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The prototype star for the �� Doradus class of pulsating variables was studied em- ploying photometric and spectroscopic observations to determine the frequencies and modes of pulsation. The four frequencies found were self-consistent between the obser- vation types and almost identical to those found in previous studies (1.3641 d-1 ,1.8783 d-1 , 1.4742 d-1 and 1.3209 d-1). Three of the frequencies are classified as l, m = (1, 1) pulsations and the other is ambiguous between l = 2 modes. Two frequencies are shown to be stable over twenty years since their first identification. The agreement in ground-based work makes this star an excellent calibrator for the upcoming TESS observations and a standard for continued asteroseismic modelling., Accepted for Publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Volume 475, Issue 3, p.3813-3822

Hybrid stars of the �� Doradus and �� Scuti pulsation types have great potential for asteroseismic analysis to explore their interior structure. To achieve this, mode identi- fications of pulsational frequencies observed in the stars must be made, a task which is far from simple. In this work we begin the analysis by scrutinizing the frequencies found in the CoRoT photometric satellite measurements and ground-based high-resolution spectroscopy of the hybrid star HD 49434. The results show almost no consistency between the frequencies found using the two techniques and no characteristic period spacings or couplings were identified in either dataset. The spectroscopic data additionally show no evidence for any long term (5 year) variation in the dominant frequency. The 31 spectroscopic frequencies identified have standard deviation profiles suggesting multiple modes sharing (l, m) in the �� Scuti frequency region and several skewed modes sharing the same (l, m) in the �� Doradus frequency region. In addition, there is a clear frequency in the �� Doradus frequency region that appears to be unrelated to the others. We conclude HD 49434 remains a �� Scuti/ �� Doradus candidate hybrid star but more sophisticated models dealing with rotation are sought to obtain a clear picture of the pulsational behaviour of this star., Accepted for publication in MNRAS December 2014

We present the effective temperatures, surface gravities and abundances of iron, carbon and barium of 848 giant branch stars, of which 557 also have well-defined nitrogen abundances, of the globular cluster �� Centauri. This work used photometric sources and lower resolution spectra for this abundance analysis. Spectral indices were used to estimate the oxygen abundance of the stars, leading to a determination of whether a particular star was oxygen-rich or oxygen-poor. The 557-star subset was analyzed in the context of evolutionary groups, with four broad groups identified. These groups suggest that there were at least four main four periods of star formation in the cluster. The exact order of these star formation events is not yet understood. These results compare well with those found at higher resolution and show the value of more extensive lower resolution spectral surveys. They also highlight the need for large samples of stars when working with a complex object like �� Cen., 12 pages, 14 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS

We have determined stellar parameters and abundances for 221 giant branch stars in the globular cluster �� Centauri. A combination of photometry and lower-resolution spectroscopy was used to determine temperature, gravity, metallicity, [C/Fe], [N/Fe] and [Ba/Fe]. These abundances agree well with those found by previous researchers and expand the analysed sample of the cluster. k-means clustering analysis was used to group the stars into four homogeneous groups based upon these abundances. These stars show the expected anticorrelation in [C/Fe] to [N/Fe]. We investigated the distribution of CN-weak/strong stars on the colour-magnitude diagram. Asymptotic giant branch stars, which were selected from their position on the colour-magnitude diagram, were almost all CN-weak. This is in contrast to the red giant branch where a large minority were CN-strong. The results were also compared with cluster formation and evolution models. Overall, this study shows that statistically significant elemental and evolutionary conclusions can be obtained from lower resolution spectroscopy., The paper contains 13 figures and 7 tables. Tables 2 and 4 will be published in full online only. Accepted for publication by MNRAS

Using multi-site spectroscopic data collected from three sites, the frequencies and pulsational modes of the �� Doradus star HD 12901 were identified. A total of six frequencies in the range 1-2 c/d were observed, their identifications supported by multiple line-profile measurement techniques and previously-published photometry. Five frequencies were of sufficient signal-to-noise for mode identification and all five displayed similar three-bump standard deviation profiles which were fitted well with (l,m)=(1,1) modes. These fits had reduced chi-squared values of less than 18. We propose that this star is an excellent candidate to test models of non-radially pulsating �� Doradus stars as a result of the presence of multiple (1,1) modes., Accepted for publication in MNRAS, 13 September 2012

