A SEARCH FOR BETA-CEPHEI-TYPE VARIABILITY IN A SAMPLE OF INTERMEDIATE-TO HIGH-GALACTIC-LATITUDE B-TYPE STARS

We have photometrically monitored nine intermediate- to high-Galactic- latitude B-type stars for beta Cephei-type variability. One star, HD 2 04076, shows a clearly sinusoidal variation with an amplitude of appro ximately 0.015 mag and a period of a few hours, typical of beta Cephei stars. One other (HD 206144) is possibly a longer term variable at th e 2 per cent level, while two objects, HD 219188 and HD 118246, may be variable at a smaller amplitude of < 0.01 mag. The remaining five sta rs show no signs of any periodic changes above 0.01 mag and are theref ore unlikely to belong to the beta Cephei class of variable.