A&A Supplement Ser., Vol. 124, July 1997, 23-31
Received September 9; accepted October 14, 1996
Bootis starsE. Paunzen, R. Kuschnig, G. Handler, M. Gelbmann, and W.W. Weiss
Send offprint request: E. Paunzen
Institut für Astronomie der Universität Wien, Türkenschanzstr. 17, A-1180 Wien,
Austria
e-mail: last_name@astro.ast.univie.ac.at
With asteroseismic techniques it is possible to investigate the interior and
the evolutionary status of stars via their frequency spectrum. Both information
would be very
much needed for 
Bootis stars, a group of metal-poor PopulationI, A-type stars,
since no conclusive theory exists explaining the observed abundance anomalies.
Geneva and Strömgren photometry place these stars inside
the classical instability strip or at least very close to it.
We therefore have started an extensive
photometric survey for pulsation in 
Bootis stars and have discovered so far
13 new variables.
In this paper we present results for stars which presumably are constant,
because we
are able to establish only an upper level for possible variability.
A typical noise level
of 3mmag for Strömgren b
was achieved in the relevant frequency domain up to 100d
.
Considering the given noise level of our survey, we
conclude that at least 50% of all investigated 
Bootis stars inside the
instability strip
are pulsating, making this group remarkable compared to stars with similar
spectral types. This may suggest that a low (surface) metallicity has an
influence on the pulsation
behavior of stars. New models, as well as further observations are needed to
clarify the 
Bootis phenomenon using asteroseismic techniques.
keywords: astronomical data bases -- surveys;
stars -- 
Bootis; stars -- chemically peculiar; stars -- early type