Discovery of a rapidly pulsating subdwarf B star candidate in ω Centauri

Abstract

We report the discovery of the first variable extreme horizontal branch star in a globular cluster (ω Cen). The oscillation uncovered has a period of 114 s and an amplitude of 32 mmag. A comparison between horizontal branch models and observed optical colours indicates an effective temperature of 31 500 ± 6300 K for this star, placing it within the instability strip for rapidly oscillating B subdwarfs. The time scale and amplitude of the pulsation detected are also in line with what is expected for this type of variable, thus strengthening the case for the discovery of a new subdwarf B pulsator.

Based on observations collected at the European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere, Chile (proposal ID 081.D-0746).