scholarly journals Humps and bumps: the effects of shocks on the optical light curves of fundamental-mode RR Lyrae stars

2020 ◽  
Vol 635 ◽  
pp. A66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Prudil ◽  
I. Dékány ◽  
R. Smolec ◽  
M. Catelan ◽  
E. K. Grebel ◽  
...  

We present the most extended and homogeneous study carried out so far of the main and early shocks in 1485 RR Lyrae stars in the Galactic bulge observed by the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment. We selected nonmodulated fundamental-mode RR Lyrae stars with good-quality photometry. Using a self-developed method, we determined the centers and strengths of main and early shock features in the phased light curves. We found that the positions of both humps and bumps are highly correlated with the pulsation properties of the studied variables. Pulsators with a pronounced main shock are concentrated in the low-amplitude regime of the period–amplitude diagram, while stars with a strong early shock have average and above-average pulsation amplitudes. A connection between the main and early shocks and the Fourier coefficients is also observed. In the color–magnitude diagram, we see a separation between stars with strong and weak shocks. Variables with a pronounced main shock cluster close to the fundamental red edge of the instability strip (IS), while stars with a strong early shock tend to clump in the center and near the fundamental blue edge of the IS. The appearance of shocks and their properties appear to be independent of the direction of evolution estimated from the period change rate of the studied stars. In addition, the differences in the period change rate between the two main Oosterhoff groups found in the Galactic bulge suggest that stars of Oosterhoff type I are located close to the zero-age horizontal branch while Oosterhoff type II variables are on their way toward the fundamental red edge of the instability strip, and have therefore already left the zero-age horizontal branch.

1989 ◽  
Vol 111 ◽  
pp. 287-287
Author(s):  
Amelia Wehlau

AbstractAttention is called to the rather unusual distribution of the periods of the RR Lyrae variables in NGC 5897, a metal-poor halo globular cluster with a very low central concentration. Of the seven RR Lyrae stars known in the cluster, three have periods between 0.797 and 0.856 day and two have periods of 0.45 and 0.42 day. The other two have periods of 0.34 and 0.35 day with much lower amplitudes of variation. Due to the lack of crowding in this cluster photoelectric observations and Fourier decompositions of the resulting light curves should be possible for at least six of the RR Lyrae variables. In addition, the cluster appears to contain a non-variable horizontal branch star, SK 120, lying within the instability strip. As this is the only well documented case of such a star, photoelectric observations of this star would also be desirable.


2004 ◽  
Vol 193 ◽  
pp. 171-175
Author(s):  
Johanna Jurcsik

AbstractThe light curve characteristics of a homogeneous sample of variables in M3 are studied in detail. Accurate light curves and mean magnitudes of about 100 RRab and 50 RRc stars which do not show any type of modulation are analyzed. According to their mean magnitudes and Fourier parameters the variables can be sorted into four groups, representing different stages of the horizontal branch stellar evolution.


1984 ◽  
Vol 105 ◽  
pp. 461-463
Author(s):  
R. F. Stellingwerf

The effects of nonlinear, nonlocal, diffusive convection have been included in the structure equations of pulsational hydrodynamic analyses of a series of RR Lyrae models. We find a well-defined red edge of the unstable region that depends on mode of pulsation. It is shown that this result has strong implications for the nonlinear behavior of RR Lyrae stars.


1984 ◽  
Vol 108 ◽  
pp. 39-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
James M. Nemec ◽  
Martha H. Liller ◽  
James E. Hesser

The period changes of RR Lyrae stars can be compared with models of horizontal branch stars as a means of investigating the physical properties of the stars themselves, and of the stellar systems in which they are found (Smith and Sandage 1981). The present study is the first in which period change rates of extragalactic RR Lyraes have been estimated.


