The recent space-based exoplanet transit searches, CoRoT and Kepler, have revolutionised the field of stellar variability. In this thesis I exploit the public Kepler data to characterise stellar variability, and study rotation periods. For the study of stellar variability it is a complicated but necessary process to remove instrumental systematics while maintaining intrinsic stellar signal. I was involved in the development of a new correction method for systematics, denoted ARC (Astrophysically Robust Correction). This method relies on the removal of a set of basis functions that are determined to be present in small amounts across many light curves. Using the first month of Kepler data, corrected with the ARC method, I studied the variability properties of main sequence stars as a function of fundamental stellar parameters. I find that the fraction of stars with variability greater than that of the Sun is 60%, and confirm the trend of increasing variability with decreasing effective temperatures. I show tentative evidence that the more active stars have lower proper motions and may be located closer to the galactic plane. I also investigate the frequency content of the variability, showing that there exist significant differences in the nature of variability between spectral types, with a trend towards longer periods at later spectral types. In order to exploit the full potential of the Kepler data for stellar rotation period measurement, I developed a novel method of period detection for use on star spot modulated light curves. Standard approaches to period detection are based on Fourier decomposition or least-squares fitting of sinusoidal models. However, typical stellar light curves are neither sinusoidal nor strictly periodic. Therefore, I developed an algorithm for period detection based on the autocorrelation function (ACF) of the light curve. Because the ACF measures only the degree of self-similarity of the light curve at a given time lag, the period remains detectable even when the amplitude and phase of the photometric modulation evolve significantly. I applied the ACF method for the sample of M-dwarfs observed during the first 10 months of the Kepler mission, and detected rotation periods in 1570, ranging from 0.37-69.7 days. The rotation period distribution is clearly bimodal, with peaks at ~19 and ~33 days, hinting at two distinct waves of star formation. These two peaks form two distinct sequences in period-temperature space, with the period decreasing with increasing temperature. In a natural continuation to this work I applied measured periods for 1000 stars in each of the F, G and K-dwarf sets observed by Kepler, and combined these with the M-dwarf results. The trend of increasing rotation period with increasing mass is clear throughout, as the observations fall along a wide by distinct sequence. Comparison to the rotational isochrones of Barnes (2007) show an overall agreement, although the dataset, which I believe is the largest set of rotation period measurements for main sequence stars, shows addition detail, not captured by the gyrochronology relations. This includes a dip in the rotation period distribution at ~0.6 M⊙ and a steep increase in period for the M-dwarfs. I also applied the ACF method to the Kepler exoplanet candidate host stars and used the results to search for evidence of tidal interaction between the star and planet. I show that for the majority of exoplanet host stars, spin-orbit interaction will not have affected the stellar rotation period, permitting the application of gyrochronology for age determination. A comparison of the host stars with a sample of field stars selected to match their temperature and magnitude distribution also indicates no significant difference in the period or amplitude distributions of the two sets. The only notable variation is the lack of planets around the very fast rotators across all spectral types.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(理学) / 甲第21575号 / 理博第4482号 / 新制||理||1643(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院理学研究科物理学・宇宙物理学専攻 / (主査)教授 柴田 一成, 准教授 岩室 史英, 教授 一本 潔 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

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A sismologia estelar oferece uma oportunidade única de sondar as propriedades internas das estrelas através do estudo de oscilações estelares. Essas oscilações são dependentes diretamente da física da cavidade onde são formadas. No entanto, a rotação da estrela introduz um eixo de simetria e levanta a degenerescência nas frequências, dificultando assim, a sua identificação. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a dependência das frequências de oscilação estelar com a velocidade de rotação para modelos de massas intermediárias ao longo da sequência principal. Este estudo foi realizado através da modelagem de estrelas com uma grande variedade de massas e velocidades de rotação (2-8 Msol, 20-100km/s) com os códigos CESAM/FILOU. O comportamento do splitting rotacional e de sua assimetria nos modos g2, g1, p1 e p2 mostrou uma dependência com outros parâmetros físicos, além da rotação. A assimetria apresenta variações interessantes levando a um método de diagnóstico de evolução: quando vários modos são observados, as assimetrias levam a uma determinação precisa da fase evolutiva da estrela. Modelos representativos para a estrela HD50844 foram comparados com os dados observacionais. A falta da identificação dos modos (l,m) e o grande número de frequências não permite obter-se resultados precisos. / Asteroseismology provides a unique opportunity to probe the inner properties of stars through the study of stellar oscillations. These oscillations depend on the physics of the cavity where they are formed. However, the stellar rotation introduces an axis of symmetry and lifts the degeneracy of the frequencies, thus hindering the identification. The goal of this work was to study the dependence of the oscillation frequency on the stellar rotation velocities for models of intermediate mass along the main sequence. This study was performed through the modeling of stars with a wide range of masses and rotational velocities (2-8 Msun, 20-100km/s) with the codes CESAM/FILOU. The behavior of the rotational \\textit and its asymmetry for the modes g2, g1, p1 and p2 showed a dependence on other physical parameters, as well as rotation. The asymmetry presents interesting variations leading to a diagnostic method of evolution: when multiple modes are observed, the asymmetries lead to a precise determination of the evolution phase of the star. Representative models for the star HD50844 were compared with the observational data. The lack of identification of the modes (l,m) and the large number of frequencies does not allow to obtain accurate results.

