Rotational modulation in RRs/Delta Scuti Star pulsation

TL;DR

This study analyzes Kepler data of the star KIC 9700322, revealing that its pulsation frequencies can be explained by radial and nonradial modes, with rotational modulation affecting brightness and pulsation amplitudes, indicating complex surface behavior.

Contribution

It demonstrates that even a simple, slowly rotating pulsator exhibits rotational brightness variations and amplitude modulation, challenging the notion of truly normal stars.

Findings

Rotational frequency identified as 0.160 c/d.

Brightness varies by 0.5 ppt during rotation.

Pulsation amplitudes modulate with rotation, in phase with brightness.

Abstract

The 76 frequencies determined from Kepler measurements of the A-type star KIC 9700322 can be understood in a rather simple way as the radial fundamental and first overtone radial modes, a nonradial \ell = 2 quintuplet, stellar rotation and combinations of all of these. Two low-frequency peaks are found: f=0.160 c/d and a 2f peak. We show from a variety of arguments that the low-frequency peak, f, (rather than the 2f peak) is the rotational frequency. The corresponding prediction of slow rotation is confirmed by a spectrum from which v sin i = 19 \pm 1 km/s is obtained. During rotation, the brightness changes by 0.5 ppt (parts-per-thousand, peak-to-peak). The rotation also modulates the amplitudes of the two radial modes, leading to a small (but definite) variation in amplitude of 0.5% of their average values. Both the rotational brightness variations and the pulsation amplitudes form a double wave during rotation. The variations are in phase. The maximum pulsation amplitude occurs at the rotational phase with minimum brightness. Consequently, the 'normal' star KIC 9700322 behaves such as an extremely weak chemically peculiar star. Since such variations are also seen in some other A stars studied by Kepler, normal stars with a symmetric surface may not exist. The significance of this star is that even a simple, slowly rotating, radial pulsator already shows rotational brightness variations and modulation of the pulsation amplitude.