1993 ◽  
Vol 139 ◽  
pp. 312-312
Author(s):  
Rebecca A. Koopmann ◽  
Young-Wook Lee ◽  
Pierre Demarque ◽  
Jamie M. Howard

Horizontal branch (HB) models were evolved using the Yale stellar evolution code, YREC, to test the possibility that mass loss during the RR Lyrae phase is able to produce the observed color (mass) dispersion on the HB (Willson and Bowen 1984) and the anomalous period changes in RR Lyrae stars (Laskarides 1974). Models of total mass 0.64, 0.66, 0.68, 0.70, and 0.72 M⊙ (YMS = 0.23, Z = 0.001) were evolved with constant mass loss rates of 0, 10-10, and 10-9 M⊙ yr-1. Mass loss was assumed to occur only in the RR Lyrae phase, and the instability strip was defined by 3.800 < log Teff < 3.875.HB stars which lose mass evolve further to the blue. Low mass loss rates do not affect the shape of the tracks significantly. Stars, which without mass loss could not become blue HB stars, were able to emerge from the instability strip on the blue side.


2000 ◽  
Vol 176 ◽  
pp. 255-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Á. Bakos ◽  
J. Jurcsik

AbstractWe present new multicolour CCD photometry of the central part of the globular cluster M3, mapping the precise position of ~ 120 RR Lyrae stars (RRab, RRd, RRc) on the horizontal branch (HB). The location of the double-mode variables (RRd) is in perfect agreement with recent theoretical results. We find a significant internal spread of metallicity amongst the RRab variables.


1973 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 196-196
Author(s):  
T. S. Van Albada ◽  
Norman Baker

AbstractThe observational evidence leading to the classification, following Oosterhoff, of globular clusters containing RR Lyrae stars into two distinct groups, is summarized and discussed in the light of results of stellar evolution theory and pulsation theory. The dichotomy is caused, at least in part, by a dichotomy in the ‘transition period’ between the type-ab and type-c stars which reflects a difference in effective temperature at the transition point. When this difference is accounted for, there remains a smaller average difference between the groups, though no longer a clear dichotomy, that is probably a mass and luminosity effect. If this remaining difference is interpreted as a luminosity effect the average difference in luminosity between the two Oosterhoff groups is at most 0.1 mag. It is suggested that Christy’s theoretical relationship between transition period and luminosity cannot be valid, at least not for clusters of different Oosterhoff groups. It is conjectured that the transition-temperature dichotomy may be a reflection of different predominant directions of evolution along the horizontal branch, accompanied by a hysteresis effect in the pulsations.


2000 ◽  
Vol 176 ◽  
pp. 172-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Clementini ◽  
A. Bragaglia ◽  
L. Di Fabrizio ◽  
E. Carretta ◽  
R. G. Gratton

AbstractThe Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) is widely considered a corner-stone of the astronomical distance scale. However, a difference of 0.2−0.3 mag exists in its distance as predicted by the short and long distance scales. Distances to the LMC from Population II objects are founded on the RR Lyrae variables. We have undertaken an observational campaign devoted to the definition of the average apparent luminosity, and to the study of the mass–metallicity relation for RR Lyrae stars in the bar of the LMC. These are compared with analogous quantities for cluster RR Lyrae stars. The purpose is to see whether an intrinsic difference in luminosity, possibly due to a difference in mass, might exist between field and cluster RR Lyrae stars, which could be responsible for the well-known dichotomy between short and long distance scales. Preliminary results are presented on the V and B − V light curves, the average apparent visual magnitude, and the pulsational properties of 102 RR Lyrae stars in the bar of the LMC, observed at ESO in January 1999. The photometric data are accurately tied to the Johnson photometric system. Comparison is presented with the photometry of RR Lyrae stars in the bar of the LMC obtained by the MACHO collaboration (Alcock et al. 1996). Our sample includes 9 double-mode RR Lyrae stars selected from Alcock et al. (1997) for which an estimate of the metal abundance from the ΔS method is presented.


1995 ◽  
Vol 155 ◽  
pp. 387-388
Author(s):  
Katalin Barlai ◽  
B. Szeidl

AbstractPeriod behaviour of 62 RR Lyrae stars in the M15 globular cluster has been investigated. About one half of the sample (30 stars) exhibited linear period change. The remaining 32 variables can be characterized by abrupt or erratic changes in their periods.


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