We conduct a rigorous examination of the nearby red supergiant Betelgeuse by drawing on the synthesis of new observational data and three different modeling techniques. Our observational results include the release of new, processed photometric measurements collected with the space-based SMEI instrument prior to Betelgeuse's recent, unprecedented dimming event. We detect the first radial overtone in the photometric data and report a period of $185\pm13.5$ d. Our theoretical predictions include self-consistent results from multi-timescale evolutionary, oscillatory, and hydrodynamic simulations conducted with the Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics (MESA) software suite. Significant outcomes of our modeling efforts include a precise prediction for the star's radius: $764^{+116}_{-62} R_{\odot}$. In concert with additional constraints, this allows us to derive a new, independent distance estimate of $168^ {+27}_{-15}$ pc and a parallax of $\pi=5.95^{+0.58}_{-0.85}$ mas, in good agreement with Hipparcos but less so with recent radio measurements. Seismic results from both perturbed hydrostatic and evolving hydrodynamic simulations constrain the period and driving mechanisms of Betelgeuse's dominant periodicities in new ways. Our analyses converge to the conclusion that Betelgeuse's $\approx 400$ day period is the result of pulsation in the fundamental mode, driven by the $\kappa$-mechanism. Grid-based hydrodynamic modeling reveals that the behavior of the oscillating envelope is mass-dependent, and likewise suggests that the non-linear pulsation excitation time could serve as a mass constraint. Our results place $\alpha$ Ori definitively in the core helium-burning phase near the base of the red supergiant branch. We report a present-day mass of $16.5$--$19 ~M_{\odot}$---slightly lower than typical literature values.

中文翻译：

---

站在巨人的肩膀上：通过结合进化、星震和流体动力学模拟与 MESA 对参宿四的新质量和距离估计

我们通过综合新的观测数据和三种不同的建模技术，对附近的红超巨星参宿四进行了严格的检查。我们的观测结果包括在参宿四最近的前所未有的变暗事件之前发布了使用天基 SMEI 仪器收集的新的、处理过的光度测量值。我们检测到光度数据中的第一个径向泛音，并报告了 $185\pm13.5$d 的周期。我们的理论预测包括使用恒星天体物理学实验模块 (MESA) 软件套件进行的多时间尺度演化、振荡和流体动力学模拟的自洽结果。我们建模工作的重要成果包括对恒星半径的精确预测：$764^{+116}_{-62} R_{\odot}$。与额外的约束相一致，这允许我们推导出一个新的、独立的距离估计 $168^{+27}_{-15}$pc 和 $\pi=5.95^{+0.58}_{-0.85} 的视差$ mas，与 Hipparcos 一致，但与最近的无线电测量不一致。来自扰动流体静力学和演化流体动力学模拟的地震结果以新的方式限制了参宿四主要周期性的周期和驱动机制。我们的分析得出的结论是，参宿四的 $\approx 400$ 日周期是由 $\kappa$ 机制驱动的基本模式脉动的结果。基于网格的流体动力学模型显示振荡包络的行为与质量有关，同样表明非线性脉动激发时间可以作为质量约束。我们的结果将 $\alpha$ Ori 明确地置于红超巨星分支底部附近的核心氦燃烧阶段。我们报告的当今质量为 16.5 美元--19 美元 ~M_{\odot}$--略低于典型的文献价值。