Abstract
We present the results of the mode identification for a sample of 7 bright southern slowly pulsating B stars showing one pulsation frequency in the lambdalambda 413 nm Si II profiles. We combined the results from (1) the method of photometric amplitudes; (2) the moment method; and (3) the amplitude and phase variation across the profile to search for the l and m values of the modes best fitting the data. It is the first time that the applicability of these techniques is tested to a sample of main-sequence g-mode pulsators. Combining the moment method with the amplitude and phase variations across the observed line profile gives an improvement in spectroscopic identification of low degree l g-mode pulsations. Using the variations of the higher order even moments < v<SUP>4</SUP>> and < v<SUP>6</SUP>> of the moment method solutions can also help. For HD 181558, HD 24587, HD 140873 and HD 177863, the photometric and spectroscopic results are compatible and point towards (l,m) = (1, +1) sectoral modes. For HD 215573, HD 53921 and HD 92287, the results are inconclusive. Our proposed methodology for mode identification is also applicable to gamma Doradus stars. Based on observations collected with the CAT Telescope of the European Southern Observatory and with the Swiss Photometric Telescope of the Geneva Observatory, both situated at La Silla in Chile.
