K. Bernhard

A catalogue of RR Lyrae stars from the Northern Sky Variability Survey

A search for RR Lyrae stars has been conducted in the publicly available data of the Northern Sky Variability Survey. Candidates have been selected by the statistical properties of their variation; the standard deviation, skewness and kurtosis with appropriate limits determined from a sample 314 known RRab and RRc stars listed in the General Catalogue of Variable Stars. From the period analysis and light-curve shape of over 3000 candidates 785 RR Lyrae have been identified of which 188 are previously unknown. The light curves were examined for the Blazhko effect and several new stars showing this were found. Six double-mode RR Lyrae stars were also found of which two are new discoveries. Some previously known variables have been reclassified as RR Lyrae stars and similarly some RR Lyrae stars have been found to be other types of variable, or not variable at all.

A radio-pulsing white dwarf binary star.

White dwarfs are compact stars, similar in size to Earth but approximately 200,000 times more massive. Isolated white dwarfs emit most of their power from ultraviolet to near-infrared wavelengths, but when in close orbits with less dense stars, white dwarfs can strip material from their companions and the resulting mass transfer can generate atomic line and X-ray emission, as well as near- and mid-infrared radiation if the white dwarf is magnetic. However, even in binaries, white dwarfs are rarely detected at far-infrared or radio frequencies. Here we report the discovery of a white dwarf/cool star binary that emits from X-ray to radio wavelengths. The star, AR Scorpii (henceforth AR Sco), was classified in the early 1970s as a δ-Scuti star, a common variety of periodic variable star. Our observations reveal instead a 3.56-hour period close binary, pulsing in brightness on a period of 1.97 minutes. The pulses are so intense that AR Sco’s optical flux can increase by a factor of four within 30 seconds, and they are also detectable at radio frequencies. They reflect the spin of a magnetic white dwarf, which we find to be slowing down on a 107-year timescale. The spin-down power is an order of magnitude larger than that seen in electromagnetic radiation, which, together with an absence of obvious signs of accretion, suggests that AR Sco is primarily spin-powered. Although the pulsations are driven by the white dwarf’s spin, they mainly originate from the cool star. AR Sco’s broadband spectrum is characteristic of synchrotron radiation, requiring relativistic electrons. These must either originate from near the white dwarf or be generated in situ at the M star through direct interaction with the white dwarf’s magnetosphere.

A search for photometric variability in magnetic chemically peculiar stars using ASAS-3 data

The (magnetic) chemically peculiar (CP) stars of the upper main sequence are well-suited laboratories for investigating the influence of magnetic fields on the stellar surface because they produce abundance inhomogeneities (spots), which results in photometric variability that is explained in terms of the oblique rotator model. CP stars exhibiting this phenomenon are normally classified as alpha2 Canum Venaticorum (ACV) variables. It is important to increase the sample of known rotational periods among CP stars by discovering new ACV variables. The ASAS-3 data were cross-correlated with the Catalogue of Ap, HgMn, and Am stars in order to analyse the light curves of bona fide CP and related stars. The light curves were downloaded and cleaned of outliers and data points with a flag indicating bad quality. Promising candidates showing a larger scatter than observed for constant stars in the corresponding magnitude range were searched for periodic signals using a standard Fourier technique. In total, we found 323 variables, from which 246 are reported here for the first time, and 77 were probably wrongly classified before. The observed variability pattern of most stars is in accordance with an ACV classification. For some cases, it is difficult to distinguish between the light curves of double-waved ACVs and the variability induced by orbital motion (ellipsoidal variables/eclipsing variables), especially for objects exhibiting very small amplitudes and/or significant scatter in their light curves. Thus, some eclipsing or rotating ellipsoidal variables might be present. However, we are confident that the given periods are the correct ones. There seems to be a possible weak correlation between the rotational period and colour, in the sense that cooler magnetic CP stars rotate more slowly. However, this correlation seems to disappear when correcting for the interstellar reddening.

