Asteroseismic analysis of solar-mass subgiants KIC 6442183 and KIC 11137075 observed by Kepler

Asteroseismology provides a powerful way to constrain stellar parameters. Solar-like oscillations have been observed on subgiant stars with the \emph{Kepler\/} mission. The continuous and high-precision time series enables us to carry out a detailed asteroseismic study for these stars. We carry out data processing of two subgiants of spectral type G: KIC 6442183 and KIC 11137075 observed with the \emph{Kepler} mission, and perform seismic analysis for the two evolved stars. We estimate the values of global asteroseismic parameters: $\Delta\nu=64.9\pm 0.2$ $\mu$Hz and $\nu_{\rm max}=1225 \pm 17$ $\mu$Hz for KIC 6442183, $\Delta\nu=65.5\pm 0.2$ $\mu$Hz and $\nu_{\rm max}=1171 \pm 8$ $\mu$Hz for KIC 11137075, respectively. In addition, we extract the individual mode frequencies of the two stars. We compare stellar models and observations, including mode frequencies and mode inertias. The mode inertias of mixed modes, which are sensitive to the stellar interior, are used to constrain stellar models. We define a quantity $d\nu_{\rm m-p}$ that measures the difference between the mixed modes and the expected pure pressure modes, which is related to the inertia ratio of mixed modes to radial modes. Asteroseismic together with spectroscopic constraints provide the estimations of the stellar parameters: $M = 1.04_{-0.04}^{+0.01} M_{\odot}$, $R = 1.66_{-0.02}^{+0.01} R_{\odot}$ and $t=8.65_{-0.06}^{+1.12}$ Gyr for KIC 6442183, and $M = 1.00_{-0.01}^{+0.01} M_{\odot}$, $R = 1.63_{-0.01}^{+0.01} R_{\odot}$ and $t=10.36_{-0.20}^{+0.01}$ Gyr for KIC 11137075. Either mode inertias or $d\nu_{\rm m-p}$ could be used to constrain stellar models.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures, 5 tables A&A accepte

The formation of blue large-amplitude pulsators from white-dwarf main-sequence star mergers

Blue large-amplitude pulsators (BLAPs) are hot low-mass stars which show large-amplitude light variations likely due to radial oscillations driven by iron-group opacities. Period changes provide evidence of both secular contraction and expansion amongst the class. Various formation histories have been proposed, but none are completely satisfactory. \citet{Zhang2017} proposed that the merger of a helium core white dwarf with a low-mass main-sequence star (HeWD+MS) can lead to the formation of some classes of hot subdwarf. We have analyzed these HeWD+MS merger models in more detail. Between helium-shell ignition and full helium-core burning, the models pass through the volume of luminosity -- gravity-- temperature space occupied by BLAPs. Periods of expansion and contraction associated with helium-shell flashes can account for the observed rates of period change. We argue that the HeWD+MS merger model provides at least one BLAP formation channel.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figures, accepted by Ap

Asteroseismic Modeling of 1,153 Kepler Red Giant Branch Stars: Improved Stellar Parameters with Gravity-Mode Period Spacings and Luminosity Constraints

This paper reports estimated stellar parameters of 1,153 Kepler red giant branch stars determined with asteroseismic modeling. We use radial-mode oscillation frequencies, gravity-mode period spacings, Gaia luminosities, and spectroscopic data to characterize these stars. Compared with previous studies, we find that the two additional observed constraints, i.e., the gravity-mode period spacing and luminosity, significantly improve the precision of fundamental stellar parameters. The typical uncertainties are 2.9% for the mass, 11% for the age, 1.0% for the radius, 0.0039 dex for the surface gravity, and 0.5\% for the helium core mass, making this the best-characterized large sample of red-giant stars available to date. With better characterizations for these red giants, we recalibrate the seismic scaling relations and study the surface term on the red-giant branch. We confirm that the surface term depends on the surface gravity and effective temperature, but there is no significant correlation with metallicity.Comment: Accepted by Ap