The CubeSpec space mission. I. Asteroseismology of massive stars from time series optical spectroscopy: science requirements and target list prioritisation

Abstract

Context. There is currently a niche for providing high-cadence, high resolution, time-series optical spectroscopy from space, which can be filled by using a low-cost cubesat mission. The Belgian-led ESA CubeSpec mission is specifically designed to provide space-based, low-cost spectroscopy with specific capabilities that can be optimised for a particular science need. Approved as an ESA in-orbit demonstrator, the CubeSpec satellite's primary science objective will focus on obtaining high-cadence, high resolution optical spectroscopic data to facilitate asteroseismology of pulsating massive stars. Aims. In this first paper, we aim to search for pulsating massive stars suitable for the CubeSpec mission, specifically $\beta$ Cep stars, which typically require time series spectroscopy to identify the geometry of their pulsation modes. Methods. Based on the science requirements needed to enable asteroseismology of massive stars with the capabilities of CubeSpec's spectrograph, we combine a literature study for pulsation with the analysis of recent high-cadence time series TESS photometry to classify the variability for stars brighter than V < 4 mag and between O9 and B3 in spectral type. Results. Among the 90 stars that meet our magnitude and spectral type requirements, we identify 23 promising $\beta$ Cep stars with high-amplitude (non-)radial pulsation modes with frequencies below 7 d${}^{-1}$. Using further constraints on projected rotational velocities, pulsation amplitudes and number of pulsation modes, we devise a prioritised target list for the CubeSpec mission according to its science requirements and the potential of the targets for asteroseismology. The full target catalogue further provide a modern TESS-based review of line profile and photometric variability properties among bright O9-B3 stars.

14 pages, accepted for publication in A&A

References in corpus (40)

• Array Programming with NumPy
• The NumPy array: a structure for efficient numerical computation
• Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics (MESA)
• The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite
• Binary interaction dominates the evolution of massive stars
• Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics (MESA): Pulsating Variable Stars, Rotation, Convective Boundaries, and Energy Conservation
• The K2 Mission: Characterization and Early results
• Pre-Supernova Evolution of Massive Single and Binary Stars
• Mass loss from hot massive stars
• A Catalog of Multiplicity among Bright Stellar Systems
• Toward Complete Statistics of Massive Binary Stars: Penultimate Results from the Cygnus OB2 Radial Velocity Survey
• Internal mixing of rotating stars inferred from dipole gravity modes
• Low-frequency gravity waves in blue supergiants revealed by high-precision space photometry
• The IACOB project: III. New observational clues to understand macroturbulent broadening in massive O- and B-type stars
• New predictions for radiation-driven, steady-state mass-loss and wind-momentum from hot, massive stars II. A grid of O-type stars in the Galaxy and the Magellanic Clouds
• Rotational Velocities For B0-B3 Stars in 7 Young Clusters: Further Study of the Relationship between Rotation Speed and Density in Star-Forming Regions
• Variability of OB stars from TESS southern Sectors 1-13 and high-resolution IACOB and OWN spectroscopy
• Photometric detection of internal gravity waves in upper main-sequence stars. II. Combined TESS photometry and high-resolution spectroscopy
• Diverse Variability of O and B Stars Revealed from 2-minute Cadence Light Curves in Sectors 1 and 2 of the TESS Mission: Selection of an Asteroseismic Sample
• Beyond the Kepler/K2 bright limit: variability in the seven brightest members of the Pleiades
• A new method for the spectroscopic identification of stellar non-radial pulsation modes. I. The method and numerical tests
• A new method for the spectroscopic identification of stellar non-radial pulsation modes. II. Mode identification of the Delta Scuti star FG Virginis
• Probing the temperature gradient in the core boundary layer of stars with gravito-inertial modes: the case of KIC7760680
• Orbital and physical properties of the $\sigma$ Ori Aa,Ab,B triple system
• The Most Massive Heartbeat: An In-depth Analysis of ι Orionis
• The Uncertain Masses of Progenitors of Core Collapse Supernovae and Direct Collapse Black Holes
• Variability of newly identified B-type stars observed by Kepler
• Orbital Solution & Fundamental Parameters of sigma Scorpii
• Asteroseismology of massive stars with the TESS mission: the runaway Beta Cep pulsator PHL 346 = HN Aqr
• Orbital elements, masses and distance of lambda Scorpii A and B determined with the Sydney University Stellar Interferometer and high resolution spectroscopy
• High-precision elements of double-lined spectroscopic binaries from combined interferometry and spectroscopy. Application to the beta Cephei star beta Centauri
• The $\beta$ Cep/SPB star 12 Lacertae: extended mode identification and complex seismic modelling
• Combined asteroseismology, spectroscopy, and astrometry of the CoRoT B2V target HD 170580
• Characterization of the variability in the O+B eclipsing binary HD 165246
• Ensemble asteroseismology of pulsating B-type stars in NGC 6910
• Gravity modes and mixed modes as probes of stellar cores in main-sequence stars: from solar-like to beta Cep stars
• Space Photometry with BRITE-Constellation
• Variations of the HeII 1640A Line in B0e--B2.5e Stars
• BRITE photometry and STELLA spectroscopy of bright stars in Auriga: Rotation, pulsation, orbits, and eclipses
• Discovery of magnetic fields in three He variable Bp stars with He and Si spots

Cited by in corpus (20)

• Convective boundary mixing in main-sequence stars: theory and empirical constraints
• High-mass pulsators in eclipsing binaries observed using TESS
• Clumping and X-Rays in cooler B supergiant stars
• Pulsating B stars in the Scorpius-Centaurus Association with TESS
• Mode identification and ensemble asteroseismology of 119 $\beta$ Cep stars detected by Gaia light curves and monitored by TESS
• Spectroscopic and evolutionary analyses of the binary system AzV 14 outline paths toward the WR stage at low metallicity
• Gaia BH1 and BH2 -- evolutionary models with overshooting of the black hole progenitors within the present-day binary separation
• Imprint of the magnetic activity cycle on solar asteroseismic characterisation based on 26 years of GOLF and BiSON data
• Introduction to gravitational redshift of quantum photons propagating in curved spacetime
• Data downlink prioritization using image classification on-board a 6U CubeSat
• MOCKA -- A PLATO mock asteroseismic catalogue: Simulations for gravity-mode oscillators
• Influence of the magnetic activity cycle on mean density and acoustic radius inversions
• Frequency separation ratios do not suppress magnetic activity effects in solar-like stars
• Chemical abundances and doppler imaging of the Ap Si/He-wk star HD 100357
• Large-scale variability in macroturbulence driven by pulsations in the rapidly rotating massive star Zeta Oph from high-cadence ESPRESSO spectroscopy and TESS photometry
• Asteroseismic modelling of main-sequence solar-like stars and Kepler exoplanet host stars with the FICO procedure I. Catalogue of fundamental stellar properties
• Halo Photometry and Asteroseismology for 98 of the Brightest Stars Observed by TESS
• The unexpected optical and ultraviolet variability of the standard star $\alpha$ Sex (HD 87887)
• The symphony of pulsations and binarity among massive stars using HERMES spectroscopy and TESS photometry
• Binarity at LOw Metallicity (BLOeM): massive star variability revealed using a novel software tool for point-spread function fitting of TESS images