The Internal Rotation Profile of the B-Type Star Kic 10526294 From Frequency Inversion of Its Dipole Gravity Modes

Abstract

The internal angular momentum distribution of a star is the key to determining its evolution. Fortunately, stellar internal rotation can be probed through studies of rotationally split nonradial oscillation modes. In particular, the detection of nonradial gravity modes (g modes) in massive young stars has recently become feasible thanks to the Kepler space mission. Our goal is to derive the internal rotation profile of the Kepler B8V star KIC 10526294 through asteroseismology. We interpret the observed rotational splittings of its dipole g modes using four different approaches based on the best seismic models of the star and their rotational kernels. We show that these kernels can resolve differential rotation within the radiative envelope if a smooth rotational profile is assumed and if the observational errors are small. Based on Kepler data, we find that the rotation rate near the core-envelope boundary is well constrained to 163 ± 89 nHz. The seismic data are consistent with rigid rotation but a profile with counterrotation within the envelope has a statistical advantage over constant rotation. Our study should be repeated for other massive stars with a variety of stellar parameters in order to determine the physical conditions that control the internal rotation profile of young massive stars, with the aim of improving the input physics of their models.

Near-uniform internal rotation of the main-sequence γ Doradus pulsator KIC 7661054

“…In the last few years, we have begun to observe with asteroseismology the internal radial rotation profiles of stars from hydrogen-burning main-sequence phases Pápics et al 2015;Saio et al 2015;Schmid et al 2015;Triana et al 2015), through to subgiant and red giant phases (Beck et al 2012;Mosser et al 2012;Deheuvels et al 2012Deheuvels et al , 2014Deheuvels et al , 2015, and even on to the late evolutionary stages of subdwarf B stars (Van Grootel et al 2009) and white dwarfs ).…”

Differential Rotation in Sun-like Stars from Surface Variability and Asteroseismology

“…Kurtz et al (2014) found a pulsating F-type star which showed evidence of an envelope rotating faster than interior, in contrast to what we see in the Sun. Moreover, Triana et al (2015) measured the core rotation of a young B-type star where a counter-rotating core and envelope configuration appear the most likely scenario.…”

Starquakes spring stellar surprises

“…Interior rotation properties have been deduced for hydrogen-burning main-sequence phases (Kurtz et al 2014, Saio et al 2015, Triana et al 2015, Murphy et al 2016, Schmid & Aerts 2016) subgiant and red giant phases (Beck et al 2012, Mosser 2012, Deheuvels et al 2012, Deheuvels et al 2014, Deheuvels et al 2015, and the late evolutionary stages of subdwarf B stars (Van Grootel et al 2009) and white dwarfs (Charpinet et al 2009). …”