Atmospheric parameters of 82 red giants in the Kepler field

Anders Overaa Thygesen, Søren Frandsen, Hans Bruntt, Thomas Kallinger, Mads Fredslund Andersen, Yvonne P. Elsworth, Saskia Hekker, Christoffer Karoff, Dennis Stello, Karsten Frank Brogaard, Christopher Burke, Douglas Caldwell, J. L. Christiansen

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Abstract

Context. Accurate fundamental parameters of stars are essential for the asteroseismic analysis of data from the NASA Kepler mission.
Aims. We aim at determining accurate atmospheric parameters and the abundance pattern for a sample of 82 red giants that are targets for the Kepler mission.
Methods. We have used high-resolution, high signal-to-noise spectra from three different spectrographs. We used the iterative spectral synthesis method VWA to derive the fundamental parameters from carefully selected high-quality iron lines. After determination of the fundamental parameters, abundances of 13 elements were measured using equivalent widths of the spectral lines.
Results. We identify discrepancies in log g and [Fe/H], compared to the parameters based on photometric indices in the Kepler Input Catalogue (larger than 2.0 dex for log g and [Fe/H] for individual stars). The Teff found from spectroscopy and photometry shows good agreement within the uncertainties. We find good agreement between the spectroscopic log g and the log g derived from asteroseismology. Also, we see indications of a potential metallicity effect on the stellar oscillations.
Conclusions. We have determined the fundamental parameters and element abundances of 82 red giants. The large discrepancies between the spectroscopic log g and [Fe/H] and values in the Kepler Input Catalogue emphasize the need for further detailed spectroscopic follow-up of the Kepler targets in order to produce reliable results from the asteroseismic analysis.
Translated title of the contributionAtmosfæriske parametre af 82 røde gigant stjerner i Kepler feltet
Original languageEnglish
JournalAstronomy & Astrophysics (A&A)
Volume543
Number of pages15
ISSN0004-6361
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 16 Jul 2012

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