potential ingestion of a giant planet or unusual angular momentum transport by tidal inertial waves triggered by a close substellar companion, and encourage further observational and theoretical efforts.

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arXiv2022

Four bright eclipsing binaries with gamma Doradus pulsating components: CM Lac, MZ Lac, RX Dra and V2077 Cyg

The study of pulsating stars in eclipsing binaries holds the promise of combining two different ways of measuring the physical properties of a star to obtain improved constraints on stellar theory. Gravity (g) mode pulsations such as those found in $\gamma$ Doradus stars can be used to probe rotational profiles, mixing and magnetic fields. Until recently few $\gamma$ Doradus stars in eclipsing binaries were known. We have discovered g-mode pulsations in four detached eclipsing binary systems from light curves obtained by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and present an analysis of their eclipses and pulsational characteristics. We find unresolved g-mode pulsations at frequencies 1--1.5 d$^{-1}$ in CM Lac, and measure the masses and radii of the component stars from the TESS data and published radial velocities. MZ Lac shows a much richer frequency spectrum, including pressure modes and tidally-excited g-modes. RX Dra is in the northern continuous viewing zone of TESS so has a light curve covering a full year, but shows relatively few pulsation frequencies. For V2077 Cyg we formally measure four pulsation frequencies, but the available data are inadequate to properly resolve the g-mode pulsations. V2077 Cyg also shows total eclipses, with which we obtain the first measurement of the surface gravity of the faint secondary star. All four systems are bright and good candidates for detailed study. Further TESS observations are scheduled for all four systems, with much improved temporal baselines in the cases of RX Dra and V2077 Cyg.

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arXiv2022

Analysis of high-resolution FEROS spectroscopy for a sample of variable B-type stars assembled from TESS photometry

Spectroscopic data are necessary to break degeneracies in asteroseismic modelling of the interior structure in high- and intermediate-mass stars. We derive precise photospheric stellar parameters for a sample of 166 B-type stars with TESS light curves, suitable for detailed asteroseismic studies, through a homogeneous spectroscopic analysis. The variability types of these stars are classified based on all currently available TESS sectors. We obtained high-resolution spectra for all 166 targets with the FEROS spectrograph in the context of a large program. The Least-Squares Deconvolution method is employed to investigate spectral line profile variability and to detect binary systems. We identify 26 spectroscopic double-lined binaries; the remainder of the sample are 42 supergiants in the LMC galaxy and 98 Galactic stars. The spectra of the Galactic stars are analysed with the zeta-Payne, a machine learning-based spectrum analysis algorithm. We determine the five main surface parameters with average formal precisions of 70 K (Teff), 0.03 dex (logg), 0.07 dex ([M/H]), 8 km/s (vsini), and 0.7 km/s (vmicro). The average internal uncertainties we find for FEROS spectra with our spectrum analysis method are 430 K (Teff), 0.12 dex (logg), 0.13 dex ([M/H]), 12 km/s (vsini), and 2 km/s (vmicro). We find spectroscopic evidence that eight of the 98 Galactic targets are fast rotating g-mode pulsators occurring in between the slowly pulsating B (SPB) stars and delta Scuti instability strips. The g-mode frequencies of these pulsators are shifted to relatively high frequency values due to their rotation. Their apparently too low Teff relative to the SPB instability region can in most cases be explained by the gravity darkening effect. We also discover 13 new HgMn stars of which only one is found in a spectroscopic binary, resulting in a biased and therefore unreliable low binary rate of only 8%.

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arXiv2022

Classifying Kepler light curves for 12,000 A and F stars using supervised feature-based machine learning

With the availability of large-scale surveys like Kepler and TESS, there is a pressing need for automated methods to classify light curves according to known classes of variable stars. We introduce a new algorithm for classifying light curves that compares 7000 time-series features to find those which most effectively classify a given set of light curves. We apply our method to Kepler light curves for stars with effective temperatures in the range 6500--10,000K. We show that the sample can be meaningfully represented in an interpretable five-dimensional feature space that separates seven major classes of light curves (delta Scuti stars, gamma Doradus stars, RR Lyrae stars, rotational variables, contact eclipsing binaries, detached eclipsing binaries, and non-variables). We achieve a balanced classification accuracy of 82% on an independent test set of Kepler stars using a Gaussian mixture model classifier. We use our method to classify 12,000 Kepler light curves from Quarter 9 and provide a catalogue of the results. We further outline a confidence heuristic based on probability density with which to search our catalogue, and extract candidate lists of correctly-classified variable stars.

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