First Kepler results on compact pulsators - I. Survey target selection and the first pulsators

Ostensen RH, Silvotti R, Charpinet S, Oreiro R, Handler G, Green EM, Bloemen S, Heber U, Gaensicke BT, Marsh TR, Kurtz DW, Telting JH, Reed MD, Kawaler SD, Aerts C, Rodriguez-Lopez C, Vuckovic M, Ottosen TA, Liimets T, Quint AC, Van Grootel V, Randall SK, Gilliland RL, Kjeldsen H, Christensen-Dalsgaard J, Borucki WJ, Koch D, Quintana EV (2010)

Publication Status: Published

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2010

Journal

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Oxford University Press

Publisher: OXFORD UNIV PRESS

Book Volume: 409

Pages Range: 1470-1486

Journal Issue: 4

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2010.17366.x

Abstract

We present results from the first two quarters of a survey to search for pulsations in compact stellar objects with the Kepler spacecraft. The survey sample and the various methods applied in its compilation are described, and spectroscopic observations are presented to separate the objects into accurate classes. From the Kepler photometry we clearly identify nine compact pulsators and a number of interesting binary stars. Of the pulsators, one shows the strong, rapid pulsations typical of a V361 Hya-type sdB variable (sdBV); seven show long-period pulsation characteristics of V1093 Her-type sdBVs; and one shows low-amplitude pulsations with both short and long periods. We derive effective temperatures and surface gravities for all the subdwarf B stars in the sample and demonstrate that below the boundary region where hybrid sdB pulsators are found, all our targets are pulsating. For the stars hotter than this boundary temperature a low fraction of strong pulsators (< 10 per cent) is confirmed. Interestingly, the short-period pulsator also shows a low-amplitude mode in the long-period region, and several of the V1093 Her pulsators show low-amplitude modes in the short-period region, indicating that hybrid behaviour may be common in these stars, also outside the boundary temperature region where hybrid pulsators have hitherto been found.

Authors with CRIS profile

Ulrich Heber Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät

Involved external institutions

University of Warwick GB United Kingdom (GB) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) US United States (USA) (US) European Southern Observatory (ESO) DE Germany (DE) Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) US United States (USA) (US) Missouri State University US United States (USA) (US) Université Fédérale de Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées FR France (FR) Medizinische Universität Wien AT Austria (AT) University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) GB United Kingdom (GB) Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KUL) / Catholic University of Leuven BE Belgium (BE) Iowa State University of Science and Technology (ISU) US United States (USA) (US) Roque de los Muchachos Observatory / Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos (ORM) ES Spain (ES) Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino IT Italy (IT) University of Arizona US United States (USA) (US)

How to cite

APA:

Ostensen, R.H., Silvotti, R., Charpinet, S., Oreiro, R., Handler, G., Green, E.M.,... Quintana, E.V. (2010). First Kepler results on compact pulsators - I. Survey target selection and the first pulsators. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 409(4), 1470-1486. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2966.2010.17366.x

MLA:

Ostensen, R. H., et al. "First Kepler results on compact pulsators - I. Survey target selection and the first pulsators." Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 409.4 (2010): 1470-1486.

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