Improving the stellar age determination through joint modeling of binarity and asteroseismology

Context. The typical uncertainties of ages determined for single star giants from isochrone fitting using single-epoch spectroscopy and photometry without any additional constraints are 30–50%. Binary systems, particularly double-lined spectroscopic binaries, provide an opportunity to study the intricacies of internal stellar physics and better determine stellar parameters, particularly stellar age. Aims. By using the constraints from binarity and asteroseismology, we aim to obtain precise age and stellar parameters for the red giant-subgiant binary system KIC 9163796, a system with a mass ratio of 1.015 but distinctly different positions in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram. Methods. We computed a multidimensional model grid of individual stellar models. From different combinations of figures of merit, we used the constraints drawn from binarity, spectroscopy, and asteroseismology to determine the stellar mass, chemical composition, and age of KIC 9163796. Results. Our combined-modeling approach leads to an age estimation of the binary system KIC 9163796 of 2.44 −0.20 +0.25 Gyr, which corresponds to a relative error in the age of 9%. Furthermore, we found both components exhibit an equal initial helium abundance of 0.27 to 0.30, which is significantly higher than the primordial helium abundance, and an initial heavy metal abundance below the spectroscopic value. The masses from our models are in agreement with the masses derived from the asteroseismic scaling relations. Conclusions. By exploiting the distinct positions of the components of KIC 9163796, we successfully demonstrate that combining asteroseismic and binary constraints leads to a significant improvement in the precision of age estimation, resulting in a relative error in age below 10% for a giant star.

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Publication Details

Journal
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Published
2025-02-18
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202452626
Citations
6
Primary Topic
Astronomy and Astrophysical Research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
7.15

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article

Improving the stellar age determination through joint modeling of binarity and asteroseismology

T. Masseron, D. H. Grossmann, A. Hanslmeier, D. Godoy-Rivera et al.
6 citations
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy and Astrophysical Research
7.15
article

Improving the stellar age determination through joint modeling of binarity and asteroseismology

T. Masseron, D. H. Grossmann, A. Hanslmeier, D. Godoy-Rivera, C. Johnston, S. Cassisi, D. Stello, Joel Zinn, P. G. Beck, L. Steinwender, L. S. Schimak, N. Muntean, R. A. García, S. Mathur, B. Liagre
article en
6 citations

Abstract

Context. The typical uncertainties of ages determined for single star giants from isochrone fitting using single-epoch spectroscopy and photometry without any additional constraints are 30–50%. Binary systems, particularly double-lined spectroscopic binaries, provide an opportunity to study the intricacies of internal stellar physics and better determine stellar parameters, particularly stellar age. Aims. By using the constraints from binarity and asteroseismology, we aim to obtain precise age and stellar parameters for the red giant-subgiant binary system KIC 9163796, a system with a mass ratio of 1.015 but distinctly different positions in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram. Methods. We computed a multidimensional model grid of individual stellar models. From different combinations of figures of merit, we used the constraints drawn from binarity, spectroscopy, and asteroseismology to determine the stellar mass, chemical composition, and age of KIC 9163796. Results. Our combined-modeling approach leads to an age estimation of the binary system KIC 9163796 of 2.44 −0.20 +0.25 Gyr, which corresponds to a relative error in the age of 9%. Furthermore, we found both components exhibit an equal initial helium abundance of 0.27 to 0.30, which is significantly higher than the primordial helium abundance, and an initial heavy metal abundance below the spectroscopic value. The masses from our models are in agreement with the masses derived from the asteroseismic scaling relations. Conclusions. By exploiting the distinct positions of the components of KIC 9163796, we successfully demonstrate that combining asteroseismic and binary constraints leads to a significant improvement in the precision of age estimation, resulting in a relative error in age below 10% for a giant star.

Astronomy and AstrophysicsVol. 696
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), The University of Sydney (AU), Radboud University Nijmegen (NL), University of Graz (AT), Universidad de La Laguna (ES), Université Paris Cité (FR), Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (FR), Université Paris-Saclay (FR), UNSW Sydney (AU), Graz University of Technology (AT), Astrophysique, Instrumentation et Modélisation (FR), Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics (DE), Institute of Astronomy (RU), Collurania Teramo Observatory (IT), CEA Paris-Saclay (FR), Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (ES), Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Pisa (IT), California State University, Long Beach (US), KU Leuven (BE)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, TU Graz, Internationale Beziehungen und Mobilitätsprogramme, “la Caixa” Foundation, Space Telescope Science Institute, European Space Agency, European Commission, Fonds De La Recherche Scientifique - FNRS, Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, KU Leuven, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica, Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, Vlaamse regering, Fundación Bancaria Caixa d'Estalvis i Pensions de Barcelona, Science Mission Directorate, Australian Research Council, Agencia Estatal de Investigación
Openalex Percentile: Top 4%
Astronomy and Astrophysical Research
7.15
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