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The accuracy of stellar masses and radii determined from asteroseismology is not known! We examine this issue for giant stars by comparing classical measurements of detached eclipsing binary systems (dEBs) with asteroseismic measurements from the Kepler mission. For star clusters, we extrapolate measurements of dEBs in the turn-off region to the red giant branch and the red clump where we investigate the giants as an ensemble. For the field stars, we measure dEBs with an oscillating giant component. These measurements allow a comparison of masses and radii calculated from a classical eclipsing binary analysis to those calculated from asteroseismic scaling relations and/or other asteroseismic methods. Our first results indicate small but significant systematic differences between the classical and asteroseismic measurements. In this contribution we show our latest results and summarize the current status and future plans. We also stress the importance of realizing that for giant stars mass cannot always be translated to age, since an unknown fraction of these evolved through a blue straggler phase with mass transfer in a binary system. Rough estimates of how many such stars to expect are given based on our findings in the open clusters NGC6819 and NGC6791., To appear in Astronomische Nachrichten, special issue "Reconstruction the Milky Way's History: Spectroscopic surveys, Asteroseismology and Chemo-dynamical models", Guest Editors C. Chiappini, J. Montalb\'an, and M. Steffen, AN 2016 (in press)"

International audience; Context. The CoRoT short asteroseismic runs give us the opportunity to observe a large variety of late-type stars through their solar-like oscillations. We report the observation and modeling of the F5V star HD 175272.Aims. Our aim is to define a method for extracting as much information as possible from a noisy oscillation spectrum. Methods. We followed a differential approach that consists of using a well-known star as a reference to characterize another star. We used classical tools such as the envelope autocorrelation function to derive the global seismic parameters of the star. We compared HD 175272 with HD 181420 through a linear approach, because they appear to be asteroseismic twins.Results. The comparison with the reference star enables us to substantially enhance the scientific output for HD 175272. First, we determined its global characteristics through a detailed seismic analysis of HD 181420. Second, with our differential approach, we measured the difference of mass, radius and age between HD 175272 and HD 181420.Conclusions. We have developed a general method able to derive asteroseismic constraints on a star even in case of low-quality data. This method can be applied to stars with interesting properties but low signal-to-noise ratio oscillation spectrum, such as stars hosting an exoplanet or members of a binary system.

Measurements of the mass and radius of detached eclipsing binaries (DEB) can be used to accurately determine the ages of clusters if an eclipsing star is evolved enough and sits near the cluster turnoff on the color-magnitude diagram (CMD). Multiple DEBs in a cluster can constrain the age even more tightly, and can also lead to inferences about chemical composition (such as helium abundance). As part of our study of the old 2.5 Gyr) open cluster NGC 6819 in the Kepler field, we present results for the DEB Auner 665 (WOCS 24009) with a short period of 3.6 days. We make use of photometric observations from the Kepler spacecraft and from the 1 m telescope at Mount Laguna Observatory in B, V, Rc, and Ic. Radial velocities were measured as part of a long-term study of the cluster (e.g., Hole et al. 2009) using the WIYN 3.5-meter telescope. A665 is a triple-lined system, and we verify that the brightest star is physically orbiting the eclipsing binary based on radial velocities and eclipse timing variations. The stars that make up the detached eclipsing binary are almost identical in temperature, with eclipses that are only clearly distinguishable using Kepler photometry. A new astrometric study of NGC 6819 confirms the cluster membership probability of A665 at a level of P=99%. Ultimately, we will compare the masses and radii obtained with theoretical isochrones and analyze the derived age of NGC 6819, which can also be used to improve stellar theoretical models with better constraints in the mass-radius plane. Our target is to reduce the uncertainty on the cluster age to less than 10% using results from A665 and other known DEBs. The results for this system will also help produce a valuable test of the asteroseismic mass estimates for giant stars in the cluster (Stello et al. 2011). We gratefully acknowledge funding from the National Science Foundation under grant AST-0908536 and NASA under grants NNX11AC76G and NNX12AC88G.

