TY  - JOUR
A1  - Charpinet, Stéphane
A1  - Brassard, P.
A1  - Fontaine, G.
A1  - Van Grootel, Valerie
A1  - Zong, Weika
A1  - Giammichele, N.
A1  - Heber, Ulrich
A1  - Bognár, Zsófia
A1  - Geier, Stephan Alfred
A1  - Green, Elizabeth M.
A1  - Hermes, J. J.
A1  - Kilkenny, D.
A1  - Ostensen, R. H.
A1  - Pelisoli, Ingrid Domingos
A1  - Silvotti, R.
A1  - Telting, J. H.
A1  - Vuckovic, Maja
A1  - Worters, H. L.
A1  - Baran, Andrzej S.
A1  - Bell, Keaton J.
A1  - Bradley, Paul A.
A1  - Debes, J. H.
A1  - Kawaler, S. D.
A1  - Kolaczek-Szymanski, P.
A1  - Murphy, S. J.
A1  - Pigulski, A.
A1  - Sodor, A.
A1  - Uzundag, Murat
A1  - Handberg, R.
A1  - Kjeldsen, H.
A1  - Ricker, G. R.
A1  - Vanderspek, R. K.
T1  - TESS first look at evolved compact pulsators Discovery and asteroseismic probing of the g-mode hot B subdwarf pulsator EC 21494-7018
JF  - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal
N2  - Context. The TESS satellite was launched in 2018 to perform high-precision photometry from space over almost the whole sky in a search for exoplanets orbiting bright stars. This instrument has opened new opportunities to study variable hot subdwarfs, white dwarfs, and related compact objects. Targets of interest include white dwarf and hot subdwarf pulsators, both carrying high potential for asteroseismology. Aims. We present the discovery and detailed asteroseismic analysis of a new g-mode hot B subdwarf (sdB) pulsator, EC 21494-7018 (TIC 278659026), monitored in TESS first sector using 120-s cadence. Methods. The TESS light curve was analyzed with standard prewhitening techniques, followed by forward modeling using our latest generation of sdB models developed for asteroseismic investigations. By simultaneously best-matching all the observed frequencies with those computed from models, we identified the pulsation modes detected and, more importantly, we determined the global parameters and structural configuration of the star. Results. The light curve analysis reveals that EC 21494-7018 is a sdB pulsator counting up to 20 frequencies associated with independent g-modes. The seismic analysis singles out an optimal model solution in full agreement with independent measurements provided by spectroscopy (atmospheric parameters derived from model atmospheres) and astrometry (distance evaluated from Gaia DR2 trigonometric parallax). Several key parameters of the star are derived. Its mass (0.391 +/- 0.009x2006;M-circle dot) is significantly lower than the typical mass of sdB stars and suggests that its progenitor has not undergone the He-core flash; therefore this progenitor could originate from a massive (greater than or similar to 2;M-circle dot) red giant, which is an alternative channel for the formation of sdBs. Other derived parameters include the H-rich envelope mass (0.0037 +/- 0.0010;M-circle dot), radius (0.1694 +/- 0.0081;R-circle dot), and luminosity (8.2 +/- 1.1;L-circle dot). The optimal model fit has a double-layered He+H composition profile, which we interpret as an incomplete but ongoing process of gravitational settling of helium at the bottom of a thick H-rich envelope. Moreover, the derived properties of the core indicate that EC 21494-7018 has burnt similar to 43% (in mass) of its central helium and possesses a relatively large mixed core (M-core;=;0.198 +/- 0.010;M-circle dot), in line with trends already uncovered from other g-mode sdB pulsators analyzed with asteroseismology. Finally, we obtain for the first time an estimate of the amount of oxygen (in mass; X(O)(core) = 0.16(-0.05)(+0.13)X(O)core=0.16-0.05+0.13$ X(mathrm{O})_{mathrm{core}}=0.16_{-0.05}<^>{+0.13} $) produced at this stage of evolution by an helium-burning core. This result, along with the core-size estimate, is an interesting constraint that may help to narrow down the still uncertain C-12(alpha,;gamma)O-16 nuclear reaction rate.
