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WOS: 000245697400009, We present new photometric two-colour observations of the double-lined close binary star VZ CVn. Combining two data sets obtained in 1971-72 and in 2006, the physical parameters of both components were derived. After removing the light variations due to the eclipses and proximity effects, a periodic variation in the more massive component with a dominant period of 1.068 76 d could be detected in the first photometric data set. In accordance with its position on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram and both its pulsation period and pulsation constant of 0.62 d, the primary component of VZ CVn should be an excellent gamma Doradus candidate. The less massive secondary component seems to have smaller radius with respect to its mass. Both components appear to have lower luminosities with respect to their masses; hence, their radiative properties seem to be different. The evolutionary status of the components is also discussed

In this paper we study the effects of rotation on the frequencies of the quasi-normal modes of a proto-neutron star (PNS) born in a gravitational collapse during the first minute of life. Our analysis starts a few tenths of seconds after the PNS formation, when the stellar evolution can be described by a sequence of equilibrium configurations. We use the evolutionary models developed by Pons et al. (1999; 2001) that describe how a non rotating star cools down and contracts while neutrino diffusion and thermalization processes dominate the stellar dynamics. For assigned values of the evolution time, we set the star into slow rotation and integrate the equations of stellar perturbations in the Cowling approximation, both in the time domain and in the frequency domain, to find the quasi-normal mode frequencies. We study the secular instability of the g-modes, that are present in the oscillation spectrum due to the intense entropy and composition gradients that develop in the stellar interior, and we provide an estimate of the growth time of the unstable modes based on a post-Newtonian formula., Comment: 13 pages, 1 table, 3 figures, Accepted for publication to MNRAS

WOS: 000246424900028, Aims. Our goal was to improve the fundamental parameters of the massive close double-lined eclipsing B2.5V+B2.5V binary CV Velorum. Methods. We gathered new high-resolution echelle spectroscopy on 13 almost consecutive nights covering two orbits. We computed a simultaneous solution to all the available high-quality radial-velocity and light data with the latest version of the Wilson-Deviney code. Results. We obtained the following values for the physical parameters: M-1 = 6.066(74) M-circle dot, M-2 = 5.972(70) M-circle dot, R-1 = 4.126(24) R-circle dot, R-2 = 3.908(27) R-circle dot, logL(1) = 3.20(5) L-circle dot, and logL(2) = 3.14(5) L-circle dot. The quoted errors contain a realistic estimate of systematic uncertainties mainly stemming from the effective temperature estimation. We derived abundances for both components and found them to be compatible with those of B stars in the solar neighbourhood. We discovered low-amplitude periodic line-profile variations with the orbital frequency for both components. Their interpretation requires new data with a longer time span. The primary rotates subsynchronously while the secondary's v sin i and radius are compatible with synchronous rotation. We provide an update of the empirical mass-luminosity relation for main-sequence B stars which can be used for statistical predictions of masses or luminosities.

A phase transition occurring in the inner core of a neutron star could be associated to a density discontinuity that would affect the frequency spectrum of the non-radial oscillation modes in two ways. Firstly, it would produce a softening of the equation of state, leading to more compact equilibrium configurations and changing the frequency of the fundamental and pressure modes of the neutron star. Secondly, a new non-zero frequency g-- mode would appear, associated to each discontinuity. These discontinuity g--modes have typical frequencies larger than those of g--modes previously studied in the literature (thermal, core g-- modes, or g--modes due to chemical inhomogeneities in the outer layers), and smaller than that of the fundamental mode; therefore they should be distinguishable from the other modes of non radial oscillation. In this paper we investigate how high density discontinuities change the frequency spectrum of the non-radial oscillations, in the framework of the general relativistic theory of stellar perturbations. Our purpose is to understand whether a gravitational signal, emitted at the frequencies of the quasi normal modes, may give some clear information on the equation of state of the neutron star and, in particular, on the parameters that characterize the density discontinuity. We discuss some astrophysical processes that may be associated to the excitation of these modes, and estimate how much gravitational energy should the modes convey to produce a signal detectable by high frequency gravitational detectors., Comment: submitted to MNRAS

The numerical hydrodynamic modelling of beat Cepheid behavior has been a longstanding quest in which purely radiative models have failed miserably. We find that beat pulsations occur naturally when turbulent convection is accounted for in our hydrodynamics codes. The development of a relaxation code and of a Floquet stability analysis greatly facilitates the search for and analysis of beat Cepheid models. The conditions for the occurrence of beat behavior can be understood easily and at a fundamental level with the help of amplitude equations. Here a discriminant D arises whose sign decides whether single mode or double mode pulsations can occur in a model, and this D depends only on the values of the nonlinear coupling coefficients between the fundamental and the first overtone modes. For radiative models D is always found to be negative, but with sufficiently strong turbulent convection its sign reverses., Comment: 5 pages, incl. 4 figs - apj lett, accepted may 18, 1998

WOS: 000079107500013, In this paper, we present the results of a multisite photometric campaign devoted to the gamma Doradus type variable HR 8799. From Johnson and Stromgren data, we were able to identify three independent frequencies (f(i) = 1.9791 cycle d(-1), f(2) = 1.7268 cycle d(-10) and f(3) = 1.6498 cycle d(-1)) as well as another signal, which we are able to identify as the coupling term between two of the frequencies (f(4) = f(1) - f(2) = 0.2479 cycle d(-1)). These four frequencies are able to account for all of the observed variations down to the la significance level. We discuss another possible interpretation of these frequencies using a model of quasi-stochastic amplitude modulation. In this scenario, we are able to show that HR 8799 might be pulsating with two independent frequencies, one of which undergoes amplitude modulation similar to other gamma Dor objects. In addition, we discuss a preliminary mode identification based on the observed colour curves. Finally, 18 simultaneous, high-resolution echelle spectra were collected on two nights and we qualitatively compare the radial velocities from these data with our photometry.

Since pulsating subdwarf B (sdBV or EC14026) stars were first discovered (Kilkenny et al, 1997), observational efforts have tried to realize their potential for constraining the interior physics of extreme horizontal branch (EHB) stars. Difficulties encountered along the way include uncertain mode identifications and a lack of stable pulsation mode properties. Here we report on Feige 48, an sdBV star for which follow-up observations have been obtained spanning more than four years, which shows some stable pulsation modes. We resolve the temporal spectrum into five stable pulsation periods in the range 340 to 380 seconds with amplitudes less than 1%, and two additional periods that appear in one dataset each. The three largest amplitude periodicities are nearly equally spaced, and we explore the consequences of identifying them as a rotationally split l=1 triplet by consulting with a representative stellar model. The general stability of the pulsation amplitudes and phases allows us to use the pulsation phases to constrain the timescale of evolution for this sdBV star. Additionally, we are able to place interesting limits on any stellar or planetary companion to Feige 48., accepted for publication in MNRAS