English

The planetary system host HR\,8799: On its $\lambda$ Bootis nature

Solar and Stellar Astrophysics 2015-05-18 v1

Abstract

HR\,8799 is a λ\lambda Bootis, γ\gamma Doradus star hosting a planetary system and a debris disk with two rings. This makes this system a very interesting target for asteroseismic studies. This work is devoted to the determination of the internal metallicity of this star, linked with its λ\lambda Bootis nature (i.e., solar surface abundances of light elements, and subsolar surface abundances of heavy elements), taking advantage of its γ\gamma Doradus pulsations. This is the most accurate way to obtain this information, and this is the first time such a study is performed for a planetary-system-host star. We have used the equilibrium code CESAM and the non-adiabatic pulsational code GraCo. We have applied the Frequency Ratio Method (FRM) and the Time Dependent Convection theory (TDC) to estimate the mode identification, the Brunt-Va\"is\"al\"a frequency integral and the mode instability, making the selection of the possible models. When the non-seismological constraints (i.e its position in the HR diagram) are used, the solar abundance models are discarded. This result contradicts one of the main hypothesis for explaining the λ\lambda Bootis nature, namely the accretion/diffusion of gas by a star with solar abundance. Therefore, according to these results, a revision of this hypothesis is needed. The inclusion of accurate internal chemical mixing processes seems to be necessary to explain the peculiar abundances observed in the surface of stars with internal subsolar metallicities. The use of the asteroseismological constraints, like those provided by the FRM or the instability analysis, provides a very accurate determination of the physical characteristics of HR 8799. However, a dependence of the results on the inclination angle ii still remains. The determination of this angle, more accurate multicolour photometric observations, and high resolution spectroscopy can definitively fix the mass and metallicity of this star.

Cite

@article{arxiv.1003.3340,
  title  = {The planetary system host HR\,8799: On its $\lambda$ Bootis nature},
  author = {A. Moya and P. J. Amado and D. Barrado and A. García Hernández and M. Aberasturi and B. Montesinos and F. Aceituno},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1003.3340},
  year   = {2015}
}

Comments

11 pages, 10 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

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