ALBERT

Description: Context. Magnetic chemically peculiar (mCP) stars are important to astrophysics because their complex atmospheres lend themselves perfectly to the investigation of the interplay between such diverse phenomena as atomic diffusion, magnetic fields, and stellar rotation. The most up-to-date catalogue of these objects was published a decade ago. Since then, no large scale spectroscopic surveys targeting this group of objects have been carried out. An increased sample size of mCP stars, however, is important for statistical studies. Aims. The present work is aimed at identifying new mCP stars using spectra collected by the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST). Methods. Suitable candidates were selected by searching LAMOST DR4 spectra for the presence of the characteristic 5200 Å flux depression. Spectral classification was carried out with a modified version of the MKCLASS code and the accuracy of the classifications was estimated by comparison with results from manual classification and the literature. Using parallax data and photometry from Gaia DR2, we investigated the space distribution of our sample stars and their properties in the colour-magnitude diagram. Results. Our final sample consists of 1002 mCP stars, most of which are new discoveries (only 59 common entries with the Catalogue of Ap, HgMn and Am stars). Traditional mCP star peculiarities have been identified in all but 36 stars, highlighting the efficiency of the code’s peculiarity identification capabilities. The derived temperature and peculiarity types are in agreement with manually derived classifications and the literature. Our sample stars are between 100 Myr and 1 Gyr old, with the majority having masses between 2 M⊙ and 3 M⊙. Our results could be considered as strong evidence for an inhomogeneous age distribution among low-mass (M 〈 3 M⊙) mCP stars; however, we caution that our sample has not been selected on the basis of an unbiased, direct detection of a magnetic field. We identified several astrophysically interesting objects: the mCP stars LAMOST J122746.05+113635.3 and LAMOST J150331.87+093125.4 have distances and kinematical properties in agreement with halo stars; LAMOST J034306.74+495240.7 is an eclipsing binary system (Porb = 5.1435 ± 0.0012 d) hosting an mCP star component; and LAMOST J050146.85+383500.8 was found to be an SB2 system likely comprising of an mCP star and a supergiant component. Conclusions. With our work, we significantly increase the sample size of known Galactic mCP stars, paving the way for future in-depth statistical studies.

Description: Context. Blue horizontal-branch stars are Population II objects which are burning helium in their core and possess a hydrogen-burning shell and radiative envelope. Because of their low rotational velocities, diffusion has been predicted to work in their atmospheres. In many respects, blue horizontal-branch stars closely resemble the magnetic chemically peculiar stars of the upper main sequence, which show photometric variability caused by abundance spots on their surfaces. These spots are thought to be caused by diffusion and the presence of a stable magnetic field. However, the latter does not seem to be axiomatic. Aims. We searched for rotationally induced variability in 30 well-established bright field blue horizontal-branch stars in the solar neighbourhood and searched the literature for magnetic fields measurements of our targets. Methods. We employed archival photometric time series data from the All Sky Automated Survey (ASAS), All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae (ASAS-SN), and Wide Angle Search for Planets (SuperWASP) surveys. The data were carefully reduced and processed, and a time series analysis was applied using several different techniques. We also synthesized existing photometric and spectroscopic data of magnetic chemically peculiar stars in order to study possible different surface characteristics producing lower amplitudes. Results. In the accuracy limit of the employed data, no significant variability signals were found in our sample stars. The resulting upper limits for variability are given. Conclusions. We conclude that either no stellar surface spots are present in field blue horizontal-branch stars, or their characteristics (contrast, total area, and involved elements) are not sufficient to produce amplitudes larger than a few millimagnitudes in the optical wavelength region. New detailed models taking into account the elemental abundance pattern of blue horizontal-branch stars are needed to synthesize light curves for a comparison with our results.

Description: Context. Slowly pulsating B (SPB) stars are upper main-sequence multi-periodic pulsators that show non-radial g-mode oscillations driven by the κ mechanism acting on the iron bump. These multi-periodic pulsators have great asteroseismic potential and can be employed for the calibration of stellar structure and evolution models of massive stars. Aims. We collected a sample of ten hitherto unidentified SPB stars with the aim of describing their pulsational properties and identifying pulsational modes. Methods. Photometric time series data from various surveys were collected and analyzed using diverse frequency search algorithms. We calculated astrophysical parameters and investigated the location of our sample stars in the log Teff vs. log L/L⊙ diagram. Current pulsational models were calculated and used for the identification of pulsational modes in our sample stars. An extensive grid of stellar models along with their g-mode eigenfrequencies was calculated and subsequently cross-matched with the observed pulsational frequencies. The best-fit models were then used in an attempt to constrain stellar parameters such as mass, age, metallicity, and convective overshoot. Results. We present detected frequencies, corresponding g-mode identifications, and the masses and ages of the stellar models producing the best frequency cross-matches. We partially succeeded in constraining stellar parameters, in particular concerning mass and age. Where applicable, rotation periods have been derived from the spacing of triplet component frequencies. No evolved SPB stars are present in our sample. We identify two candidate high-metallicity objects (HD 86424 and HD 163285), one young SPB star (HD 36999), and two candidate young SPB stars (HD 61712 and HD 61076). Conclusions. We demonstrate the feasibility of using ground-based observations to perform basic asteroseismological analyses of SPB stars. Our results significantly enlarge the sample of known SPB stars with reliable pulsational mode identifications, which provides important input parameters for modeling attempts aiming to investigate the internal processes at work in upper main-sequence stars.

