Proposal: P01_10
Patricia
Lampens, Royal Observatory of
Delta Scuti stars
Abstract:
We present a list of delta Scuti
stars and delta Scuti star candidates in the Kepler field, to be
observed in the survey phase. We also propose criteria for selecting delta Scuti
stars for the specific-target phase. Delta Scuti stars have masses in
the range 1.5 - 2.5 M(sun), and due to their multiperiodic
oscillations, they are excellent candidates for asteroseismology of stars more
massive than the Sun. As an example, these stars have convective cores and
oscillate in modes that are sensitive to the conditions near such cores. They
are therefore suitable laboratories for studying convective core overshoot
which have an impact on our understanding of stellar evolution. Special
emphasis will be on delta Scuti stars in the open clusters NGC 6811 and
NGC 6866. A comparative study of the pulsators in these clusters should allow
to maximize the understanding of the physics of pulsations by exploiting the extra
constraints from the cluster analysis.