TESS light curves of γ Cas stars

Abstract

ABSTRACT γ Cas stars constitute a subgroup of Be stars showing unusually hard and bright X-ray emission. In search for additional peculiarities, we analysed the TESS light curves of 15 γ Cas analogues. Their periodograms display broad frequency groups and/or narrow isolated peaks, often superimposed over red noise. The detected signals appear at low frequencies, with few cases of significant signals beyond 5 d−1 (and all of them are faint). The signal amplitudes, and sometimes the frequency content, change with time, even in the absence of outburst events. On the basis of their optical photometric variability, γ Cas stars reveal no distinctive behaviour and thus appear similar to Be stars in general.