KW  - asteroseismology
KW  - stars
KW  - interiors
KW  - oscillations
KW  - horizontal-branch
KW  - individual
KW  - TIC 278659026
KW  - subdwarfs
Y1  - 2019
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201935395
SN  - 0004-6361
SN  - 1432-0746
VL  - 632
PB  - EDP Sciences
CY  - Les Ulis
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Ramiaramanantsoa, Tahina
A1  - Ratnasingam, Rathish
A1  - Shenar, Tomer
A1  - Moffat, Anthony F. J.
A1  - Rogers, Tamara M.
A1  - Popowicz, Adam
A1  - Kuschnig, Rainer
A1  - Pigulski, Andrzej
A1  - Handler, Gerald
A1  - Wade, Gregg A.
A1  - Zwintz, Konstanze
A1  - Weiss, Werner W.
T1  - A BRITE view on the massive O-type supergiant V973 Scorpii
BT  - hints towards internal gravity waves or sub-surface convection zones
JF  - Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
N2  - Stochastically triggered photospheric light variations reaching similar to 40 mmag peak-to-valley amplitudes have been detected in the O8 Iaf supergiant V973 Scorpii as the outcome of 2 months of high-precision time-resolved photometric observations with the BRIght Target Explorer (BRITE) nanosatellites. The amplitude spectrum of the time series photometry exhibits a pronounced broad bump in the low-frequency regime (less than or similar to 0.9 d(-1)) where several prominent frequencies are detected. A time-frequency analysis of the observations reveals typical mode lifetimes of the order of 5-10 d. The overall features of the observed brightness amplitude spectrum of V973 Sco match well with those extrapolated from two-dimensional hydrodynamical simulations of convectively driven internal gravity waves randomly excited from deep in the convective cores of massive stars. An alternative or additional possible source of excitation from a sub-surface convection zone needs to be explored in future theoretical investigations.
KW  - convection
KW  - waves
KW  - techniques: photometric
KW  - stars: massive
KW  - supergiants
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/sty1897
SN  - 0035-8711
SN  - 1365-2966
VL  - 480
IS  - 1
SP  - 972
EP  - 986
PB  - Oxford Univ. Press
CY  - Oxford
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Ramiaramanantsoa, Tahina
A1  - Moffat, Anthony F. J.
A1  - Harmon, Robert
A1  - Ignace, R.
A1  - St-Louis, Nicole
A1  - Vanbeveren, Dany
A1  - Shenar, Tomer
A1  - Pablo, Herbert
A1  - Richardson, Noel D.
A1  - Howarth, Ian D.
A1  - Stevens, Ian R.
A1  - Piaulet, Caroline
A1  - St-Jean, Lucas
A1  - Eversberg, Thomas
A1  - Pigulski, Andrzej
A1  - Popowicz, Adam
A1  - Kuschnig, Rainer
A1  - Zoclonska, Elzbieta
A1  - Buysschaert, Bram
A1  - Handler, Gerald
A1  - Weiss, Werner W.
A1  - Wade, Gregg A.
A1  - Rucinski, Slavek M.
A1  - Zwintz, Konstanze
A1  - Luckas, Paul
A1  - Heathcote, Bernard
A1  - Cacella, Paulo
A1  - Powles, Jonathan
A1  - Locke, Malcolm
A1  - Bohlsen, Terry
A1  - Chené, André-Nicolas
A1  - Miszalski, Brent
A1  - Waldron, Wayne L.
A1  - Kotze, Marissa M.
A1  - Kotze, Enrico J.
