Polarimetric asteroseismology of beta Crucis

In so doing we confirm 40- year-old predictions of pulsation-induced polarization variability and its utility in asteroseismology for mode identification. In an approach suited to other {beta} Cephei stars, we combine polarimetry with space-based photometry and archival spectroscopy to identify the dominant nonradial mode in polarimetry, f2, as l=3, m=-3 (in the m-convention of Dziembowski, 1977AcA.....27..203D) and determine the stellar axis position angle as 25 (or 205) +/-8 degrees.

The rotation axis inclination to the line of sight was derived as approx. 46 degrees from combined polarimetry and spectroscopy, facilitating identification of additional modes and allowing for asteroseismic modelling. This reveals a star of 14.5+/-0.5M_{sun}_ and a convective core containing approx. 28 percent of its mass - making {beta} Crucis the most massive star with an asteroseismic age.