Constant amplitude-ratio tests in Kepler KIC 3230227 depend on the orbital light-curve fit

We test whether two amplitude ratios of three known nonharmonic modes in KIC 3230227 are constant across Kepler quarters. We use release 25 raw and corrected flux. With 40 orbital harmonics and a primary eclipse mask, all four conditional tail probabilities exceed 0.20. Reducing the fit to 20 harmonics on the same samples gives values from 0.000046 to 0.013. The ratio spread changes little, but the fitted errors change. A narrower eclipse mask also gives apparent variation. No-noise controls recover known amplitudes. These tests show that a rejection of constant ratios is sensitive to the orbital fit and its error model. They do not establish intrinsic mode changes, a new oscillation, or a planet. Both flux products share exposures, and no second instrument is used.

Kepler · KIC 3230227 · tidal oscillations · amplitude ratios · orbital model · uncertainty