6 research outputs found
MOST photometry of the RRd Lyrae variable AQ Leo: Two radial modes, 32 combination frequencies, and beyond
Highly precise and nearly uninterrupted optical photometry of the RR Lyrae
star AQ Leo was obtained with the MOST (Microvariability & Oscillations of
STars) satellite over 34.4 days in February-March 2005. AQ Leo was the first
known double-mode RR Lyrae pulsator (RRd star). Three decades after its
discovery, MOST observations have revealed that AQ Leo oscillates with at least
42 frequencies, of which 32 are linear combinations (up to the sixth order) of
the radial fundamental mode and its first overtone. Evidence for period changes
of these modes is found in the data. The other intrinsic frequencies may
represent an additional nonradial pulsation mode and its harmonics (plus linear
combinations) which warrant theoretical modeling. The unprecedented number of
frequencies detected with amplitudes down to millimag precision also presents
an opportunity to test nonlinear theories of mode growth and saturation in RR
Lyrae pulsators.Comment: accepted for publication in MNRAS; revision v2 : broken references
have been fixe