Observational Properties of $\beta$ Cephei Stars: 88 new samples discovered Based on TESS and Gaia Data

Abstract

We present a systematic investigation of $\beta$ Cephei (BCEP) stars by integrating photometric data from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) with astrometric parameters from Gaia Data Release 3. Utilizing TESS's short-cadence (SC) and full-frame image (FFI) photometry, along with Gaia parallaxes and temperatures derived from the Extended Stellar Parametrizer for Hot Stars (ESP-HS) pipeline, we identify 88 new BCEP stars and candidates--85 from SC data and 3 from SPOC-processed FFI observations. These targets exhibit visual magnitudes ranging from 8.0 to 12.0 mag, parallaxes between 0.11 and 1.74 mas, effective temperatures of 18,000 to 30,000 K, and luminosities from 1,500--38,000 $L_{\odot }$, consistent with previously cataloged BCEP populations, thereby demonstrating the robustness of our classification criteria. Key findings include: (1) a significant detection disparity between SC and FFI datasets, with 30\% of SC targets exceeding 18,000 K compared to only 0.7\% in FFI, reflecting observational biases toward high-luminosity, hotter stars in SC data; (2) four samples near the red edge of the theoretical instability strip, exhibiting sparse pulsation modes that are important samples for testing pulsation models under low-mass, low-temperature conditions; and (3) spatial clustering within the Galactic disk ($|b|<20^{\circ }$), with two high-latitude outliers likely representing runaway stars ejected from disk environments. Our analysis underscores the critical role of space-based photometry in detecting low-amplitude pulsators and the transformative potential of multi-survey integration in the era of time-domain astronomy. These results provide new samples to constrain stellar pulsation theories of massive stars and to study Galactic dynamics.

References in corpus (34)

• Gaia Data Release 2. Summary of the contents and survey properties
• The Gaia mission
• Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics (MESA)
• The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite
• Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics (MESA): Giant Planets, Oscillations, Rotation, and Massive Stars
• Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics (MESA): Binaries, Pulsations, and Explosions
• The SIMBAD astronomical database
• Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics (MESA): Convective Boundaries, Element Diffusion, and Massive Star Explosions
• Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics (MESA): Pulsating Variable Stars, Rotation, Convective Boundaries, and Energy Conservation
• Mass-loss predictions for O and B stars as a function of metallicity
• The TESS Input Catalog and Candidate Target List
• Overview of the Kepler Science Processing Pipeline
• Type Ib/c supernovae in binary systems I. Evolution and properties of the progenitor stars
• Catalog of Galactic Beta Cephei Stars
• {\em Gaia}-derived luminosities of {\em Kepler} A/F stars and the pulsator fraction across the δ Scuti instability strip
• Internal mixing of rotating stars inferred from dipole gravity modes
• The Total Merger Rate of Compact Object Binaries In The Local Universe
• Binary Population Synthesis
• Properties of OB star-black hole systems derived from detailed binary evolution models
• The two hybrid B-type pulsators: Nu Eridani and 12 Lacertae
• Asteroseismology of the Beta Cephei star 12 (DD) Lacertae: photometric observations, pulsational frequency analysis and mode identification
• Multisite spectroscopic seismic study of the beta Cep star V2052 Oph: inhibition of mixing by its magnetic field
• Revised instability domains of SPB and beta Cephei stars
• An asteroseismic study of the beta Cephei star beta Canis Majoris
• delta Ceti is not monoperiodic: seismic modeling of a beta Cephei star from MOST spacebased photometry
• Early type stars at high galactic latitudes I. Ten young massive B-type stars
• Pulsation among TESS A and B stars and the Maia variables
• Beta Cephei stars in the ASAS-3 data. II. 103 new Beta Cephei stars and a discussion of low-frequency modes
• New pulsating stars detected in EA-type eclipsing binary systems based on TESS data
• Recipes for bolometric corrections and Gaia luminosities of B-type stars: Application to an asteroseismic sample
• New $\beta$ Cep pulsators discovered with K2 space photometry
• Observational properties of 155 O- and B-type massive pulsating stars
• A catalog of new slowly pulsating B-type stars
• Observational Properties of 155 $\beta$ Cephei pulsating variable stars

Cited by in corpus (1)

• Fast Sampling of Cosmological Initial Conditions with Gaussian Neural Posterior Estimation