The star KIC9777062 was discovered to be an eccentric eclipsing binary star via Kepler observations (Prsa et al. 2011). Because the system (also identified as Sanders 195) sits at the turnoff of the open cluster NGC 6811, precision measurement of the characteristics of the stars in the binary can provide an extremely precise age for the cluster. We present the results of modeling Kepler and ground-based photometry as well as radial velocities obtained at the Hobby-Eberly Telescope, Nordic Optical Telescope, and MMT. We demonstrate that the stars have masses near 1.6 and 1.4 solar masses with approximately 1% uncertainty, and smaller uncertainties for radius measurements. From comparing the masses and radii against theoretical isochrones, we will present an analysis of age and uncertainty. The results for this system will also produce a valuable test of the asteroseismic mass estimates for the red clump stars in the cluster (Stello et al. 2011). We gratefully acknowledge support from the NSF for M.L. as part of the REU program at San Diego State University under grant AST-0850564 and to E.L.S under grant AST-0908536, and NASA under grant NNX12AC88G.

Context. Models of stellar structure and evolution can be constrained by measuring accurate parameters of detached eclipsing binaries in open clusters. Multiple binary stars provide the means to determine helium abundances in these old stellar systems, and in turn, to improve estimates of their age. Aims. In the first paper of this series, we demonstrated how measurements of multiple eclipsing binaries in the old open cluster NGC 6791 sets tighter constraints on the properties of stellar models than has previously been possible, thereby potentially improving both the accuracy and precision of the cluster age. Here we add additional constraints and perform an extensive model comparison to determine the best estimates of the cluster age and helium content, employing as many observational constraints as possible. Methods. We improve our photometry and correct empirically for differential reddening effects. We then perform an extensive comparison of the new colour-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) and eclipsing binary measurements to Victoria and DSEP isochrones in order to estimate cluster parameters. We also reanalyse a spectrum of the star 2–17 to improve [Fe/H] constraints. Results. We find a best estimate of the age of ~8.3 Gyr for NGC 6791 while demonstrating that remaining age uncertainty is dominated by uncertainties in the CNO abundances. The helium mass fraction is well constrained at Y = 0.30±0.01 resulting in ΔY/ΔZ ~ 1.4 assuming that such a relation exists. During the analysis we firmly identify blue straggler stars, including the star 2–17, and find indications for the presence of their evolved counterparts. Our analysis supports the RGB mass-loss found from asteroseismology and we determine precisely the absolute mass of stars on the lower RGB, MRGB = 1.15±0.02 M⊙. This will be an important consistency check for the detailed asteroseismology of cluster stars. Conclusions. Using multiple, detached eclipsing binaries for determining stellar cluster ages, it is now possible to constrain parameters of stellar models, notably the helium content, which were previously out of reach. By observing a suitable number of detached eclipsing binaries in several open clusters, it will be possible to calibrate the age-scale and the helium enrichment parameter Δ Y/Δ Z, and provide firm constraints that stellar models must reproduce.

We report the discovery by the CoRoT space mission of a new giant planet, CoRoT-20b. The planet has a mass of 4.24 +/- 0.23 MJ and a radius of 0.84 +/- 0.04 RJ. With a mean density of 8.87 +/- 1.10 g/cm^3, it is among the most compact planets known so far. Evolution models for the planet suggest a mass of heavy elements of the order of 800 ME if embedded in a central core, requiring a revision either of the planet formation models or of planet evolution and structure models. We note however that smaller amounts of heavy elements are expected from more realistic models in which they are mixed throughout the envelope. The planet orbits a G-type star with an orbital period of 9.24 days and an eccentricity of 0.56. The star's projected rotational velocity is vsini = 4.5 +/- 1.0 km/s, corresponding to a spin period of 11.5 +/- 3.1 days if its axis of rotation is perpendicular to the orbital plane. In the framework of Darwinian theories and neglecting stellar magnetic breaking, we calculate the tidal evolution of the system and show that CoRoT-20b is presently one of the very few Darwin-stable planets that is evolving towards a triple synchronous state with equality of the orbital, planetary and stellar spin periods., Comment: 10 pages, 10 figures

