Slowly Pulsating B Stars: A Challenge for Photometrists (Abstract)

Volume 36 number 1 (2008)

Robert J. Dukes Jr.

Laney Mills

Melissa Sims

Abstract

(Abstract only) Slowly Pulsating B Stars (SPBs), which are mid- to late-B stars, are some of the most difficult of the bright pulsating variables to observe, are some in the most need of observation, and are some which would benefit greatly from being placed on a regular observing program by a single observer. They have characteristic periods on the order of 1–3 days with very small amplitudes (<0.03 magnitude in Stromgren v). These characteristics present the challenge and as well as an opportunity since there are very few groups currently observing these stars. While more rapid pulsators, such as the δ Scuti and β Cephei stars, benefit from multi- longitude campaigns the SPBs do not lend themselves to this type of approach because of their relatively long pulsation periods which require observations spanning months rather than weeks over several years to adequately describe. Our work with SPBs is supported by NSF grants.