arXiv subjects

W. A. Dziembowski

Publications and source records attributed to W. A. Dziembowski.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2007

Forecasting Seismic Signatures of Stellar Magnetic Activity

For the Sun, a tight correlation between various activity measures and oscillation frequencies is well documented. For other stars, we have abundant data on magnetic activity and its changes but not yet on its seismic signature. A prediction of the activity induced frequency changes in stars based on scaling the solar relations is presented. This seismic signature of the activity should be measurable in the data expected within few years.

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arXiv2007

On the Prospects for Detection and Identification of Low-Frequency Oscillation Modes in Rotating B Type Stars

We study how rotation affects observable amplitudes of high-order g- and mixed r/g-modes and examine prospects for their detection and identification. Our formalism, which is described in some detail, relies on a nonadiabatic generalization of the traditional approximation. Numerical results are presented for a number of unstable modes in a model of SPB star, at rotation rates up to 250 km/s. It is shown that rotation has a large effect on mode visibility in light and in mean radial velocity variations. In most cases, fast rotation impairs mode detectability of g-modes in light variation, as Townsend (2003b) has already noted, but it helps detection in radial velocity variation. The mixed modes, which exist only at sufficiently fast rotation, are also more easily seen in radial velocity. The amplitude ratios and phase differences are strongly dependent on the aspect, the rotational velocity and on the mode. The latter dependence is essential for mode identification.

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arXiv2007

Asteroseismic Signatures of Stellar Magnetic Activity Cycles

Observations of stellar activity cycles provide an opportunity to study magnetic dynamos under many different physical conditions. Space-based asteroseismology missions will soon yield useful constraints on the interior conditions that nurture such magnetic cycles, and will be sensitive enough to detect shifts in the oscillation frequencies due to the magnetic variations. We derive a method for predicting these shifts from changes in the Mg II activity index by scaling from solar data. We demonstrate this technique on the solar-type subgiant beta Hyi, using archival International Ultraviolet Explorer spectra and two epochs of ground-based asteroseismic observations. We find qualitative evidence of the expected frequency shifts and predict the optimal timing for future asteroseismic observations of this star.

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arXiv2006

Excitation and visibility of slow modes in rotating B-type stars

We use the traditional approximation to describe oscillations with frequencies comparable to the angular rotation rate. Validity of this approximation in application to main-sequence B stars is discussed. Numerical results regarding mode stability and visibility are presented for a model of the Be star HD 163868. For this object, Walker et al.(2005) detected a record number of mode frequencies using data from the small space telescope MOST. Our interpretation of these data differs from that of Walker et al. In particular, we interpret peaks in the lowest frequency range as retrograde g modes. We find instability in a large number of modes that remain undetectable because of unfavourable aspect and/or effect of cancellation. There is no clear preference to excitation of prograde modes.

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arXiv2005

On the nature of small amplitude peaks in $δ$ Scuti oscillation spectra

The standard assumption in interpretation of stellar oscillation spectra from photometry is that the excited mode have low angular degrees, typically $\ell< 3$. Considering the case of FG Vir, the $δ$ Scuti star with the richest known oscillation spectrum, we show that this assumption is not justified for low amplitude peaks. The $\ell<3$ identifications have been found for 12 dominant peaks from pulsation amplitudes and phases. However, we show that for the rest of the peaks (55), whose amplitudes are typically below 1 mmag, much higher $\ell$'s are most likely. We argue that improving amplitude resolution to the micromagnitude level, as expected from space observations, is not likely to be rewarded with a credible mode identifications because the spectra will be dominated by high-$\ell$ modes of unknown azimuthal order, $m$.

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arXiv2005

Progress in understanding and exploiting stellar oscillation spectra

Rich oscillation spectra of dwarf-like pulsators contain a wealth of information about the object interiors and, in particular, about macroscopic transport processes, which is the most difficult aspect of stellar physics. Examples of extracting such information from data on solar-like and opacity driven pulsators are given. Problems in understanding new oscillation spectra are discussed. Importance of employing various data on excited mode is emphasized.

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arXiv2005

Constraints on parameters of B-type pulsators from combined multicolour photometry and radial velocity data. I. $β$ Cephei stars

We analyze data on pulsation amplitudes and phases for two $β$ Cephei stars, $δ$ Cet and $ν$ Eri. Strömgren photometry and radial velocity measurements are used simultaneously to obtain constraints on mean parameters of the stars and identification of the excited modes. The inference about the radial mode order and mean star parameters is based on comparison of certain complex parameter, $f$, determined from data, with its counterpart derived from linear nonadiabatic modelling of stellar oscillations. The theoretical $f$ values are very sensitive to the adopted opacity data. In our modelling we rely on the data from OPAL and OP projects. Significant differences were found. New seismic models of $ν$ Eri were constructed with both the OPAL and OP opacities.