We present the mode identification of frequencies found in spectroscopic observations of the Gamma Doradus star HD135825. Four frequencies were successfully identified: 1.3150 +/- 0.0003 1/d; 0.2902 +/- 0.0004 1/d; 1.4045 +/- 0.0005 1/d; and 1.8829 +/- 0.0005 1/d. These correspond to (l, m) modes of (1,1), (2,-2), (4,0) and (1,1) respectively. Additional frequencies were found but they were below the signal-to-noise limit of the Fourier spectrum and not suitable for mode identification. The rotational axis inclination and vsini of the star were determined to be 87 degrees (nearly edge-on) and 39.7 km/s (moderate for Gamma Doradus stars) respectively. A simultaneous fit of these four modes to the line profile variations in the data gives a reduced chi square of 12.7. We confirm, based on the frequencies found, that HD135825 is a bona fide Gamma Doradus star., Comment: Accepted to MNRAS 2012 March 2

This study resolves a discrepancy in the abundance of Zr in the 47 Tucanae asymptotic giant branch star Lee 2525. This star was observed using the echelle spectrograph on the 2.3 m telescope at Siding Spring Observatory. The analysis was undertaken by calibrating Lee 2525 with respect to the standard giant star Arcturus. This work emphasises the importance of using a standard star with stellar parameters comparable to the star under analysis rather than a calibration with respect to the Sun (Koch & McWilliam 2008). Systematic errors in the analysis process are then minimised due to the similarity in atmospheric structure between the standard and programme stars. The abundances derived for Lee 2525 were found to be in general agreement with the Brown & Wallerstein (1992) values except for Zr. In this study Zr has a similar enhancement ([Zr/Fe] = +0.51 dex) to another light s-process element, Y ([Y/Fe] = +0.53 dex), which reflects current theory regarding the enrichment of s-process elements by nuclear processes within AGB stars (Busso et al. 2001). This is contrary to the results of Brown & Wallerstein (1992) where Zr was under-abundant ([Zr/Fe] = +0.51 dex) and Y was over-abundant ([Y/Fe] = +0.50 dex) with respect to Fe., 11 pages, 5 figures Accepted for publication in MNRAS

This research forms part of an investigation into heavy element abundances in Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) stars in various stellar environments. Seven giant stars in the southern globular cluster 47 Tuc have been observed using the Anglo-Australian Telescope. Abundances for five s- and r- process elements have been determined: the light s-process elements, Y and Zr; the heavy s-process elements, La and Nd; and the r-process element Eu. Mean enhancements in the light s-process, [ls/Fe], of ~+0.6 dex and heavy s-process elements, [hs/Fe], of ~+0.3 dex were determined for all the giant stars. There was no statistically significant difference between the abundances determined for the Red Giant Branch (RGB) and AGB stars in this study. The results for the RGB stars differ from those obtained by a number of previous studies. However, because of the similar abundance results obtained for the AGB and RGB stars in this study we believe this provides evidence for previous enrichment of the material from which these stars formed.

International audience; In recent years we have initiated and contributed to a number of campaigns to study non-radially pulsating objects. Our observing facility is the Mt John University Observatory 1.0 m telescope equipped with a high-efficiency and extremely stable echelle spectrograph, ideal for spectroscopic mode identification. Our current interests include ? Scuti star campaigns and a programme to study the non-radial pulsations in ? Dor stars. We are investigating several different methods of line profile analysis and spectroscopic mode identification of these targets. An overview of the programme, with specific examples, is presented.

p>The mysteries of the interior structures of stars are being tackled with asteroseismology. The observable parameters of the surface pulsations of stars inform us of the interior characteristics of numerous classes of stars. The main-sequence gamma Doradus stars, just a little hotter than the Sun, offer the potential of determining stellar structure right down to the core. To determine the structural profile of a star, the observed frequencies and a full geometric description must be determined. This is only possible with long-term spectroscopic monitoring and careful analysis of the pulsation signature in spectral lines. This work seeks to identify the pulsational geometry of several gamma Doradus stars and to identify areas of improvement for current observation, analysis and modelling techniques. More than 4500 spectra were gathered on five stars for this purpose. For three stars a successful multi-frequency and mode identification solution was determined and significant progress has been made towards the understanding of a binary system involving a gamma Doradus star. A hybrid gamma Doradus/nbsp;delta Scuti pulsator was also intensely monitored and results from this work raise important questions about the classification of this type of star. Current analysis techniques were found to be fit-for-purpose for pure gamma Doradus stars, but stars with complexities such as hybrid pulsations and/or fast rotation require future development of the current models./p>