Theoretical p-mode oscillation frequencies for the rapidly rotating [delta] Scuti star [alpha] Ophiuchi

Abstract

A rotating, two-dimensional stellar model is evolved to match the approximate conditions of α Oph. Both axisymmetric and nonaxisymmetric oscillation frequencies are computed for two-dimensional rotating models which approximate the properties of α Oph. These computed frequencies are compared to the observed frequencies. Oscillation calculations are made assuming the eigenfunction can be fitted with six Legendre polynomials, but comparison calculations with eight Legendre polynomials show the frequencies agree to within about 0.26% on average. The surface horizontal shape of the eigenfunctions for the two sets of assumed number of Legendre polynomials agrees less well, but all calculations show significant departures from that of a single Legendre polynomial. It is still possible to determine the large separation, although the small separation is more complicated to estimate. With the addition of the nonaxisymmetric modes with |m| ⩽ 4, the frequency space becomes sufficiently dense that it is difficult to comment on the adequacy of the fit of the computed to the observed frequencies. While the nonaxisymmetric frequency mode splitting is no longer uniform, the frequency difference between the frequencies for positive and negative values of the same m remains 2m times the rotation rate.