On the photometric detection of Internal Gravity Waves in massive stars

Understanding the physics of massive stars is an important goal for astronomy as these stars have the largest uncertainties in stellar evolution theory. Without observational constraints of internal rotation and mixing processes, which strongly influence stellar lifetimes, the accuracy of stellar models is limited. Specifically, Internal Gravity Waves (IGWs) are known to be efficient at transporting angular momentum and produce stochastic low-frequency variability near the stellar surface, but IGWs have remained largely undetected in observations. In this talk, we present the results from our recent search for IGWs in space photometry of O, B, A and F stars, and confront them with predictions from 3D hydrodynamical simulations of IGWs. Thus, we place constraints on the surface amplitudes and frequencies of IGWs in massive stars for a wide range in mass on the HR diagram.