We present results of a multi-site photometric campaign on the high-amplitude δ Scuti star KIC 6382916 in the Kepler field. The star was observed over a 85-d interval at five different sites in North America and Europe during 2011. Kepler photometry and ground-based multicolour light curves of KIC 6382916 are used to investigate the pulsational content and to identify the principal modes. High-dispersion spectroscopy was also obtained in order to derive the stellar parameters and projected rotational velocity. From an analysis of the Kepler time series, three independent frequencies and a few hundred combination frequencies are found. The light curve is dominated by two modes with frequencies f 1 = 4.9107 and f 2 = 6.4314 d −1 . The third mode with f 3 = 8.0350 d −1 has a much lower amplitude. We attempt mode identification by examining the amplitude ratios and phase differences in different wavebands from multicolour photometry and comparing them to calculations for different spherical harmonic degree, l. We find that the theoretical models for f 1 and f 2 are in a best agreement with the observations and lead to value of l = 1 modes, but the mode identification of f 3 is uncertain due to its low amplitude. Non-adiabatic pulsation models show that frequencies below 6 d −1 are stable, which means that the low frequency of f 1 cannot be reproduced. This is further confirmation that current models predict a narrower pulsation frequency range than actually observed.

Context. BL Cam is an extreme metal-deficient field high-amplitude SX Phe-type variable where a very complex frequency spectrum is detected, with a number of independent nonradial modes excited, unusual among the high-amplitude pulsators in the Lower Classical Instability Strip.Aims. An extensive and detailed study has been carried out to investigate the pulsational content and properties of this object. Methods. The analysis is based on 283 h of CCD observations obtained in the Johnson V filter, during a long multisite photometric campaign carried out along the Northern autumn-winter of [2005][2006]. Additionally, multicolour BI photometry was also collected to study the phase shifts and amplitude ratios, between light curves obtained in different filters, for modal discrimination of the main excited modes. Results. The detailed frequency analysis revealed a very rich and dense pulsational content consisting of 25 significant peaks, 22 of them corresponding to independent modes: one is the already known main periodicity f 0 = 25.5765 cd −1 (∆V = 153 mmag) and the other 21 are excited modes showing very small amplitudes. Some additional periodicities are probably still remaining in the residuals. This represents the most complex spectrum ever detected in a high-amplitude pulsator of this type. The majority of the secondary modes suspected from earlier works are confirmed here and, additionally, a large number of new peaks are detected. The amplitude of the main periodicity f 0 seems to be stable during decades, but the majority of the secondary modes show strong amplitude changes from one epoch to another. The suspected fundamental radial nature of the main periodicity of BL Cam is confirmed, while the secondary peak f 1 = 25.2523 cd −1 is identified as a nonradial mixed mode g 4 with = 1. The radial double-mode nature, claimed by some authors for the main two frequencies of BL Cam, is not confirmed. Nevertheless, the frequency f 6 = 32.6464 cd −1 could correspond to the first radial overtone.

We present the results of a new investigation aimed to identify the pulsational characteristics of the Southern β Cephei star ALS 3721. Spectroscopic and multicolour photometric data were acquired at the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), South Africa in 2011. Frequency analysis showed that the oscillations of ALS 3721 could be attributed to the two main frequencies with higher significance. Stellar parameters and projected rotational velocity obtained by the spectra were also used to perform photometric mode identification. In order to determine spherical harmonic degrees (l), a principal method was followed by comparing the observed light amplitude ratios in different passbands with those computed from non-adiabatic pulsation models. In general case, therefore, the spherical harmonic degrees corresponding of the frequencies were found in the expected β Cephei range.

The existence of pulsations in HgMn stars is still being debated. To provide the first unambiguous observational detection of pulsations in this class of chemically peculiar objects, the bright star HD 45975 was monitored for nearly two months by the CoRoT satellite. Independent analyses of the light curve provide evidence of monoperiodic variations with a frequency of 0.7572 d −1 and a peak-topeak amplitude of ∼2800 ppm. Multisite, ground-based spectroscopic observations overlapping the CoRoT observations show the star to be a long-period, single-lined binary. Furthermore, with the notable exception of mercury, they reveal the same periodicity as in photometry in the line moments of chemical species exhibiting strong overabundances (e.g., Mn and Y). In contrast, lines of other elements do not show significant variations. As found in other HgMn stars, the pattern of variability consists in an absorption bump moving redwards across the line profiles. We argue that the photometric and spectroscopic changes are more consistent with an interpretation in terms of rotational modulation of spots at the stellar surface. In this framework, the existence of pulsations producing photometric variations above the ∼50 ppm level is unlikely in HD 45975. This provides strong constraints on the excitation/damping of pulsation modes in this HgMn star.

Context. Short-period high-amplitude pulsating stars of Population I (δ Sct stars) and II (SX Phe variables) exist in the lower part of the classical (Cepheid) instability strip. Most of them have very simple pulsational behaviours, only one or two radial modes being excited. Nevertheless, BL Cam is a unique object among them, being an extreme metal-deficient field high-amplitude SX Phe variable with a large number of frequencies. Based on a frequency analysis, a pulsational interpretation was previously given. Aims. We attempt to interpret the long-term behaviour of the residuals that were not taken into account in the previous Observed-Calculated (O-C) short-term analyses.Methods. An investigation of the O-C times has been carried out, using a data set based on the previous published times of light maxima, largely enriched by those obtained during an intensive multisite photometric campaign of BL Cam lasting several months. Results. In addition to a positive (161 ± 3) × 10 −9 yr −1 secular relative increase in the main pulsation period of BL Cam, we detected in the O-C data short-(144.2 d) and long-term (∼3400 d) variations, both incompatible with a scenario of stellar evolution. Conclusions. Interpreted as a light travel-time effect, the short-term O-C variation is indicative of a massive stellar component (0.46 to 1 M ) with a short period orbit (144.2 d), within a distance of 0.7 AU from the primary. More observations are needed to confirm the long-term O-C variations: if they were also to be caused by a light travel-time effect, they could be interpreted in terms of a third component, in this case probably a brown dwarf star (≥0.03 M ), orbiting in ∼3400 d at a distance of 4.5 AU from the primary.