Fundamental properties of a selected sample of Ap stars: Inferences from interferometric and asteroseismic constraints

TL;DR

This study combines interferometric and asteroseismic data to accurately determine fundamental properties of 14 Ap stars, revealing insights into their chemical composition and magnetic field influence on stellar evolution.

Contribution

It introduces a grid-based modelling approach with broad chemical composition ranges, improving the accuracy of stellar property inferences for Ap stars.

Findings

Inferred stellar masses are higher than previous estimates.

Seismic data significantly constrain initial metallicity.

Results are consistent within 1σ with prior studies.

Abstract

Magnetic fields influence the formation and evolution of stars and impact the observed stellar properties. Ap stars (magnetic A-type stars) are a prime example of this. Access to precise and accurate determinations of their stellar fundamental properties, such as masses and ages, is crucial to understand the origin and evolution of fossil magnetic fields. We propose using the radii and luminosities determined from interferometric measurements, in addition to seismic constraints when available, to infer fundamental properties of 14 Ap stars pr\'eviously characterised. We used a grid-based modelling approach, employing stellar models computed with the \textsc{cestam} stellar evolution code, and the parameter search performed with the \textsc{aims} optimisation method. The stellar model grid was built using a wide range of initial helium abundances and metallicities in order to avoid any bias originating from the initial chemical composition. The large frequency separations ($\Delta\nu$) of HR\,1217 (HD\,24712) and $\alpha$~Cir (HD\,128898), two rapidly oscillating Ap stars of the sample, were used as seismic constraints. We inferred the fundamental properties of the 14 stars in the sample. The overall results are consistent within $1\sigma$ with previous studies, however, the stellar masses inferred in this study are higher. This trend likely originates from the broader range of chemical compositions considered in this work. We show that the use of $\Delta\nu$ in the modelling significantly improves our inferences, allowing us to set reasonable constraints on the initial metallicity which is, otherwise, unconstrained. This gives an indication of the efficiency of atomic diffusion in the atmospheres of roAp stars and opens the possibility of characterising the transport of chemical elements in their interiors.