Proposal: P01_06

L.A. Balona, South African Astronomical Observatory

SPB stars

 

Abstract:

The SPB stars are the only type of pulsators which allow an opportunity of probing the deeper layers of mid- to late B-type stars. Unfortunately, no know SPB stars are present in the Kepler FOV, but several stars in the relevant spectral type range are selected as possible candidates. Whether or not asteroseismology can be successfully applied to these stars, the results from Kepler will be able to answer one fundamental question: do all stars in the instability strip pulsate? If some stars do not pulsate, new ideas will have to be developed to explain why this is the case even at the extremely low amplitude level possible with Kepler.