Frequency dependence of Delta_nu of solar-like oscillators investigated: Influence of HeII ionization zone

Abstract

Oscillations in solar-like oscillators tend to follow an approximately regular pattern in which oscillation modes of a certain degree and consecutive order appear at regular intervals in frequency, i.e. the so-called large frequency separation. This is true to first order approximation for acoustic modes. However, to a second order approximation it is evident that the large frequency separation changes as a function of frequency. This frequency dependence has been seen in the Sun and in other main-sequence stars. However, from observations of giant stars, this effect seemed to be less pronounced. We investigate the difference in frequency dependence of the large frequency separation between main-sequence and giant stars using YREC evolutionary models.

4 pages, 1 figure, to appear in Astrophysics and Space Science Proceedings series of the 20th Stellar pulsation conference held in Granada (Spain) from 6 to 10 September 2011