Luciano Mantegazza

GAUDI: a preparatory archive for the COROT mission

The GAUDI database (Ground-based Asteroseismology Uniform Database Interface) is a preparatory archive for the COROT (Convection, Rotation, and Planetary Transits) mission developed at the Laboratorio de Astrofisica Espacial y Fisica Fundamental (Laboratory for Space Astrophysics and Theoretical Physics, Spain). Its intention is to make the ground-based observations obtained in preparation of the asteroseismology program available in a simple and efficient way. It contains spectroscopic and photometric data together with inferred physical parameters for more than 1500 objects gathered since 1998 January 1998 in 6 years of observational campaigns. In this paper, the main functions and characteristics of the system are described. Based on observations collected at La Silla (ESO proposals 67.D-0169, 69.D-0166, and 70.D-0110), Telescopio Nazionale Galileo (proposal 6-20-068), Observatoire de Haute-Provence, the South African Astronomical Observatory, Tautenburg Observatory, and Sierra Nevada Observatory.

Atmospheric parameters and chemical properties of red giants in the CoRoT asteroseismology fields

A precise characterisation of the red giants in the seismology fields of the CoRoT satellite is a prerequisite for further in-depth seismic modelling. High-resolution FEROS and HARPS spectra were obtained as part of the ground-based follow-up campaigns for 19 targets holding great asteroseismic potential. These data are used to accurately estimate their fundamental parameters and the abundances of 16 chemical species in a self-consistent manner. Some powerful probes of mixing are investigated (the Li and CNO abundances, as well as the carbon isotopic ratio in a few cases). The information provided by the spectroscopic and seismic data is combined to provide more accurate physical parameters and abundances. The stars in our sample follow the general abundance trends as a function of the metallicity observed in stars of the Galactic disk. After an allowance is made for the chemical evolution of the interstellar medium, the observational signature of internal mixing phenomena is revealed through the detection at the stellar surface of the products of the CN cycle. A contamination by NeNa-cycled material in the most massive stars is also discussed. With the asteroseismic constraints, these data will pave the way for a detailed theoretical investigation of the physical processes responsible for the transport of chemical elements in evolved, low- and intermediate-mass stars.

Pulsation spectrum of δ Scuti stars: the binary HD 50870 as seen with CoRoT and HARPS

Aims. We present the results obtained with the CoRoT satellite for HD 50870, a δ Sct star which was observed for 114.4 d. The aim of these observations was to evaluate the results obtained for HD 50844, the first δ Sct star monitored with CoRoT, on a longer time baseline. Methods. The 307,570 CoRoT datapoints were analysed with different techniques. The photometric observations were complemented over 15 nights of high-resolution spectroscopy with HARPS on a baseline of 25 d. These spectra were analysed to study the line profile variations and to derive the stellar physical parameters. Some uvby photometric observations were also obtained to better characterize the pulsation modes. Results. HD 50870 proved to be a low-amplitude, long-period spectroscopic binary system seen almost pole-on (i � 21 ◦ ). The brighter component, which also has the higher rotational velocity (v sini = 37. 5k m s −1 ), is a δ Sct-type variable with a full light amplitude variation of about 0.04 mag. There is a dominant axisymmetric mode (17.16 d −1 ). Moreover, there are two groups of frequencies (about 19) in the intervals 6−9 and 13−18 d −1 , with amplitudes ranging from a few mmag to 0.3 mmag. After the detection of about 250 terms (corresponding to an amplitude of about 0.045 mmag) a flat plateau appears in the power spectrum in the low-frequency region up to about 35 d −1 . We were able to detect this plateau only thanks to the short cadence sampling of the CoRoT measurements (32 s). The density distribution vs. frequency of the detected frequencies seems to rule out the possibility that this plateau is the result of a process with a continuum power spectrum. The spacings of the strongest modes suggest a quasi-periodic pattern. We failed to find a satisfactory seismic model that simultaneously matches the frequency range, the position in the HR diagram, and the quasiperiodic pattern interpreted as a large separation. Nineteen modes were detected spectroscopically from the line profile variations and associated to the photometric ones. Tentative �, m values have been attributed to the modes detected spectroscopically. Prograde as

Monitoring a high-amplitude δ Scuti star for 152 days: discovery of 12 additional modes and modulation effects in the light curve of CoRoT 101155310