We present Kepler satellite photometry of KIC 10661783, a short-period binary star system which shows total eclipses and multi-periodic delta Scuti pulsations. A frequency analysis of the eclipse-subtracted light curve reveals at least 68 frequencies of which 55 or more can be attributed to pulsation modes. The main limitation on this analysis is the frequency resolution within the 27-day short-cadence light curve. Most of the variability signal lies in the frequency range 18 to 31 c/d, with amplitudes between 0.1 and 4 mmag. One harmonic term (2.f) and a few combination frequencies (f_i+f_j) have been detected. From a plot of the residuals versus orbital phase we assign the pulsations to the primary star in the system. The pulsations were removed from the short-cadence data and the light curve was modelled using the Wilson-Devinney code. We are unable to get a perfect fit due to the residual effects of pulsations and also to the treatment of reflection and reprocessing in the light curve model. A model where the secondary star fills its Roche lobe is favoured, which means that KIC 10661783 can be classified as an oEA system. Further photometric and spectroscopic observations will allow the masses and radii of the two stars to be measured to high precision and hundreds of delta Scuti pulsation frequencies to be resolved. This could lead to unique constraints on theoretical models of delta Scuti stars, if the evolutionary history of KIC 10661783 can be accounted for., Comment: 11 pages, 6 tables, 6 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

We report spectroscopic observations for 19 $\delta$\,Sct candidates observed by the {\it Kepler} satellite both in long and short cadence mode. For all these stars, by using spectral synthesis, we derive the effective temperature, the surface gravity and the projected rotational velocity. An equivalent spectral type classification has been also performed for all stars in the sample. These determinations are fundamental for modelling the frequency spectra that will be extracted from the {\it Kepler} data for asteroseismic inference. For all the 19 stars, we present also periodograms obtained from {\it Kepler} data. We find that all stars show peaks in both low- ($\gamma$\,Dor; g mode) and high-frequency ($\delta$\,Sct; p mode) regions. Using the amplitudes and considering 5\,c/d as a boundary frequency, we classified 3 stars as pure $\gamma$\,Dor, 4 as $\gamma$\,Dor\,-\,$\delta$\ hybrid, Sct, 5 as $\delta$\,Sct\,-\,$\gamma$\,Dor hybrid, and 6 as pure $\delta$\,Sct. The only exception is the star KIC\,05296877 which we suggest could be a binary., Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures, MNRAS main journal

Asteroseismology can provide information that is otherwise not easily accessible, like the stellar mass and the evolutionary stage. Strong magnetic fields are usually accompanied by rapid rotation, which makes asteroseismology difficult due to spectral line broadening. We have found what may turn out to be the Rosetta Stone of the stars: A slowly rotating solar-like star with a strong magnetic field. We have recently detected solar-like oscillations in this active sub-giant, but with amplitudes much lower than expected. We suggest that the large-scale magnetic field alters the pulsations, which become magneto-acoustic in nature. Here we present our results and discuss possible implications and how this may open up a new frontier in the studies of magnetic fields and stellar evolution., 4 pages, 1 figure. Cool Stars 16 conference paper

We report spectroscopic observations for 19 $��$\,Sct candidates observed by the {\it Kepler} satellite both in long and short cadence mode. For all these stars, by using spectral synthesis, we derive the effective temperature, the surface gravity and the projected rotational velocity. An equivalent spectral type classification has been also performed for all stars in the sample. These determinations are fundamental for modelling the frequency spectra that will be extracted from the {\it Kepler} data for asteroseismic inference. For all the 19 stars, we present also periodograms obtained from {\it Kepler} data. We find that all stars show peaks in both low- ($��$\,Dor; g mode) and high-frequency ($��$\,Sct; p mode) regions. Using the amplitudes and considering 5\,c/d as a boundary frequency, we classified 3 stars as pure $��$\,Dor, 4 as $��$\,Dor\,-\,$��$\ hybrid, Sct, 5 as $��$\,Sct\,-\,$��$\,Dor hybrid, and 6 as pure $��$\,Sct. The only exception is the star KIC\,05296877 which we suggest could be a binary., 11 pages, 6 figures, MNRAS main journal

We combine results from interferometry, asteroseismology and spectroscopy to determine accurate fundamental parameters of 23 bright solar-type stars, from spectral type F5 to K2 and luminosity classes III to V. For some stars we can use direct techniques to determine the mass, radius, luminosity and effective temperature, and we compare with indirect methods that rely on photometric calibrations or spectroscopic analyses. We use the asteroseismic information available in the literature to infer an indirect mass with an accuracy of 4-15 percent. From indirect methods we determine luminosity and radius to 3 percent. For Teff we find a slight offset of -40+-20 K between the spectroscopic method and the direct method, meaning the spectroscopic temperatures are too high. From the spectroscopic analysis we determine the detailed chemical composition for 13 elements, including Li, C and O. We find no significant offset between the spectroscopic surface gravity and the value from combining asteroseismology with radius estimates. From the spectroscopy we also determine vsini and we present a new calibration of macro- and microturbulence. From the comparison between the results from the direct and spectroscopic methods we claim that we can determine Teff, log g, and [Fe/H] with absolute accuracies of 80 K, 0.08 dex, and 0.07 dex. The indirect methods are important to obtain reliable estimates of the fundamental parameters of relatively faint stars when interferometry cannot be used. Our study is the first to compare direct and indirect methods for a large sample of stars, and we conclude that indirect methods are valid, although slight corrections may be needed., Accepted by MNRAS. Abstract abridged