Description: Context. Magnetic chemically peculiar (mCP) stars exhibit complex atmospheres that allow the investigation of such diverse phenomena as atomic diffusion, magnetic fields, and stellar rotation. The advent of space-based photometry provides the opportunity for the first precise characterizations of the photometric variability properties of these stars, which might advance our understanding of the processes involved and the atmospheric structures of mCP stars. Aims. We carried out a search for new mCP stars in the Kepler field with the ultimate aim of investigating their photometric variability properties using Kepler data. As an aside, we describe criteria for selecting mCP star candidates based on light curve properties, and assess the accuracy of the spectral classifications provided by the MKCLASS code. Methods. As only very few known mCP stars are situated in the Kepler field, we had to depend largely on alternative (non-spectroscopic) means of identifying suitable candidates that rely mostly on light curve properties; in particular we relied on monoperiodic variability and light curve stability. Newly acquired and archival spectra were used to confirm most of our mCP star candidates. Linear ephemeris parameters and effective amplitudes were derived from detrended Kepler data. Results. Our final sample consists of 41 spectroscopically confirmed mCP stars of which 39 are new discoveries, 5 candidate mCP stars, and 7 stars in which no chemical peculiarities could be established. Our targets populate the whole age range from zero-age main sequence to terminal-age main sequence and are distributed in the mass interval from 1.5 M⊙ to 4 M⊙. About 25% of the mCP stars show a hitherto unobserved wealth of detail in their light curves indicative of complex surface structures. We identified light curve stability as a primary criterion for identifying mCP star candidates among early-type stars in large photometric surveys, and prove the reliability of the spectral classifications provided by the MKCLASS code.

Description: Context. Magnetic, chemically peculiar stars are known for exhibiting surface abundance inhomogeneities (chemical spots) that lead to photometric and spectroscopic variability with the rotation period. It is commonly assumed that the surface structures are causally connected with the global magnetic field that dominates the photospheric and subphotospheric layers of these stars. As a rule, the observed magnetic fields show a simple dipole-like geometry, with the magnetic axis being noncollinear to the rotational one. Aims. The present study aims at detecting underlying patterns in the distribution of photometric spots in a sample of 650 magnetic, chemically peculiar stars and examines their link to the magnetic field topology. Methods. Photometric time-series observations from the ASAS-3 archive were employed to inspect the light-curve morphology of our sample stars and divide them into representative classes described using a principal component analysis. Theoretical light curves were derived from numerous simulations assuming different spot parameters and following the symmetry of a simple dipole magnetic field. These were subsequently compared with the observed light curves. Results. The results from our simulations are in contradiction with the observations and predict a much higher percentage of double-wave light curves than is actually observed. We thereby conclude that the distribution of the chemical spots does not follow the magnetic field topology, which indicates that the role of the magnetic field in the creation and maintenance of the surface structures may be more subsidiary than what is predicted by theoretical studies.

Description: Context. The spectroscopic binary system HD 66051 (V414 Pup) consists of a highly peculiar CP3 (HgMn) star and an A-type component. It also shows out-of-eclipse variability that is due to chemical spots. This combination allows the derivation of tight constraints for the testing of time-dependent diffusion models. Aims. We aim at deriving astrophysical parameters, information on age, and an orbital solution of the system. Methods. We analysed radial velocity and photometric data using two different methods to determine astrophysical parameters and the orbit of the system. Appropriate isochrones were used to derive the age of the system. Results. The orbital solution and the estimates from the isochrones are in excellent agreement with the estimates from a prior spectroscopic study. The system is very close to the zero-age main sequence and younger than 120 Myr. Conclusions. HD 66051 is a most important spectroscopic binary system that can be used to test the predictions of the diffusion theory explaining the peculiar surface abundances of CP3 stars.

Description: Chemically peculiar (CP) stars of the upper main sequence are characterized by specific anomalies in the photospheric abundances of some chemical elements. The group of CP2 stars, which encompasses classical Ap and Bp stars, exhibits strictly periodic light, spectral, and spectropolarimetric variations that can be adequately explained by the model of a rigidly rotating star with persistent surface structures and a stable global magnetic field. Using observations from the Kepler K2 mission, we find that the B9pSi star HD 174356 displays a light curve variable in both amplitude and shape, which is not expected in a CP2 star. Employing archival and new photometric and spectroscopic observations, we carry out a detailed abundance analysis of HD 174356 and discuss its photometric and astrophysical properties in detail. We employ phenomenological modelling to decompose the light curve and the observed radial velocity variability. Our abundance analysis confirms that HD 174356 is a silicon-type CP2 star. No magnetic field stronger than 110 G was found. The star’s light curve can be interpreted as the sum of two independent strictly periodic signals with $P_1=4{_{.}^{ m d}}043, 55(5)$ and $P_2=2{_{.}^{ m d}}111, 69(3)$. The periods have remained stable over 17 yr of observations. In all spectra, HD 174356 appears to be single-lined. From the simulation of the variability characteristics and investigation of stars in the close angular vicinity, we put forth the hypothesis that the peculiar light variability of HD 174356 arises in a single star and is caused by rotational modulation due to surface abundance patches (P1) and g-mode pulsation (P2).