Stellar Modelling and Pulsation Analysis of
GSC 09289-02186 Using MESA and GYRE
Benjamin Kyge
February 11, 2026
Contents
1 Introduction 2
2 Stellar Evolution Modelling with MESA 3
2.1 Project Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2.2 Adopted Stellar Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2.3 Input Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2.4 Stellar Structure Equations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.5 Model Verification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
3 Pulsation Analysis with GYRE 5
3.1 GYRE Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
3.2 Rotational Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
3.3 Parameter Grid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
4 Conclusion 7
1
Chapter 1
Introduction
GSC 09289-02186 (V0366 Aps) is a γ Doradus-type pulsator with a dominant observed
frequency of
f1 = 2.33692 d−1 . (1.1)
The star has an estimated mass of 0.86 M⊙ , metallicity [M/H] ≈ −0.09, and effective
temperature
Teff ≈ 6500 K. (1.2)
The objective of this work is to construct stellar evolutionary models consistent with
these observed parameters using the Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics
(MESA) and to compute theoretical gravity-mode pulsation frequencies using GYRE.
2
Chapter 2
Stellar Evolution Modelling with
MESA
2.1 Project Setup
A dedicated working directory was created by copying the default work directory from
the star module:
cd $MESA_DIR/star
cp -r work GSC09289
cd GSC09289
./mk
2.2 Adopted Stellar Parameters
The following parameters were adopted:
M = 0.86 M⊙ , (2.1)
[M/H] = −0.09, (2.2)
Teff ≈ 6500 K. (2.3)
The metallicity was computed from
Z = Z⊙ × 10[M/H] , (2.4)
where Z⊙ = 0.014, yielding
Z ≈ 0.0125. (2.5)
2.3 Input Configuration
The following configuration was implemented in inlist_project:
3
Star Job Block
&star_job
create_pre_main_sequence_model = .true.
save_model_when_terminate = .true.
save_model_filename = ’GSC09289_final.mod’
pgstar_flag = .true.
/
Control Block
&controls
initial_mass = 0.86
initial_z = 0.0125
mixing_length_alpha = 1.9
use_Type2_opacities = .true.
use_gold_tolerances = .true.
energy_eqn_option = ’dedt’
stop_at_Teff_lower_limit = .true.
Teff_lower_limit = 6400
/
2.4 Stellar Structure Equations
MESA solves the one-dimensional stellar structure equations:
dP Gmρ
=− 2 , (2.6)
dr r
dm
= 4πr2 ρ, (2.7)
dr
dL
= 4πr2 ρϵ, (2.8)
dr
dT 3κρL
=− . (2.9)
dr 16πacT 3 r2
The model was evolved from the pre-main-sequence phase until the effective temper-
ature approached the observed value.
2.5 Model Verification
The output file LOGS/[Link] was inspected to confirm:
• log Teff ≈ 3.81,
• R ≈ 0.76 R⊙ ,
• Central hydrogen fraction Xc > 0.3.
If necessary, the mixing-length parameter was adjusted within the range 1.8 ≤ αMLT ≤
2.1.
4
Chapter 3
Pulsation Analysis with GYRE
3.1 GYRE Configuration
A GYRE input file ([Link]) was created:
&model
model_type = ’EVOL’
file = ’GSC09289_final.mod’
/
&mode
l = 1
n_pg_min = -60
n_pg_max = -10
/
&scan
grid_type = ’INVERSE’
freq_min = 0.5
freq_max = 4.0
n_freq = 200
/
&num
diff_scheme = ’COLLOC_GL2’
/
&ad_output
summary_file = ’summary_l1.txt’
freq_units = ’CYC_PER_DAY’
/
Pulsation calculations were executed using:
gyre [Link]
5
3.2 Rotational Effects
To include rotational splitting:
&mode
l = 1
m = 1
/
&rot
omega_rot = 0.5
/
Rotationally modified frequencies follow:
νnℓm = νnℓ + m(1 − Cnℓ )Ω, (3.1)
where Cnℓ is the Ledoux constant and Ω is the rotation frequency.
3.3 Parameter Grid
To assess sensitivity, a grid of models was constructed:
M = 0.84, 0.86, 0.88 M⊙ , (3.2)
Z = 0.0115, 0.0125, 0.0135, (3.3)
αMLT = 1.8, 1.9, 2.0. (3.4)
Each model was evolved to match Teff and subsequently analysed using GYRE.
6
Chapter 4
Conclusion
The modelling procedure outlined in this document enables the construction of stellar
models consistent with the observed properties of GSC 09289-02186 and the computation
of theoretical gravity-mode frequencies. Due to the availability of only a single observed
pulsation frequency, the present modelling approach remains exploratory rather than
uniquely constrained.