Aims. The detection of small-amplitude nonradial modes in high-amplitude δ Sct (HADS) variables has been very elusive until at least five of them were detected in the light curve of V974 Oph obtained from ground-based observations. The combination of radial and nonradial modes has a high asteroseismic potential, thanks to the strong constraints we can put in the modelling. The continuous monitoring of ASAS 192647-0030.0≡CoRoT 101155310 (P = 0.1258 d, V = 13.4) ensured from space by the CoRoT (COnvection, ROtation and planetary Transits) mission constitutes a unique opportunity to exploit such potential. Methods. The 22270 CoRoT measurements were performed in the chromatic mode. They span 152 d and cover 1208 consecutive cycles. After the correction for one jump and the long-term drift, the level of the noise turned out to be 29 μmag. The phase shifts and amplitude ratios of the coloured CoRoT data, the HARPS spectra, and the period-luminosity relation were used to determine a self-consistent physical model. In turn, it allowed us to model the oscillation spectrum, also giving feedback on the internal structure of the star. Results. In addition to the fundamental radial mode f1 = 7.949 d −1 with harmonics up to 10f1, we detected 12 independent terms. Linear combinations were also found and the light curve was solved by means of 61 frequencies (smallest amplitude 0.10 mmag). The newest result is the detection of a periodic modulation of the f1 mode (triplets at ±0.193 d −1 centred on f1 and 2f1), discussed as a rotational effect or as an extension of the Blazhko effect to HADS stars. The physical model suggests that CoRoT 101155310 is an evolved star, with a slight subsolar metallic abundance, close to the terminal age main sequence. All the 12 additional terms are identified with mixed modes in the predicted overstable region.

Study of HD 169392A observed by CoRoT and HARPS

Context. The results obtained by asteroseismology with data from space missions such as CoRoT and Kepler are providing new insights into stellar evolution. After five years of observations, CoRoT is continuing to provide high-quality data and we here present an analysis of the CoRoT observations of the double star HD 169392, complemented by ground-based spectroscopic observations. Aims. This work aims at characterising the fundamental parameters of the two stars, their chemical composition, the acoustic-mode global parameters including their individual frequencies, and their dynamics. Methods. We analysed HARPS observations of the two stars to derive their chemical compositions. Several methods were used and compared to determine the global properties of stars’ acoustic modes and their individual frequencies from the photometric data of CoRoT. Results. The new spectroscopic observations and archival astrometric values suggest that HD 169392 is a weakly bound wide binary system. We obtained spectroscopic parameters for both components which suggest that they originate from the same interstellar cloud. However, only the signature of oscillation modes of HD 169392 A was measured; the signal-to-noise ratio of the modes in HD 169392B is too low to allow any confident detection. For HD 169392 A we were able to extract parameters of modes for l = 0, 1, 2, and 3. The analysis of splittings and inclination angle gives two possible solutions: one with with splittings and inclination angles of 0.4−1.0 μHz and 20 − 40°, the other with 0.2−0.5 μHz and 55−86°. Modelling this star using the Asteroseismic Modeling Portal (AMP) gives a mass of 1.15 ± 0.01 M⊙, a radius of 1.88 ± 0.02 R⊙, and an age of 4.33 ± 0.12 Gyr. The uncertainties come from estimated errors on the observables but do not include uncertainties on the surface layer correction or the physics of stellar models.

Preparing the COROT space mission: new variable stars in the galactic Anticenter direction ‡

The activities related to the preparation of the asteroseismic, photometric space mission COROT are described. Photoelectric observations, wide-field CCD photometry, uvbycalibra- tions and further time-series have been obtained at different observatories and telescopes. They have been planned to complete the COROT programme in the direction of the galactic Anticenter. In addition to suitable asteroseismic targets covering the different evolutionary stages between ZAMS and TAMS, we discovered several other variable stars, both pulsating and geometrical. We compared results on the incidence of variability in the galactic Center and Anticenter direc- tions. Physical parameters have been obtained and evolutionary tracks fitting them have been calculated. The peculiarities of some individual stars are pointed out. Subject headings: binaries: eclipsing - � Sct - stars: variables: other - stars: statistics - stars: oscillations

