Detailed seismic study of Gemma (KIC11026764) using EGGMiMoSA: Unveiling the probing potential of mixed modes for subgiant stars

TL;DR

This paper models the subgiant star Gemma using mixed modes from Kepler data, revealing the importance of chemical gradients and overshooting in stellar structure, and demonstrating a detailed seismic analysis approach.

Contribution

It introduces a seismic modelling method for subgiant stars using EGGMiMoSA and mixed modes, highlighting the role of chemical gradients and overshooting.

Findings

Models with sharp chemical gradients best fit seismic data

Overshooting parameter α_ov=0.17 suggests significant mixing

Seismic indicators reveal the structure of the hydrogen-burning shell

Abstract

Context. When leaving the main sequence (MS) for the red-giant branch (RGB), subgiant stars undergo fast structural changes. Consequently, their observed oscillation spectra mirror these changes, constituting key tracers of stellar structure and evolution. However, the complexity of their spectra makes their modelling an arduous task, which few authors have undertaken. Gemma (KIC11026764) is a young subgiant with $45$ precise oscillation modes observed with Kepler, making it the ideal benchmark for seismic modelling. Aims. This study is aimed at modelling the subgiant Gemma, taking advantage of most of the precise seismic information available. This approach enables us to pave the way for the seismic modelling of evolved solar-like stars and provide the relevant insights into their structural evolution. Methods. Using our Levenberg-Marquardt stellar modelling tool, we built a family of models representative of Gemma's measured seismic indicators obtained via our seismic tool, EGGMiMoSA. We studied the structural information these indicators hold by carefully varying stellar parameters. We also complemented the characterisation with information held by \who indicators and non-seismic data. Results. From the extensive set of models we built and using most of the seismic information at hand, including two $\ell=1$ and one $\ell=2$ mixed modes, we were able to probe the chemical transition at the hydrogen-burning shell. Indeed, we have demonstrated that among our models, only the ones with the sharpest chemical gradient are able to reproduce all the seismic information considered. One possibility to account for such a gradient is the inclusion of a significant amount of overshooting, namely $\alpha_{\textrm{ov}}=0.17$, which is unexpected for low-mass stars such as Gemma (expected mass of about $1.15~M_{\odot}$).