The Solar Twin Planet Search program is an unprecedented eort that aimed to procure extrasolar planets in more than 70 stars extremely similar to the Sun. In the course of this program, hundreds of high-quality optical spectra were obtained for these stars using the HARPS spectrograph, which is fed by the ESO La Silla 3.6 m telescope. Beyond the search for exoplanets, the data are invaluable to study the physical properties of Sun-like stars. Particularly in this dissertation, we are interested in verifying if the Sun possesses a regular rotation for its age among stars that are strictly similar to it, how the rotation of solar twins evolve with age and if the rotation of Sun-like stars is influenced by the presence of stellar mass companions. Previous conclusions on the regularity of the Suns rotation have been conflicting, and this is the first time such a large sample of solar twins with high quality spectroscopic data is used to clarify this puzzle. Our results suggest that the Sun is indeed a regular rotator for its age, which favors the use of the solar rotation to calibrate gyrochronology -- the estimation of stellar ages from their rotation. However, these results also imply a rotational evolution process that saturates after the solar age, constituting a departure from the widely used Skumanich relation and posing a challenge for gyrochronology. We securely identified 18 binary or multiple systems in the solar twin sample, of which only three display enhanced rotation for their ages. I estimated the orbital parameters of the binaries from their radial velocity variations, and the results show that their spectroscopic companions lie at orbital periods varying from a few to several years. I conclude that the presence of red or brown dwarf companions at moderate to long orbital periods do not influence the evolution of rotation in these systems, and therefore the main stars should evolve as single in this regard. The peculiarities in HIP 19911, HIP 67620 and HIP 103983 can be fully explained by spectral contamination from their companions. / O programa The Solar Twin Planet Search é um esforço sem precedentes na procura de planetas extra-solares em mais de 70 estrelas extremamente similares ao Sol. Ao longo desse programa, centenas de espectros ópticos de alta qualidade foram obtidos com o espectrógrafo HARPS, que está instalado no telescópio de 3,6 m do Observatório de La Silla. Além da busca de exoplanetas, estes dados são úteis para estudar as propriedades físicas de estrelas como o Sol. Estamos interessados em verificar se o Sol possui uma rotação regular para sua idade quando comparado com estrelas estritamente similares a ele, como que a rotação de gêmeas solares evolui com o tempo e se a rotação dessas estrelas é influenciada pela presença de companheiras estelares. Conclusões anteriores na regularidade da rotação solar são conflitantes, e esta é a primeira vez que uma amostra grande de gêmeas solares com dados espectroscópicos de alta qualidade é usada para esclarecer essa questão. Nossos resultados sugerem que o Sol de fato rota regularmente para sua idade, o que favorece o uso da rotação solar para calibrar a girocronologia -- a estimativa de idades estelares a partir de sua rotação. No entanto, tais resultados também implicam em um processo de evolução rotacional que satura depois da idade solar, constituindo um desvio da amplamente usada relação de Skumanich e apresentando um desafio para a girocronologia. Nós identificamos 18 sistemas binários na amostra de gêmeas solares, das quais apenas três mostram rotações elevadas para suas idades. Os parâmetros orbitais das binárias foram estimados a partir da variação de suas velocidades radiais, e os resultados mostram que suas companheiras espectroscópicas possuem períodos orbitais variando de alguns poucos até muitos anos. Concluimos que a presença de companheiras do tipo anãs vermelhas ou marrons em períodos orbitais moderados não influenciam a evolução rotacional desses sistemas. As peculiaridades de HIP 19911, HIP 67620 e HIP 103983 podem ser completamente explicadas por contaminação espectral de suas companheiras.