NEW PHOTOMETRICALLY VARIABLE MAGNETIC CHEMICALLY PECULIAR STARS IN THE ASAS-3 ARCHIVE

The magnetic Ap or CP2 stars are natural atomic and magnetic laboratories and ideal testing grounds for the evaluation of model atmospheres. CP2 stars exhibiting photometric variability are traditionally referred to as alpha2 Canum Venaticorum (ACV) variables. Strictly periodic changes are observed in the spectra and brightness of these stars, which allow the derivation of rotational periods. Related to this group of objects are the He-weak (CP4) and He-rich stars, some of which are also known to undergo brightness changes due to rotational modulation. Increasing the sample size of known rotational periods among CP2/4 stars is an important task, which will contribute to our understanding of these objects and their evolution in time. We have compiled an extensive target list of magnetic chemically peculiar (CP2/4) stars. In addition to that, a systematic investigation of early-type (spectral types B/A) variable stars of undetermined type in the International Variable Star Index of the AAVSO (VSX) yielded additional ACV candidates, which were included in our sample. We investigated our sample stars using publicly available observations from the ASAS-3 archive. We were able to identify another 360 stars exhibiting photometric variability in the accuracy limit of the ASAS-3 data, thereby concluding our search for photometrically variable magnetic chemically peculiar stars in the ASAS-3 archive. Summary data, folded light curves and, if available, information from the literature are presented for all variable stars of our sample, which is composed of 334 bona-fide ACV variables, 23 ACV candidates and three eclipsing binary systems. In particular, we call attention to HD 66051 (V414 Pup), which was identified as an eclipsing binary system showing obvious rotational modulation of the light curve due to the presence of an ACV variable in the system.

Magnetic, chemically peculiar (CP2) stars in the SuperWASP survey

The magnetic chemically peculiar (CP2) stars of the upper main sequence are well-suited for investigating the impact of magnetic fields on the surface layers of stars, which leads to abundance inhomogeneities (spots) resulting in photometric variability. The light changes are explained in terms of the oblique rotator model; the derived photometric periods thus correlate with the rotational periods of the stars. CP2 stars exhibiting this kind of variability are classified as alpha(2) Canum Venaticorum (ACV) variables. We have analysed around 3 850 000 individual photometric WASP measurements of magnetic chemically peculiar (CP2) stars and candidates selected from the catalogue of Ap, HgMn, and Am stars, with the ultimate goal of detecting new ACV variables. In total, we found 80 variables, from which 74 are reported here for the first time. The data allowed us to establish variability for 23 stars which had been reported as probably constant in the literature before. Light curve parameters were obtained for all stars by a least-squares fit with the fundamental sine wave and its first harmonic. Because of the scarcity of Stromgren uvby beta measurements and the lack of parallax measurements with an accuracy better than 20%, we are not able to give reliable astrophysical parameters for the investigated objects

HD 240121-An ACV variable showing anti-phase variations of the B and V light curves

Abstract The variability of HD 240121 = BD+59 2602 was first suspected by Sarg and Wramdemark (1970) and later confirmed by Grobel R. (1992a,b). Because of the observed anti-phase variations of the B and V light curves, the latter author tentatively suggested an ACV type. Apart from its inclusion in the catalog of New Suspected Variables (NSV 25977), no further investigations of the star have been published. HD 240121 was included into our target list of ACV candidates and investigated in order to determine the reason for the observed brightness variations. All available information on HD 240121 were collected via an exhaustive data mining procedure. Data from Grobel (1992a,b) were re-analysed and photometric observations from the NSVS and Hipparcos archives were procured and investigated. Line-of-sight reddening and stellar parameters were calculated from archival photometric data. HD 240121 is a young, late B-type CP2 star of the silicon subgroup. The observed period, amplitude of light variations and variability pattern (anti-phase variations) are typical of ACV variables. The occurrence of anti-phase variations of the B and V light curves is rarely observed and points to the existence of a null wavelength in the visual spectrum. We therefore strongly encourage further multi-colour photometric observations of this star.

Photometry of GSC 762-110, a new triple-mode radially pulsating star

Context. Stars pulsating in three radial modes are very rare; only three examples are known in the Galaxy. These stars are very useful since their periods may be measured very precisely, and this will constrain the global stellar parameters and the models of the stars interior. Aims. The purpose of this paper is to present a new example of the class of triple-mode radial pulsators. Methods. A search for candidate multi-mode pulsators was carried out in public survey data. Time-series photometry of one of the candidates, GSC 762-110, was performed. Results. GSC 762-110 was found to be a triple-mode radial pulsator, with a fundamental period of 0.1945 d and period ratios of 0.7641 and 0.8012. In addition two non-radial modes were found, for which the amplitude has diminished considerably over the last few years.