Context. The CoRoT satellite searches for planets by applying the transit method, monitoring up to 12 000 stars in the galactic plane for 150 days in each observation run. This search is contaminated by a large fraction of false positives, caused by different binary configurations that might be confused with a transiting planet. Aims. We evaluate the rates and nature of false positives in the CoRoT exoplanets search and compare our results with semiempirical predictions. Methods. We consider the detected binary and planet candidates in the first three extended CoRoT runs, and classify the results of the follow-up observations completed to verify their planetary nature. We group the follow-up results into undiluted binaries, diluted binaries, and planets and compare their abundances with predictions from the literature. Results. 83% of the initial detections are classified as false positives using only the CoRoT light-curves, the remaining 17% require follow-up observations. Finally, 12% of the follow-up candidates are planets. The shape of the overall distribution of the false positive rate follows previous predictions, except for candidates with transit depths below about 0.4%. For candidates with transit depths in the range from 0.1 - 0.4%, CoRoT detections are nearly complete, and this difference from predictions is probably real and dominated by a lower than expected abundance of diluted eclipsing binaries., accepted for A&A special issue on CoRoT

We have made an asteroseismic analysis of the variable blue stragglers in the open cluster M67. The data set consists of photometric time-series from eight sites using nine 0.6-2.1 m telescopes with a time-baseline of 43 d. In two stars, EW Cnc and EX Cnc, we detect the highest number of frequencies (41 and 26) detected in delta Scuti stars belonging to a stellar cluster, and EW Cnc has the second highest number of frequencies detected in any delta Scuti star. We have computed a grid of pulsation models that take the effects of rotation into account. The distribution of observed and theoretical frequencies shows that in a wide frequency range a significant fraction of the radial and non-radial low-degree modes are excited to detectable amplitudes. Despite the large number of observed frequencies we cannot constrain the fundamental parameters of the stars. To make progress we need to identify the degrees of some of the modes from either multicolour photometry or spectroscopy.

Asteroseismology of stellar clusters is potentially a powerful tool. The assumption of a common age, distance, and chemical composition provides constraints on each cluster member, which significantly improves the asteroseismic output. Driven by this great potential, we carried out multi-site observations aimed at detecting solar-like oscillations in the red giant stars in the open cluster M67 (NGC 2682) (Stello et al. 2006). Here we present the first analysis of our data, which show evidence of excess power in the Fourier spectra, shifting to lower frequencies for more luminous stars, consistent with expectations from oscillations. If the observed power excesses were due to stellar oscillations, this result would show great prospects for asteroseismology in stellar clusters., 2 pages, 2 figures. Accepted for publication in CoAst

Measuring solar-like oscillations in an ensemble of stars in a cluster, holds promise for testing stellar structure and evolution more stringently than just fitting parameters to single field stars. The most-ambitious attempt to pursue these prospects was by Gilliland et al. who targeted 11 turn-off stars in the open cluster M67 (NGC 2682), but the oscillation amplitudes were too small (

Asteroseismology of stellar clusters is potentially a powerful tool. The assumption of a common age, distance, and chemical composition provides constraints on each cluster member, which significantly improves the asteroseismic output. Driven by this great potential, we carried out multi-site observations aimed at detecting solar-like oscillations in the red giant stars in the open cluster M67 (NGC 2682) (Stello et al. 2006). Here we present the first analysis of our data, which show evidence of excess power in the Fourier spectra, shifting to lower frequencies for more luminous stars, consistent with expectations from oscillations. If the observed power excesses were due to stellar oscillations, this result would show great prospects for asteroseismology in stellar clusters.