Models of red giants in the CoRoT asteroseismology fields combining asteroseismic and spectroscopic constraints

Context. The availability of asteroseismic constraints for a large s ample of red giant stars from the CoRoT and Kepler missions paves the way for various statistical studies of the seismic prope rties of stellar populations. Aims. We use the first detailed spectroscopic study of 19 CoRoT red- giant stars (Morel et al 2014) to compare theoretical stella r evolution models to observations of the open cluster NGC 6633 and field stars. Methods. In order to explore the effects of rotation-induced mixing and thermohaline instability, we compare surface abundances of carbon isotopic ratio and lithium with stellar evolution pr edictions. These chemicals are sensitive to extra-mixing on the red-giant branch. Results. We estimate mass, radius, and distance for each star using the seismic constraints. We note that the Hipparcos and seismic distances are different. However, the uncertainties are such that this may not be significant. Although the seismic distances for the cluster members are self consistent they are somewhat larger than the Hipparcos distance. This is an issue that should be considered elsewhere. Models including thermohaline instability and rotation-induced mixing, together with the seismically determined masses can explain the chemical properties of red-giants targets. However, with this sample of stars we cannot perform stringent tests of the current stellar models. Tighter constraints on the physics of the models would require the measurement of the core and surface rotation rates, and of the period spacing of gravity-dominated mixed modes. A larger number of stars with longer times series, as provided by Kepler or expected with Plato, would help for ensemble asteroseismology.

Preparing the COROT space mission: Incidence and characterisation of pulsation in the lower instability strip

By pursuing the goal to find new variables in the COROT field-of-view we characterised a sample of stars located in the lower part of the instability strip. Our sample is composed of stars belonging to the disk population in the solar neigh- bourhood. We found that 23% of the stars display multiperiodic light variability up to a few mmag in amplitude, i.e., easily detectable on a single night of photometry. uvbyβ photometry fixed most of the variables in the middle of the instability strip and high-resolution spectroscopy established that they have v sini > 100 km s −1 . An analysis of the Rodr´ oguez & Breger (2001) sample (δ Sct stars in the whole Galaxy) shows slightly different features, i.e., most δ Sct stars have a 0.05-mag redder (b − y)0 index and lower v sini values. Additional investigation in the open cluster NGC 6633 confirms the same incidence of variabil- ity, i.e., around 20%. The wide variety of pulsational behaviours of δ Sct stars (including unusual objects such as a variable beyond the blue edge or a rapidly rotating high-amplitude pulsator) makes them very powerful asteroseismic tools to be used by COROT. Being quite common among bright stars, δ Sct stars are suitable targets for optical observations from space.

Line profile variations in the δ Scuti star FG Virginis: A high number of axisymmetric modes

The line profile variations of the Delta Scuti star HD 2724=BB Phe were studied on the basis of new 189 high-resolution spectrograms covering 52 hours of observations on a baseline of 8.3 days. By combining these results with those of a previous campaign 13 pulsation modes were identified: 5 of them are both photometric and spectroscopic, 3 are purely spectroscopic and 5 purely photometric. For the first time it was possible to compare spectroscopic data taken in two different seasons: 6 modes were found to be common to both datasets and furthermore strong amplitude variations of the excited modes were detected. The fit of the line profile variations with a model of non-radial pulsating star allowed us to obtain a reasonable estimate of the inclination of the rotational axis and to propose the l,m typing of the spectroscopic modes. The frequency content resembles that of 4 CVn, a delta Sct star with similar physical parameters.

Variable stars in nearby galaxies - IV. Fields C and D of IC 1613

The nearby galaxies IC 1613 and NGC 6822 were observed over four years to detect short period Cepheids and to obtain good light curves for Fourier decomposition. The program was carried out with a relatively small telescope, the Dutch 0.9 m at ESO–La Silla, and the observations were performed without filter (white light), or Wh–band. In this paper we present the results of the observations of Fields C and D in IC 1613 (3.′8 × 3.′8 each). The analysis of the light curves of 3297 stars in the two fields has allowed the detection of 92 variable stars. A total of 34 Population I Cepheids have been found, while only 7 of these objects were previously known in these fields. Most of the stars have short periods and some of them are first overtone mode pulsators. Among the other variable stars there are one eclipsing binary and five W Vir candidates. A nova event was observed in Field D.