HD 66051, an eclipsing binary hosting a highly peculiar, HgMn-related star

HD 66051 is an eclipsing system with an orbital period of about 4.75 d that exhibits out-of-eclipse variability with the same period. New multicolour photometric observations confirm the longevity of the secondary variations, which we interpret as a signature of surface inhomogeneities on one of the components. Using archival and newly acquired high-resolution spectra, we have performed a detailed abundance analysis. The primary component is a slowly rotating late B-type star (Teff = 12500 ± 200 K; log g = 4.0, v sin i = 27 ± 2 km s−1) with a highly peculiar composition reminiscent of the singular HgMn-related star HD 65949, which seems to be its closest analogue. Some light elements as He, C, Mg, Al are depleted, while Si and P are enhanced. Except for Ni, all the iron-group elements, as well as most of the heavy elements, and in particular the REE elements, are overabundant. The secondary component was estimated to be a slowly rotating A-type star (Teff ~ 8000 K; log g = 4.0, v sin i ~ 18 km s−1). The unique configuration of HD 66051 opens up intriguing possibilities for future research, which might eventually and significantly contribute to the understanding of such diverse phenomena as atmospheric structure, mass transfer, magnetic fields, photometric variability and the origin of chemical anomalies observed in HgMn stars and related objects.

An investigation of the rotational properties of magnetic chemically peculiar stars

The magnetic chemically peculiar (mCP) stars of the upper main sequence exhibit strong, globally organized magnetic fields that are inclined to the rotational axis and facilitate the development of surface abundance inhomogeneities resulting in photometric and spectroscopic variability. Therefore, mCP stars are perfectly suited for a direct measurement of the rotational period without the need for any additional calibrations. We have investigated the rotational properties of mCP stars based on an unprecedentedly large sample consisting of more than 500 objects with known rotational periods. Using precise parallaxes from the Hipparcos and Gaia satellite missions, well-established photometric calibrations and state-of-the-art evolutionary models, we have determined the location of our sample stars in the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram and derived astrophysical parameters such as stellar masses, effective temperature, radii, inclinations and critical rotational velocities. We have confirmed the conservation of angular momentum during the main sequence evolution; no signs of additional magnetic braking were found. The inclination angles of the rotational axes are randomly distributed, although an apparent excess of fast rotators with comparable inclination angles has been observed. We have found a rotation rate of upsilon/upsilon(crit) >= 0.5 for several stars, whose characteristics cannot be explained by current models. For the first time, we have derived the relationship between mass and rotation rate of mCP stars, and provide an analysis that links mass and rotation with magnetic field strength. Our sample is unique and offers crucial input for forthcoming evolutionary models that include the effects of magnetic fields for upper main sequence stars.

A spectroscopic and photometric investigation of the mercury-manganese star KIC 6128830

The advent of space-based photometry provides the opportunity for the first precise characterizations of variability in mercury-manganese (HgMn/CP3) stars, which might advance our understanding of their internal structure. We have carried out a spectroscopic and photometric investigation of the candidate CP3 star KIC 6128830. A detailed abundance analysis based on newly acquired high-resolution spectra was performed, which confirms that the stars abundance pattern is fully consistent with its proposed classification. Photometric variability was investigated using 4 yr of archival Kepler data. In agreement with results from the literature, we have identified a single significant and independent frequency f(1) = 0.2065424 d(-1) with a peak-to-peak amplitude of similar to 3.4 mmag and harmonic frequencies up to 5f(1). Drawing on the predictions of state-of-the-art pulsation models and information on evolutionary status, we discuss the origin of the observed light changes. Our calculations predict the occurrence of g-mode pulsations at the observed variability frequency. On the other hand, the strictly mono-periodic nature of the variability strongly suggests a rotational origin. While we prefer the rotational explanation, the present data leave some uncertainty.