Evolving pulsation of the slowly rotating magnetic beta Cep star xi 1 CMa

TL;DR

This study presents photometric and spectroscopic analysis of the beta Cep star xi 1 CMa, confirming its single pulsation period and its evolution-related period change, but finds no additional pulsation frequencies.

Contribution

It provides detailed pulsation and period change measurements of xi 1 CMa, clarifying its pulsation characteristics and evolutionary status.

Findings

Identified a single pulsation period of 0.2095781 days.

Measured a period change rate of 0.009 seconds per year.

Found no evidence of additional pulsation frequencies.

Abstract

We report BRITE-Constellation photometry of the beta Cep pulsator xi 1 CMa. Analysis of these data reveals a single pulsation period of 0.2095781(3) d, along with its first and second harmonics. We find no evidence for any other frequencies, limiting the value of this star as a target for magneto-asteroseismology. We em- ploy the 17-year database of RV measurements of xi 1 CMa to evaluate evidence for the reported change in pulsation period, and interpret this period change in terms of stellar evolution. We measure a rate-of-change of the period equal to 0.009(1) s/yr, consistent with that reported in the literature.