The Enigmatic Maia Variables: An Impossible Class of Pulsating Stars? - Lecture

Explore the controversial topic of "Maia variables" in this 58-minute lecture by Prof. Gerald Handler from the Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Delve into the history and debate surrounding these enigmatic pulsating stars that seemingly defy known stellar pulsation mechanisms. Learn about the requirements for stellar pulsations, instability strips in the HR Diagram, and the ongoing controversy since the 1950s regarding the existence of Maia variables. Examine recent findings from high-resolution spectroscopy and TESS photometric data of 31 potential Maia variable candidates. Analyze the results that reveal some stars as normal Beta Cephei and Delta Scuti pulsators, while others remain outside known instability strips. Consider factors such as contamination, binarity, and rapid rotation in evaluating these anomalous objects. Critically assess the evidence for a distinct class of "Maia variables" and ponder whether some stars can truly be considered pulsators "without a cause."