RESULTS OF A SEARCH FOR γ DOR AND δ SCT STARS WITH THE KEPLER SPACECRAFT

The light curves of 2768 stars with effective temperatures and surface gravities placing them near the gamma Doradus (gamma Dor)/delta Scuti (delta Sct) instability region were observed as part of the Kepler Guest Observer program from Cycles 1 through 5. The light curves were analyzed in a uniform manner to search for gamma Dor, delta Sct, and hybrid star pulsations. The gamma Dor, delta Sct, and hybrid star pulsations extend asteroseismology to stars slightly more massive (1.4-2.5M(circle dot)) than our Sun. We find 207 gamma Dor, 84 delta Sct, and 32 hybrid candidate stars. Many of these stars are cooler than the red edge of the gamma Dor instability strip as determined from ground-based observations made before Kepler. A few of our gamma Dor candidate stars lie on the hot side of the ground-based gamma Dor instability strip. The hybrid candidate stars cover the entire region between 6200 K and the blue edge of the ground-based delta Sct instability strip. None of our candidate stars are hotter than the hot edge of the ground-based delta Sct instability strip. Our discoveries, coupled with the work of others, show that Kepler has discovered over 2000 gamma Dor, delta Sct, and hybrid star candidates in the 116 square degree Kepler field of view. We found relatively few variable stars fainter than magnitude 15, which may be because they are far enough away to lie between spiral arms in our Galaxy, where there would be fewer stars.