PERIOD AND AMPLITUDE VARIABILITY OF THE HIGH-AMPLITUDE δ SCUTI STAR GP ANDROMEDAE

Extensive differential time-series CCD photometry has been carried out between 2003 and 2009 for the high-amplitude δ Scuti (HADS) star GP And. We acquired 12,583 new measurements consisting of 41 nights (153.3 hr) spanning over 2221 days. This is the largest time-series data set to date for the star. Based upon these data and others available in the literature, a comprehensive analysis has been conducted to investigate the pulsational properties of the star. Except for the known fundamental period and its harmonics we failed to detect any additional pulsation periods either radial or nonradial. We show clear amplitude variability, but we failed to verify the previously claimed periodic amplitude modulation. Classic O-C analysis indicates that the fundamental pulsation period of GP And is slowly increasing at a rate of P-dot /P = (5.49 ± 0.1)x10-8 yr-1 in accordance with the predictions of stellar evolutionary models. Findings of nonradial oscillations in previously known radial high-amplitude pulsators are being increasingly reported. We have briefly reviewed the current status of multiperiodicity and nonradial pulsation features among the high-amplitude pulsators in the classic instability strip.