A1  - Böhm, Torsten
T1  - BRITE-Constellation high-precision time-dependent photometry of the early O-type supergiant zeta Puppis unveils the photospheric drivers of its small- and large-scale wind structures
JF  - Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
N2  - From 5.5 months of dual-band optical photometric monitoring at the 1 mmag level, BRITE-Constellation has revealed two simultaneous types of variability in the O4I(n)fp star ζ Puppis: one single periodic non-sinusoidal component superimposed on a stochastic component. The monoperiodic component is the 1.78-d signal previously detected by Coriolis/Solar Mass Ejection Imager, but this time along with a prominent first harmonic. The shape of this signal changes over time, a behaviour that is incompatible with stellar oscillations but consistent with rotational modulation arising from evolving bright surface inhomogeneities. By means of a constrained non-linear light-curve inversion algorithm, we mapped the locations of the bright surface spots and traced their evolution. Our simultaneous ground-based multisite spectroscopic monitoring of the star unveiled cyclical modulation of its He ii λ4686 wind emission line with the 1.78-d rotation period, showing signatures of corotating interaction regions that turn out to be driven by the bright photospheric spots observed by BRITE. Traces of wind clumps are also observed in the He ii λ4686 line and are correlated with the amplitudes of the stochastic component of the light variations probed by BRITE at the photosphere, suggesting that the BRITE observations additionally unveiled the photospheric drivers of wind clumps in ζ Pup and that the clumping phenomenon starts at the very base of the wind. The origins of both the bright surface inhomogeneities and the stochastic light variations remain unknown, but a subsurface convective zone might play an important role in the generation of these two types of photospheric variability.
KW  - techniques: photometric
KW  - techniques: spectroscopic
KW  - stars: massive
KW  - stars: rotation
KW  - starspots
KW  - supergiants
KW  - stars: winds, outflows
Y1  - 2017
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stx2671
SN  - 0035-8711
SN  - 1365-2966
VL  - 473
IS  - 4
SP  - 5532
EP  - 5569
PB  - Oxford Univ. Press
CY  - Oxford
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Richardson, Noel D.
A1  - Russell, Christopher M. P.
A1  - St-Jean, Lucas
A1  - Moffat, Anthony F. J.
A1  - St-Louis, Nicole
A1  - Shenar, Tomer
A1  - Pablo, Herbert
A1  - Hill, Grant M.
A1  - Ramiaramanantsoa, Tahina
A1  - Corcoran, Michael
A1  - Hamuguchi, Kenji
A1  - Eversberg, Thomas
A1  - Miszalski, Brent
A1  - Chene, Andre-Nicolas
A1  - Waldron, Wayne
A1  - Kotze, Enrico J.
A1  - Kotze, Marissa M.
A1  - Luckas, Paul
A1  - Cacella, Paulo
A1  - Heathcote, Bernard
A1  - Powles, Jonathan
A1  - Bohlsen, Terry
A1  - Locke, Malcolm
A1  - Handler, Gerald
A1  - Kuschnig, Rainer
A1  - Pigulski, Andrzej
A1  - Popowicz, Adam
A1  - Wade, Gregg A.
A1  - Weiss, Werner W.
T1  - The variability of the BRITE-est Wolf-Rayet binary, gamma(2) Velorum-I. Photometric and spectroscopic evidence for colliding winds
JF  - Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
N2  - We report on the first multi-colour precision light curve of the bright Wolf-Rayet binary gamma(2) Velorum, obtained over six months with the nanosatellites in the BRITE-Constellation fleet. In parallel, we obtained 488 high-resolution optical spectra of the system. In this first report on the data sets, we revise the spectroscopic orbit and report on the bulk properties of the colliding winds. We find a dependence of both the light curve and excess emission properties that scales with the inverse of the binary separation. When analysing the spectroscopic properties in combination with the photometry, we find that the phase dependence is caused only by excess emission in the lines, and not from a changing continuum. We also detect a narrow, high-velocity absorption component from the He perpendicular to lambda 5876 transition, which appears twice in the orbit. We calculate smoothed-particle hydrodynamical simulations of the colliding winds and can accurately associate the absorption from He perpendicular to to the leading and trailing arms of the wind shock cone passing tangentially through our line of sight. The simulations also explain the general strength and kinematics of the emission excess observed in wind lines such as C III lambda 5696 of the system. These results represent the first in a series of investigations into the winds and properties of gamma(2) Velorum through multi-technique and multi-wavelength observational campaigns.
KW  - stars: early type
KW  - stars: individual: gamma(2) Vel
KW  - stars: mass loss
KW  - stars: winds
KW  - outflows
KW  - stars: Wolf-Rayet
Y1  - 2017
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stx1731
SN  - 0035-8711
SN  - 1365-2966
VL  - 471
SP  - 2715
EP  - 2729
PB  - Oxford Univ. Press
CY  - Oxford
ER  -