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arXiv2005

Cluster AgeS Experiment (CASE): SX Phe stars from the globular cluster Omega Centauri

We present an analysis and interpretation of oscillation spectra for all 69 SX Phoenicis stars discovered in the field of the cluster. For most of the stars we have reliable absolute magnitudes and colors. Except of one, or perhaps two, objects, the stars are cluster members. Their pulsational behaviour is very diversified. Multiperiodic variability with at least part of the excited modes being nonradial is most common but there are also many cases of high amplitude, presumably radial mode, pulsators. In a number of such cases we have evidence for two radial modes being excited. Parameters of radial mode pulsators are in most cases consistent with standard evolutionary models for stars in the mass range 0.9-1.15 Mo. However, in four cases we have evidence that the masses are significantly lower than expected. Three objects show frequency triplets that may be interpreted in terms of rotational frequency splitting of l=1 modes. Implied equatorial velocities of rotation are from 10 to over 100 km/s. Nearly all measured frequencies fall in the ranges predicted for unstable modes. Two cases of low frequency variability are interpreted as being caused by tidal distortion induced by close companions.

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arXiv2005

Seismic diagnostics of mixing beyond the convective core in intermediate mass main-sequence stars

We study prospects for seismic sounding the layer of a partial mixing above the convective core in main-sequence stars with masses in the 1.2 -- 1.9 solar mass range. There is an initial tendency to an increase of convective core mass in such stars and this leads to ambiguities in modeling. Solar-like oscillations are expected to be excited in such objects. Frequencies of such oscillations provide diagnostics, which are sensitive to the structure of the innermost part of the star and they are known as the small separations. We construct evolutionary models of stars in this mass range assuming various scenarios for element mixing, which includes formation of element abundance jumps, as well as semiconvective and overshooting layers. We find that the three point small separations employing frequencies of radial and dipole modes provide the best probe of the element distribution above the convective core. With expected accuracy of frequency measurement from the space experiments, a discrimination between various scenarios should be possible.

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arXiv2005

Inferences from pulsational amplitudes and phases for multimode $δ$ Sct star FG Vir

We combine photometric and spectroscopic data on twelve modes excited in FG Vir to determine their spherical harmonic degrees, $\ell$, and to obtain constraints on the star model. The effective temperature consistent with the mean colours and the pulsation data is about 7200K. In six cases, the $\ell$ identification is unique with above 80 % probability. Two modes are identified as radial. Simultaneously with $\ell$, we determine a complex parameter $f$ which probes subphotospheric stellar layers. Comparing its values with those derived from models assuming different treatment of convection, we find evidence that convective transport in the envelope of this star is inefficient.

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arXiv2005

Sources of oscillation frequency increase with rising solar activity

We analyze and interpret SOHO/MDI data on oscillation frequency changes between 1996 and 2004 focusing on differences between activity minimum and maximum of solar cycle 23. We study only the behavior of the centroid frequencies, which reflect changes averaged over spherical surfaces. Both the f-mode and p-mode frequencies are correlated with general measures of the sun's magnetic activity. However, the physics behind each of the two correlations is quite different. We show that for the f-modes the dominant cause of the frequency increase is the dynamical effect of the rising magnetic field. The relevant rise must occur in subphotospheric layers reaching to some 0.5 - 0.7 kG at a depth of about 5 Mm. However, the implied constraints also require the field change in the atmosphere to be so small that it has only a tiny dynamical effect on p-mode frequencies. For p-modes, the most plausible explanation of the frequency increase is a less than 2 percent decrease in the radial component of the turbulent velocity in the outer layers. Lower velocity implies a lower efficiency of the convective transport, hence lower temperature, which also contributes to the p-mode frequency increase.

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arXiv2005

Nonradial mode excitation as the cause of the Blazhko effect in RR Lyrae stars

A significant fraction of RR Lyrae stars exhibits amplitude and/or phase modulation known as the the Blazhko effect. The oscillation spectra suggest that, at least in most of the cases, excitation of nonradial modes in addition to the dominant radial modes is responsible for the effect. Though model calculations predict that nonradial modes may be excited, there are problems with explaining their observed properties in terms of finite amplitude development of the linear instability. We propose a scenario, which like some previous, postulates energy transfer from radial to nonradial modes, but avoids those problems. The scenario predicts lower amplitudes in Blazhko stars. We check this prediction with a new analysis of the Galactic bulge RR Lyrae stars from OGLE-II database. The effect is seen, but the amplitude reduction is smaller than predicted.

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arXiv2005

Seismology of triple-mode classical Cepheids of the Large Magellanic Cloud

We interpret the three periods detected in OGLE LMC Cepheids SC3-360128 and SC5-338399 as corresponding to the first three overtones of radial pulsations. This interpretation imposes stringent constraints on parameters of the stars and on their evolutionary status, which could only be the first crossing of the instability strip. Evolutionary models reproducing measured periods exist only in a restricted range of metallicities (Z=0.004-0.007). The models impose an upper limit on the extent of overshooting from the convective core. Absolute magnitude of each star is confined to a narrow interval. This allows to derive a new estimate of the distance to the LMC. We obtain m-M ranging from 18.34mag to 18.53mag, with a systematic difference between the two stars of about 0.13mag. The rates of period change predicted by the models are formally in conflict with the derived observational limits, though the uncertainities of measured dP/dt may be underestimated. If the discrepancy is confirmed, it would constitute a significant challenge to the stellar evolution theory.

