About the new B- and A-type periodic variable stars
Abstract
New periodic variable stars of type B and A were discovered in 2013 in the open cluster NGC 3766 (Mowlavi et al. 2013), in a region of the Hertzsprung-Rusell diagram on the main sequence, between delta-Scuti and Slowly Pulsating B stars, where no periodic star was expected to be found. The observational properties of the potentially new class of variability challenged model predictions of pulsating stars that were available at the time of their discovery, and triggered new theoretical developments in the field.Meanwhile, we obtained additional observational elements that shed new light on these new periodic variable stars. First, we analyzed photometric data of three other young clusters with ages between about 15 to about 70 million years, for which we had up to seven years of observations. The analysis reveals the presence of the new periodic B- and A-type stars in those clusters as well, with properties similar to those found in NGC 3766, but with also new features. Second, we took spectra of all new periodic variables found in NGC 3766, using Giraffe multi-fiber spectrometer mounted on the VLT. Those data enable a better characterization of the nature of those stars.We present in this contribution the results of those two new studies, and their impacts on our understanding of the new periodic stars.
- Publication:
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IAU General Assembly
- Pub Date:
- August 2015
- Bibcode:
- 2015IAUGA..2257291M