Interpretation of the BRITE oscillation data of the hybrid pulsator ν Eridani: a call for the modification of stellar opacities

Abstract

The analysis of the BRIght Target Explorer (BRITE) oscillation spectrum of the main-sequence early B-type star ν Eridani is presented. Only models with the modified mean opacity profile can account for the observed frequency ranges as well as for the values of some individual frequencies. The number of the κ-modified seismic models is constrained by the non-adiabatic parameter f, which is very sensitive to the opacity changes in the subphotospheric layers, where the pulsations are driven. We present an example of the model that satisfies all the above conditions. It seems that the oplib opacities are preferred over those from the opal and op projects. Moreover, we discuss additional consequences of the opacity modification, namely, an enhancement of the efficiency of convection in the Z bump as well as an occurrence of close radial modes which is a kind of avoided-crossing phenomenon common for non-radial modes in standard main-sequence models.