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arXiv2004

The Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment. Ellipsoidal Variability of Red Giants in the Large Magellanic Cloud

We used the OGLE-II and OGLE-III photometry of red giants in the Large Magellanic Cloud to select and study objects revealing ellipsoidal variability. We detected 1546 candidates for long period ellipsoidal variables and 121 eclipsing binary systems with clear ellipsoidal modulation. The ellipsoidal red giants follow a period-luminosity (PL) relationship (sequence E), and the scatter of the relation is correlated with the amplitude of variability: the larger the amplitude, the smaller the scatter. We note that some of the ellipsoidal candidates exhibit simultaneously OGLE Small Amplitude Red Giants pulsations. Thus, in some cases the Long Secondary Period (LSP) phenomenon can be explained by the ellipsoidal modulation. We also select about 1600 red giants with distinct LSP, which are not ellipsoidal variables. We discover that besides the sequence D in the PL diagram known before, the LSP giants form additional less numerous sequence for longer periods. We notice that the PL sequence of the ellipsoidal candidates is a direct continuation of the LSP sequence toward fainter stars, what might suggest that the LSP phenomenon is related to binarity but there are strong arguments against such a possibility. About 10% of the presented light curves reveal clear deformation by the eccentricity of the system orbits. The largest estimated eccentricity in our sample is about 0.4. All presented data, including individual BVI observations and finding charts are available from the OGLE Internet archive.

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arXiv2004

Various applications of multicolour photometry and radial velocity data for multimode $δ$ Scuti stars

In addition to revealing spherical harmonic degrees, $\ell$, of excited modes, pulsational amplitudes and phases from multicolour photometry and radial velocity data yield a valuable constraints on stellar atmospheric parameters and on subphotospheric convection. Multiperiodic pulsators are of particular interest because each mode yields independent constraints. We present an analysis of data on twelve modes observed in FG Vir star.

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arXiv2004

Asteroseismology of the Beta Cephei star Nu Eridani: Interpretation and applications of the oscillation spectrum

The oscillation spectrum of Nu Eri is the richest known for any variable of the Beta Cephei type. We interpret the spectrum in terms of normal mode excitation and construct seismic models of the star. The frequency data combined with data on mean colours sets the upper limit on the extent of overshooting from the convective core. We use data on rotational splitting of two dipole (l=1) modes (g_1 and p_1) to infer properties of the internal rotation rate. Adopting a plausible hypothesis of nearly uniform rotation in the envelope and increasing rotation rate in the mu-gradient zone, we find that the mean rotation rate in this zone is about three times faster than in the envelope. In our standard model only the modes in the middle part of the oscillation spectrum are unstable. To account for excitation of a possible high-order g-mode at nu = 0.43 c/d as well as p-modes at nu > 6 c/d we have to invoke an overabundance of Fe in the driving zone.

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arXiv2003

Inferring information about rotation from stellar oscillations

The first part of this paper aims at illustrating the intense scientific activity in the field of stellar rotation although, for sake of shortness, we cannot be exhaustive nor give any details. The second part is devoted to the rotation as a pertubation effect upon oscillation frequencies. The discussion focuses on one specific example: the p-modes frequency small separation which provides information about properties of the stellar inner layers. It is shown that the small separation can be affected by rotation at the level of 0.1-0.2 microHz for a 1.4 Mo model rotating with an equatorial velocity of 20 km/s at the surface. This is of the same order of magnitude as the expected precision on frequencies with a 3 months observation and must therefore be taken into account. We show however that it is possible to recover the small separation free of these contaminating effects of rotation, provided enough high quality data are available as will be with space seismic missions such as Eddington.

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arXiv2003

Helioseismic Probing of Solar Variability: The Formalism and Simple Asses sments

We derive formulae connecting the frequency variations in the spectrum of solar oscillations to the dynamical quantities that are expected to change over the solar activity cycle. This is done for both centroids and the asymmetric part of the fine structure (so-called even-a coefficients). We consider the near-surface, small-scale magnetic and turbulent velocity fields, as well as horizontal magnetic fields buried near the base of the convective zone. For the centroids we also discuss the effect of temperature variation. We demonstrate that there is a full, one-to-one correspondence between the expansion coefficients of the fine structure and those of both the averaged small-scale velocity and magnetic fields. Measured changes in the centroid frequencies and the even-a's over the rising phase solar cycle may be accounted for by a decrease in the turbulent velocity of order 1%. We show that the mean temperature decrease associated with the net decrease in the efficiency of convective transport may also significantly contribute to the increase of the centroid frequencies. Alternatively, the increase may be accounted for by an increase of the small-scale magnetic field of order 100 G, if the growing field is predominantly radial. We also show that global seismology can be used to detect a field at the level of a few times 10^5 G, if such a field were present and confined to a thin layer near the base of the convective envelope.

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