102 research outputs found
A stable quasi-periodic 4.18 d oscillation and mysterious occultations in the 2011 MOST light curve of TWHya
We present an analysis of the 2011 photometric observations of TW Hya by the
MOST satellite; this is the fourth continuous series of this type. The
large-scale light variations are dominated by a strong, quasi-periodic 4.18 d
oscillation with superimposed, apparently chaotic flaring activity; the former
is most likely produced by stellar rotation with one large hot spot created by
a stable accretion funnel in the stable regime of accretion while the latter
may be produced by small hot spots, created at moderate latitudes by unstable
accretion tongues. A new, previously unnoticed feature is a series of
semi-periodic, well defined brightness dips of unknown nature of which 19 were
observed during 43 days of our nearly-continuous observations. Re-analysis of
the 2009 MOST light curve revealed the presence of 3 similar dips. On the basis
of recent theoretical results, we tentatively conclude that the dips may
represent occultations of the small hot spots created by unstable accretion
tongues by hypothetical optically thick clumps.Comment: Printed in MNRA
Photometric variability in FU Ori and Z CMa as observed by MOST
Photometric observations obtained by the MOST satellite were used to
characterize optical small scale variability of the young stars FU Ori and Z
CMa. Wavelet analysis for FU Ori reveals the possible existence of several 2-9
d quasi-periodic features occurring nearly simultaneously; they may be
interpreted as plasma parcels or other localized disc heterogeneities revolving
at different Keplerian radii in the accretion disc. Their periods may shorten
slowly which may be due to spiralling in of individual parcels toward the inner
disc radius, estimated at 4.8+/-0.2 R_sun. Analysis of additional multicolour
data confirms the previously obtained relation between variations in the B-V
colour index and the V magnitude. In contrast to the FU Ori results, the
oscillation spectrum of Z CMa does not reveal any periodicities with the
wavelet spectrum possibly dominated by outburst of the Herbig Be component.Comment: Accepted by MNRA
Constraining the near-core rotation of the gamma Doradus star 43 Cygni using BRITE-Constellation data
Photometric time series of the Dor star 43 Cyg obtained with the
BRITE-Constellation nano-satellites allow us to study its pulsational
properties in detail and to constrain its interior structure. We aim to find a
g-mode period spacing pattern that allows us to determine the near-core
rotation rate of 43 Cyg and redetermine the star's fundamental atmospheric
parameters and chemical composition. We conducted a frequency analysis using
the 156-days long data set obtained with the BRITE-Toronto satellite and
employed a suite of MESA/GYRE models to derive the mode identification,
asymptotic period spacing and near-core rotation rate. We also used
high-resolution, high signal-to-noise ratio spectroscopic data obtained at the
1.2m Mercator telescope with the HERMES spectrograph to redetermine the
fundamental atmospheric parameters and chemical composition of 43 Cyg using the
software Spectroscopy Made Easy (SME). We detected 43 intrinsic pulsation
frequencies and identified 18 of them to be part of a period spacing pattern
consisting of prograde dipole modes with an asymptotic period spacing of . The near-core rotation rate was
determined to be . The
atmosphere of 43 Cyg shows solar chemical composition at an effective
temperature of 7150 150 K, a log g of 4.2 0.6 dex and a projected
rotational velocity, , of 44 4 kms. The morphology
of the observed period spacing patterns shows indications of the presence of a
significant chemical gradient in the stellar interior.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures, accepted by A&
Scattered Light from Close-in Extrasolar Planets: Prospects of Detection with the MOST Satellite
The ultra-precise photometric space satellite MOST (Microvariability and
Oscillations of STars) will provide the first opportunity to measure the
albedos and scattered light curves from known short-period extrasolar planets.
Due to the changing phases of an extrasolar planet as it orbits its parent
star, the combined light of the planet-star system will vary on the order of
tens of micromagnitudes. The amplitude and shape of the resulting light curve
is sensitive to the planet's radius and orbital inclination, as well as the
composition and size distribution of the scattering particles in the planet's
atmosphere.
To predict the capabilities of MOST and other planned space missions, we have
constructed a series of models of such light curves, improving upon earlier
work by incorporating more realistic details such as: limb darkening of the
star, intrinsic granulation noise in the star itself, tidal distortion and
back-heating, higher angular resolution of the light scattering from the
planet, and exploration of the significance of the angular size of the star as
seen from the planet. We use photometric performance simulations of the MOST
satellite, with the light curve models as inputs, for one of the mission's
primary targets, Bo\"otis. These simulations demonstrate that, even
adopting a very conservative signal detection limit of 4.2 mag in
amplitude (not power), we will be able to either detect the Bo\"otis
planet light curve or put severe constraints on possible extrasolar planet
atmospheric models.Comment: Accepted to ApJ, 24 pages, 8 figure
A search for transits of GJ 581\lowercase{e} and characterization of the host star variability using MOST space telescope photometry
The GJ 581 system has been amply studied since its discovery in 2005: the
number of known planets in the system has increased and their orbital
parameters are among the most precisely determined for radial velocity detected
exoplanets. We have acquired MOST space-based photometry during 2007 and 2009,
with the aims of measuring the stellar variability and searching for transits
of GJ 581e, respectively. We quantify our sensitivity to shallow transit
signals using Monte Carlo simulations, and perform a transit search within the
3 transit windows corresponding to both the circular and Keplerian
orbit ephemerides. Our analysis rules out transits for a planet with an orbital
period of 3.15 days (GJ 581 e) having a radius larger than 1.62
(or a density lower than 2.39 g cm for an orbital inclination of
90) to 2 confidence. Thus, if the planet transits, we can
exclude hydrogen, helium and water theoretical model compositions. The MOST
photometry also allows us to rule out transits of GJ 581b within the Keplerian
orbit-derived transit window for impact parameter values smaller than 0.4
and confirm previous results which exclude transits for this planet within the
circular orbit-derived transit window, for all plausible interior compositions.
We find that the stellar brightness of GJ 581 is stable to within 1%, a
characteristic which is favourable to the development of life in the habitable
zone of the system. In the 2009 photometry, we detect a stellar signal with a
period of 5.586 0.051 days, which is close to the orbital period of GJ
581b (5.37 days). However, further monitoring of the system is necessary to
verify the nature of this variation.Comment: 11 pages, 2 tables, 10 figures; accepted for publication in Ap
Stable and unstable accretion in the classical T Tauri stars IM Lup and RU Lup as observed by MOST
Results of the time variability monitoring of the two classical T Tauri
stars, RU Lup and IM Lup, are presented. Three photometric data sets were
utilised: (1) simultaneous (same field) MOST satellite observations over four
weeks in each of the years 2012 and 2013, (2) multicolour observations at the
SAAO in April - May of 2013, (3) archival V-filter ASAS data for nine seasons,
2001 - 2009. They were augmented by an analysis of high-resolution,
public-domain VLT-UT2 UVES spectra from the years 2000 to 2012. From the MOST
observations, we infer that irregular light variations of RU Lup are caused by
stochastic variability of hot spots induced by unstable accretion. In contrast,
the MOST light curves of IM Lup are fairly regular and modulated with a period
of about 7.19 - 7.58 d, which is in accord with ASAS observations showing a
well defined 7.247+/-0.026 d periodicity. We propose that this is the
rotational period of IM Lup and is due to the changing visibility of two
antipodal hot spots created near the stellar magnetic poles during the stable
process of accretion. Re-analysis of RU Lup high-resolution spectra with the
Broadening Function approach reveals signs of a large polar cold spot, which is
fairly stable over 13 years. As the star rotates, the spot-induced depression
of intensity in the Broadening Function profiles changes cyclically with period
3.71058 d, which was previously found by the spectral cross-correlation method.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures. Accepted by MNRA
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