Periodic Low-amplitude Radial Velocity Variations in the Supergiant α Persei

α Per (HD 20902) is one of the brightest F5 supergiants, located at the blue edge of the instability strip. Several studies reported ∼100 day periods in the radial velocity (RV) variations in α Per, but the reported periods and amplitudes were all different, and the origins of these periodic RV vari...

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Main Authors: Tae-Yang Bang, Byeong-Cheol Lee, Yeon-Ho Choi, Inwoo Han, Myeong-Gu Park
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IOP Publishing 2025-01-01
Series:The Astrophysical Journal
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adcc13
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author Tae-Yang Bang
Byeong-Cheol Lee
Yeon-Ho Choi
Inwoo Han
Myeong-Gu Park
author_facet Tae-Yang Bang
Byeong-Cheol Lee
Yeon-Ho Choi
Inwoo Han
Myeong-Gu Park
author_sort Tae-Yang Bang
collection DOAJ
description α Per (HD 20902) is one of the brightest F5 supergiants, located at the blue edge of the instability strip. Several studies reported ∼100 day periods in the radial velocity (RV) variations in α Per, but the reported periods and amplitudes were all different, and the origins of these periodic RV variations remained unknown. We obtained 884 spectra for α Per from 2005 to 2020 using the Bohyunsan Observatory Echelle Spectrograph. We found a significant 130.6 day period in RV variations in the generalized Lomb–Scargle periodogram. In addition, the primary 130.6 day period has changed into 66.0 days during the observational duration. The line bisectors, stellar activity indices, such as Ca ii H & K lines and H α equivalent widths, and Hipparcos photometric data were analyzed to establish the origins and the periodicity change of the RV variations. We found ∼130 day periods in line bisector variations, which also changed into ∼66 days as in RV variations, with a time delay of ∼400 days leading the RV variations. Either nonradial oscillations or rotational modulation of surface features can affect both RV and line bisector variations. However, nonradial oscillations are more likely to be the origin of RV variations in α Per, considering the characteristics of the periodogram of RV variations. The change of the periodicities and the time delay between RV and line bisector variations as observed in this work may provide interesting clues to the ongoing physical processes in α Per.
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spelling doaj-art-92801e29fa514414943e641ab0b2f6d32025-08-20T02:26:16ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal1538-43572025-01-01985217610.3847/1538-4357/adcc13Periodic Low-amplitude Radial Velocity Variations in the Supergiant α PerseiTae-Yang Bang0https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2592-9437Byeong-Cheol Lee1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2783-0755Yeon-Ho Choi2https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5145-5165Inwoo Han3Myeong-Gu Park4https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1544-8556Department of Astronomy and Atmospheric Sciences, Kyungpook National University , Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea ; mgp@knu.ac.kr, qkdxodid1230@gmail.comKorea Astronomy and Space Science Institute , Daejeon 34055, Republic of Korea; Department of Astronomy and Space Science, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of KoreaKorea Astronomy and Space Science Institute , Daejeon 34055, Republic of Korea; Department of Astronomy and Space Science, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of KoreaKorea Astronomy and Space Science Institute , Daejeon 34055, Republic of Korea; Department of Astronomy and Space Science, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Astronomy and Atmospheric Sciences, Kyungpook National University , Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea ; mgp@knu.ac.kr, qkdxodid1230@gmail.comα Per (HD 20902) is one of the brightest F5 supergiants, located at the blue edge of the instability strip. Several studies reported ∼100 day periods in the radial velocity (RV) variations in α Per, but the reported periods and amplitudes were all different, and the origins of these periodic RV variations remained unknown. We obtained 884 spectra for α Per from 2005 to 2020 using the Bohyunsan Observatory Echelle Spectrograph. We found a significant 130.6 day period in RV variations in the generalized Lomb–Scargle periodogram. In addition, the primary 130.6 day period has changed into 66.0 days during the observational duration. The line bisectors, stellar activity indices, such as Ca ii H & K lines and H α equivalent widths, and Hipparcos photometric data were analyzed to establish the origins and the periodicity change of the RV variations. We found ∼130 day periods in line bisector variations, which also changed into ∼66 days as in RV variations, with a time delay of ∼400 days leading the RV variations. Either nonradial oscillations or rotational modulation of surface features can affect both RV and line bisector variations. However, nonradial oscillations are more likely to be the origin of RV variations in α Per, considering the characteristics of the periodogram of RV variations. The change of the periodicities and the time delay between RV and line bisector variations as observed in this work may provide interesting clues to the ongoing physical processes in α Per.https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adcc13Radial velocitySupergiant starsStellar activityStellar oscillationsSpectroscopy
spellingShingle Tae-Yang Bang
Byeong-Cheol Lee
Yeon-Ho Choi
Inwoo Han
Myeong-Gu Park
Periodic Low-amplitude Radial Velocity Variations in the Supergiant α Persei
The Astrophysical Journal
Radial velocity
Supergiant stars
Stellar activity
Stellar oscillations
Spectroscopy
title Periodic Low-amplitude Radial Velocity Variations in the Supergiant α Persei
title_full Periodic Low-amplitude Radial Velocity Variations in the Supergiant α Persei
title_fullStr Periodic Low-amplitude Radial Velocity Variations in the Supergiant α Persei
title_full_unstemmed Periodic Low-amplitude Radial Velocity Variations in the Supergiant α Persei
title_short Periodic Low-amplitude Radial Velocity Variations in the Supergiant α Persei
title_sort periodic low amplitude radial velocity variations in the supergiant α persei
topic Radial velocity
Supergiant stars
Stellar activity
Stellar oscillations
Spectroscopy
url https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adcc13
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