Search for pulsations in M dwarfs in the Kepler short-cadence data base

• Published in: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 2016-04, Vol.457 (2), p.1851-1863
• Main Authors: Rodríguez, E., Rodríguez-López, C., López-González, M. J., Amado, P. J., Ocando, S., Berdiñas, Z. M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Astrophysics; Dwarf stars; Fourier transforms; Frequencies; Gravity; Oscillations; Photometry; Pulsars; Pulsation; Red dwarf stars; Searching; Stars; Symbols; Temperature effects
• ISSN: 0035-8711; 1365-2966
• DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stw033

The results of a search for stellar pulsations in M dwarf stars in the Kepler short-cadence (SC) data base are presented. This investigation covers all the cool and dwarf stars in the list of Dressing & Charbonneau, which were also observed in SC mode by the Kepler satellite. The sample has been enlarged via selection of stellar parameters (temperature, surface gravity and radius) with available Kepler Input Catalogue values together with JHK and riz photometry. In total, 87 objects observed by the Kepler mission in SC mode were selected and analysed using Fourier techniques. The detection threshold is below 10 μmag for the brightest objects and below 20 μmag for about 40 per cent of the stars in the sample. However, no significant signal in the [∼10,100] cd−1 frequency domain that can be reliably attributable to stellar pulsations has been detected. The periodograms have also been investigated for solar-like oscillations in the >100 cd−1 region, but with unsuccessful results too. Despite these inconclusive photometric results, M dwarfs pulsation amplitudes may still be detected in radial velocity searches. State-of-the-art coming instruments, like CARMENES near-infrared high-precision spectrograph, will play a key role in the possible detection.