On the stellar core physics of the 16 Cyg binary system: constraining the central hydrogen abundance using asteroseismology

The unprecedented quality of the asteroseismic data of solar-type stars made available by space missions such as NASA's Kepler telescope are making it possible to explore stellar interior structures. This offers possibilities of constraining stellar core properties (such as core sizes, abundances, and physics) paving the way for improving the precision of the inferred stellar ages. We employ 16 Cyg A and B as our benchmark stars for an asteroseismic study in which we present a novel approach aimed at selecting from a sample of acceptable stellar models returned from forward modelling techniques, down to the ones that better represent the core of each star. This is accomplished by comparing specific properties of the observed frequency ratios for each star to the ones derived from the acceptable stellar models. We demonstrate that in this way we are able to constrain further the hydrogen mass fraction in the core, establishing the stars' precise evolutionary states and ages. The ranges of the derived core hydrogen mass fractions are [0.01-0.06] and [0.12-0.19] for 16 Cyg A and B, respectively, and, considering that the stars are coeval, the age and metal mass fraction parameters span the region [6.4-7.4] Gyr and [0.023-0.026], respectively. In addition, our findings show that using a single helium-to-heavy element enrichment ratio, (Delta Y/Delta Z), when forward modelling the 16 Cyg binary system, may result in a sample of acceptable models that do not simultaneously fit the observed frequency ratios, further highlighting that such an approach to the definition of the helium content of the star may not be adequate in studies of individual stars.

Automated summary

The unprecedented quality of asteroseismic data of solar-type stars has allowed for the exploration of stellar interior structures and improved precision in inferring stellar ages. Using 16 Cyg A and B as benchmark stars, a novel approach was employed to select acceptable stellar models that better represent the core of each star. The results demonstrate a further constraint on the hydrogen mass fraction in the core, establishing the stars' precise evolutionary states and ages.