The classification of Kepler B-star variables

The light curves of 252 B-star candidates in the Kepler database are analyzed in a similar fashion to that done by Balona et al. (2011MNRAS.413.2403B) to further characterize B-star variability, increase the sample of variable B stars for future study, and to identify stars whose power spectra include particularly interesting features such as frequency groupings. Stars are classified as either constant light emitters, {beta} Cep stars, slowly pulsating B stars (SPBs), hybrid pulsators, binaries or stars whose light curves are dominated by rotation (Bin/Rot), hot subdwarfs, or white dwarfs.

One-hundred stars in our sample were found to be either light constants or to be variable at a level of less than 0.02mmag. We increase the number of candidate B-star variables found in the Kepler database by Balona et al. (2011MNRAS.413.2403B) in the following fashion: {beta} Cep stars from 0 to 10, SPBs from eight to 54, hybrid pulsators from seven to 21, and Bin/Rot stars from 23 to 82. For comparison purposes, approximately 51 SPBs and six hybrids had been known prior to 2007.