The Solar Twin Planet Search program is an unprecedented eort that aimed to procure extrasolar planets in more than 70 stars extremely similar to the Sun. In the course of this program, hundreds of high-quality optical spectra were obtained for these stars using the HARPS spectrograph, which is fed by the ESO La Silla 3.6 m telescope. Beyond the search for exoplanets, the data are invaluable to study the physical properties of Sun-like stars. Particularly in this dissertation, we are interested in verifying if the Sun possesses a regular rotation for its age among stars that are strictly similar to it, how the rotation of solar twins evolve with age and if the rotation of Sun-like stars is influenced by the presence of stellar mass companions. Previous conclusions on the regularity of the Suns rotation have been conflicting, and this is the first time such a large sample of solar twins with high quality spectroscopic data is used to clarify this puzzle. Our results suggest that the Sun is indeed a regular rotator for its age, which favors the use of the solar rotation to calibrate gyrochronology -- the estimation of stellar ages from their rotation. However, these results also imply a rotational evolution process that saturates after the solar age, constituting a departure from the widely used Skumanich relation and posing a challenge for gyrochronology. We securely identified 18 binary or multiple systems in the solar twin sample, of which only three display enhanced rotation for their ages. I estimated the orbital parameters of the binaries from their radial velocity variations, and the results show that their spectroscopic companions lie at orbital periods varying from a few to several years. I conclude that the presence of red or brown dwarf companions at moderate to long orbital periods do not influence the evolution of rotation in these systems, and therefore the main stars should evolve as single in this regard. The peculiarities in HIP 19911, HIP 67620 and HIP 103983 can be fully explained by spectral contamination from their companions. / O programa The Solar Twin Planet Search é um esforço sem precedentes na procura de planetas extra-solares em mais de 70 estrelas extremamente similares ao Sol. Ao longo desse programa, centenas de espectros ópticos de alta qualidade foram obtidos com o espectrógrafo HARPS, que está instalado no telescópio de 3,6 m do Observatório de La Silla. Além da busca de exoplanetas, estes dados são úteis para estudar as propriedades físicas de estrelas como o Sol. Estamos interessados em verificar se o Sol possui uma rotação regular para sua idade quando comparado com estrelas estritamente similares a ele, como que a rotação de gêmeas solares evolui com o tempo e se a rotação dessas estrelas é influenciada pela presença de companheiras estelares. Conclusões anteriores na regularidade da rotação solar são conflitantes, e esta é a primeira vez que uma amostra grande de gêmeas solares com dados espectroscópicos de alta qualidade é usada para esclarecer essa questão. Nossos resultados sugerem que o Sol de fato rota regularmente para sua idade, o que favorece o uso da rotação solar para calibrar a girocronologia -- a estimativa de idades estelares a partir de sua rotação. No entanto, tais resultados também implicam em um processo de evolução rotacional que satura depois da idade solar, constituindo um desvio da amplamente usada relação de Skumanich e apresentando um desafio para a girocronologia. Nós identificamos 18 sistemas binários na amostra de gêmeas solares, das quais apenas três mostram rotações elevadas para suas idades. Os parâmetros orbitais das binárias foram estimados a partir da variação de suas velocidades radiais, e os resultados mostram que suas companheiras espectroscópicas possuem períodos orbitais variando de alguns poucos até muitos anos. Concluimos que a presença de companheiras do tipo anãs vermelhas ou marrons em períodos orbitais moderados não influenciam a evolução rotacional desses sistemas. As peculiaridades de HIP 19911, HIP 67620 e HIP 103983 podem ser completamente explicadas por contaminação espectral de suas companheiras.

The discovery of superluminous supernovae in the past decade challenged our understanding of explosive stellar death. Subsequent extensive observations of superluminous supernova light curves and spectra has provided some insight for the nature of these events. We present observations of one of the most luminous self-interacting supernovae ever observed, the hydrogen-rich SN 2008am discovered by the Robotic Optical Transient Search Experiment Supernova Verification Project with the ROTSE-IIIb telescope located in the McDonald Observatory. We provide theoretical modeling of superluminous supernova light curves and fit the models to a number of observed events and similar transients in order to understand the mechanism that is responsible for the vast amounts of energy emitted by these explosions. The models we investigate include deposition of energy due to the radioactive decays of massive amounts of nickel-56, interaction of supernova ejecta with a dense circumstellar medium and magnetar spin-down. To probe the nature of superluminous supernovae progenitor stars we study the evolution of massive stars, including important effects such as rotation and magnetic fields, and perform multi-dimensional hydrodynamics simulations of the resulting explosions. The effects of rotational mixing are also studied in solar-type secondary stars in cataclysmic variable binary star systems in order to provide an explanation for some carbon-depleted examples of this class. We find that most superluminous supernovae can be explained by violent interaction of the SN ejecta with >1 Msun dense circumstellar shells ejected by the progenitor stars in the decades preceding the SN explosion. / text