We have analysed ground-based multi-colour Stromgren photometry and single-filter photometry from the star tracker on the WIRE satellite of the delta scuti star Epsilon Cephei. The ground-based data set consists of 16 nights of data collected over 164 days, while the satellite data are nearly continuous coverage of the star during 14 days. The spectral window and noise level of the satellite data are superior to the ground-based data and this data set is used to locate the frequencies. However, we can use the ground-based data to improve the accuracy of the frequencies due to the much longer time baseline. We detect 26 oscillation frequencies in the WIRE data set, but only some of these can be seen clearly in the ground-based data. We have used the multi-colour ground-based photometry to determine amplitude and phase differences in the Stromgren b-y colour and the y filter in an attempt to identify the radial degree of the oscillation frequencies. We conclude that the accuracies of the amplitudes and phases are not sufficient to constrain theoretical models of Epsilon Cephei. We find no evidence for rotational splitting or the large separation among the frequencies detected in the WIRE data set. To be able to identify oscillation frequencies in delta scuti stars with the method we have applied, it is crucial to obtain more complete coverage from multi-site campaigns with a long time baseline and in multiple filters. This is important when planning photometric and spectroscopic ground-based support for future satellite missions like COROT and KEPLER., 13 pages, 12 figures, 4 tables. Fig. 4 reduced in quality. Accepted by A&A

Around 200 bright stars (V < 6) have been monitored with the two-inch star tracker on the WIRE satellite since observations started in 1999. Here we present new results for the solar-like star Procyon A, the two Delta Scuti stars Altair and Epsilon Cephei, and the triple system Lambda Scorpii which consist of two B-type stars -- one of which we find to be an eclipsing binary., 4 pages, conference proceedings, Workshop on Stellar Pulsation and Evolution, Rome, June 2005

We present an asteroseismic study of the fast rotating star HD187642 (Altair), recently discovered to be a delta Scuti pulsator. We have computed models taking into account rotation for increasing rotational velocities. We investigate the relation between the fundamental radial mode and the first overtone in the framework of Petersen diagrams. The effects of rotation on such diagrams, which become important at rotational velocities above 150 km/s, as well as the domain of validity of our seismic tools are discussed. We also investigate the radial and non-radial modes in order to constrain models fitting the five most dominant observed oscillation modes., Accepted for publication in A&A (11 pages, 6 figures, 4 tables)

We present an analysis of observations of the bright star Altair (alpha Aql) obtained using the star camera on the Wide-Field Infrared Explorer (WIRE) satellite. Although Altair lies within the delta Scuti instability strip, previous observations have not revealed the presence of oscillations. However, the WIRE observations show Altair to be a low-amplitude (Delta m < 1 ppt) delta Scuti star with at least 7 modes present., 15 pages, 6 figure files (only 5 figures), 2 tables

We report results from a large Hubble Space Telescope project to observe a significant (~34,000) ensemble of main sequence stars in the globular cluster 47 Tucanae with a goal of defining the frequency of inner-orbit, gas-giant planets. Simulations based on the characteristics of the 8.3 days of time-series data in the F555W and F814W WFPC2 filters show that ~17 planets should be detected by photometric transit signals if the frequency of hot Jupiters found in the solar neighborhood is assumed to hold for 47 Tuc. The experiment provided high-quality data sufficient to detect planets. A full analysis of these WFPC2 data reveals ~75 variables, but NO light curves resulted for which a convincing interpretation as a planet could be made. The planet frequency in 47 Tuc is at least an order of magnitude below that for the solar neighborhood. The cause of the absence of close-in planets in 47 Tuc is not yet known; presumably the low metallicity and/or crowding of 47 Tuc interfered with planet formation, with orbital evolution to close-in positions, or with planet survival., Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal Letters

We present new spectroscopic and photometric time series observations of the delta Scuti star FG~Vir. We detect the oscillations via changes in the equivalent widths of hydrogen and metal absorption lines. From the ratios between spectroscopic and photometric amplitudes, we assign l values to the eight strongest oscillation modes. In particular, we identify two radial modes (l =0) and find that the main pulsation mode (147 microHz) has l = 1. One of the radial modes (at 140 microHz) is the fundamental, implying that two modes with lower frequencies are g-modes. For the radial modes, we compare frequencies with those calculated from a scaled delta Scuti star model and derive a density 0.1645 +/- 0.0005 rho_sol. We then obtain a distance of 84 +/- 3 pc, in excellent agreement with the Hipparcos value. Finally, we suggest that a 3.5-day variability in all observables (equivalent widths and intensity) is caused by stellar rotation., 12 pages, latex with figures. Accepted by A&A