Searching for pulsating stars in massive eclipsing binaries

ABSTRACT Pulsation plays a vital role in the evolution of massive stars found in eclipsing binaries. Although massive stars are uncommon compared to their less-massive counterparts, the frequency and intrinsic characteristics of these stars in eclipsing binaries, as well as their reliance on primary mass and environment, act as significant tools for studying pulsation. Thanks to the all-sky Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission, a multitude of systems have been discovered and examined in detail. We have examined the TESS light curves of numerous eclipsing binaries containing high-mass stars and compiled a list of 15 objects exhibiting intrinsic variability, utilizing archival multi-epoch spectra to identify spectroscopic features. The light curves were analysed in order to ascertain the physical properties of the systems and to eliminate the effects of binarity in the residual light curves that are suitable for asteroseismic analysis. Precise measurements of mass and radius have been obtained for all systems. We examined the residual light curves for signs of pulsation and, among our sample of 15 objects, identified 12 confirmed cases of slowly pulsating B (SPB) stars and three potential cases of hybrid (SPB + $\beta$ Cephei) star pulsation. The observation and subsequent modelling of stellar pulsations in massive stars have revealed essential missing parameters in the stellar structure and evolution models of these stars; as a result, asteroseismology has been offering new insights for calibrating stellar physics within a highly degenerate area of the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram.