Analysis of pre-main-sequence [delta]-Scuti stars

Abstract

Information on 72 confirmed or candidate pre-main-sequence [delta]-Scuti stars is collected and analysed to varying degree of sophistication and completeness. A systematic asteroseismic analysis of around 40 of these stars is performed, putting significant luminosity constraints on many of them simply by comparing the pulsation spectra of the stars to the fundamental and acoustic cut-off frequencies of a dense grid of stellar models. One star in particular, V1366 Ori, appears to be pulsating at or near the acoustic cut-off frequency. Many stars are found to otherwise defy proper asteroseismic analysis, in that matches between observed pulsation spectra and computed values are not able to be found. A simple test reveals that the most likely cause for these problems are the high stellar-rotation rates typically found in this class of star, with v sin i most typically between 60 and 200 km/s. The high rotation rates are found to significantly modify the pulsation spectrum of a star compared to a non-rotating star. These collective results reveal the richness and variety of phenomena within this group of stars, with stars pulsating anywhere from the lowest to the highest possible radial orders, including radial orders just below the acoustic cut-off frequency of some stars. Pulsation in non-radial orders is the normal case, not the exception to the rule, with all stars displaying low-amplitude [delta]-Scuti variability only.