Discovery of Staircase delta Scuti Variables

TL;DR

This paper identifies a new class of delta Scuti variables called Staircase delta Scuti, characterized by unique O-C diagram patterns, and discusses their implications for stellar pulsation analysis.

Contribution

The study introduces Staircase delta Scuti variables, a novel pattern in O-C diagrams, expanding understanding of pulsating stars and their classification.

Findings

Seven additional targets exhibit the Staircase pattern.

These objects are low mass, fundamental pulsators near the red edge of the instability strip.

The pattern impacts analysis of pulsating variable stars.

Abstract

Analysis of the previously classified delta Scuti variable star MW Camelopardalis using data from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Telescope sparked a deeper inquiry due to the unexpected patterns within the target's observed-calculated graph. From the shape of the O-C diagram we have designed these objects as Staircase delta Scuti. The pattern was found to be replicated in the O-C graphs of seven additional targets. The objects are TIC 17931346, TIC 44845403, TIC 123580083, TIC 173503902, TIC 302394816, TIC 194944219, and TIC 396465600. The Q value for the targets, their position in the delta Scuti Leavitt Law, and location in the instability strip would show these objects to be low mass, fundamental pulsators, near the red edge of the instability strip. We also discuss the impact this phenomenon could have on the analysis of all pulsating variable stars.