AX UMa, an ab-type RR Lyrae Star with a Rapidly Decreasing Pulsation Period, and Its Binarity

2021 ◽  
Vol 161 (4) ◽  
pp. 193
Author(s):  
L.-J. Li ◽  
S.-B. Qian ◽  
L.-Y. Zhu ◽  
J.-J. He ◽  
X.-H. Fang
Keyword(s):  
2019 ◽  
Vol 625 ◽  
pp. A1 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. F. Braga ◽  
P. B. Stetson ◽  
G. Bono ◽  
M. Dall’Ora ◽  
I. Ferraro ◽  
...  

We provide homogeneous optical (UBVRI) and near-infrared (NIR, JHK) time series photometry for 254 cluster (ω Cen, M 4) and field RR Lyrae (RRL) variables. We ended up with more than 551 000 measurements, of which only 9% are literature data. For 94 fundamental (RRab) and 51 first overtones (RRc) we provide a complete optical/NIR characterization (mean magnitudes, luminosity amplitudes, epoch of the anchor point). The NIR light curves of these variables were adopted to provide new light-curve templates for both RRc and RRab variables. The templates for the J and the H bands are newly introduced, together with the use of the pulsation period to discriminate among the different RRab templates. To overcome subtle uncertainties in the fit of secondary features of the light curves we provide two independent sets of analytical functions (Fourier and periodic Gaussian series). The new templates were validated by using 26 ω Cen and Bulge RRLs. We find that the difference between the measured mean magnitude along the light curve and the mean magnitude estimated by using the template on a single randomly extracted phase point is better than 0.01 mag (σ = 0.04 mag). We also validated the template on variables for which at least three phase points were available, but without information on the phase of the anchor point. We find that the accuracy of the mean magnitudes is also ∼0.01 mag (σ = 0.04 mag). The new templates were applied to the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) globular cluster Reticulum and by using literature data and predicted PLZ relations we find true distance moduli μ = 18.47 ± 0.10 (rand.) ± 0.03 (syst.) mag (J) and 18.49 ± 0.09 ± 0.05 mag (K). We also used literature optical and mid-infrared data and we found a mean μ of 18.47 ± 0.02 ± 0.06 mag, suggesting that Reticulum is ∼1 kpc closer than the LMC.


1973 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 221-228
Author(s):  
A. V. Sweigart ◽  
P. Demarque

Theoretical computations (Hoyle and Schwarzschild, 1955; Faulkner, 1966; Iben and Rood, 1970; Demarque and Mengel, 1971a, b) have identified the horizontal-branch stars in globular clusters with the evolution phase in which helium burns within a convective core and hydrogen burns in a shell outside the convective core. Most computations for such double-energy-source models have indicated that the evolution proceeds smoothly on a nuclear time scale during the horizontal-branch phase, leading to small predicted rates of change in the RR Lyrae pulsation period (Iben and Rood, 1970). Sweigart and Demarque (1972) have recently considered the effects of semiconvection on the horizontal-branch evolution of typical Population II stars and have suggested that changes in the composition distribution within the core may occur on a time scale considerably shorter than the nuclear time scale during the phase immediately preceding core-helium exhaustion. It has been found that the composition distribution generated by the growth of a semiconvective zone in the layers surrounding the convective core can become unstable when Yc, the helium abundance within the convective core, decreases below roughly 0.12. The changes in the internal structure caused by this instability result in relatively rapid movement of the models in the HR diagram and consequently produce large predicted rates of change in the RR Lyrae pulsation period. The possibility that RR Lyrae period changes may be associated with the behavior of the semiconvective zone has been previously suggested by Schwarzschild (1970). A similar instability may occur in the late core-hydrogen burning phase for stars around 10 M⊙. Percy (1970) has noted the coincidence of β Cephei stars with stellar models containing semiconvective zones. It is tempting to suggest that such an instability in the semiconvective zone could also be related to the β Cephei phenomenon.


2020 ◽  
Vol 494 (1) ◽  
pp. 1237-1249
Author(s):  
M Skarka ◽  
Z Prudil ◽  
J Jurcsik

ABSTRACT The number of stars observed by the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) project in the Galactic bulge offers an invaluable chance to study RR Lyrae stars in a statistical manner. We used data of 3141 fundamental-mode RR Lyrae stars showing the Blazhko effect observed in OGLE-IV to investigate a possible connection between modulation amplitudes and periods, light curve, and pulsation characteristics. We found that there is no simple monotonic correlation between any combination of two parameters concerning the Blazhko and pulsation amplitudes, periods, and the shape of the light curves. There are only systematic limits. There is a bottom limit of the modulation period with respect to the pulsation period. We also found that the possible range of modulation amplitudes decreases with increasing pulsation period, which could point towards that the Blazhko effect is suppressed in cooler, larger, more luminous, and less metal abundant bulge RR Lyrae stars. Our investigation revealed that the distribution of the modulation periods can be described with two populations of stars with the mean modulation periods of 48 and 186  d. There is a certain region with a low density of the modulated stars, which we call the Blazhko valley, in the pulsation period–modulation period plane. Based on the similarity of the modulation envelopes, basically every star can be assigned to one of six morphological classes. The double modulation was found in 25 per cent of the studied stars. Only 6.3 per cent of modulated stars belong to the Oosterhoff group II.


1993 ◽  
Vol 139 ◽  
pp. 324-324
Author(s):  
C. Cacciari ◽  
A. Bruzzi

The mass of RR Lyrae variables has been a controversial problem for about a decade: while the stellar evolution theory predicts masses ranging between 0.65 and 0.75 M⊙ for Oosterhoff type I and II clusters respectively, the stellar pulsation theory predicts smaller masses (0.55 and 0.65 respectively) using the double-mode pulsators. Simon (1990, M.N.R.A.S. 246, 70), comparing hydrodynamical models with observed stars by means of Fourier parameters, has found relations between the stellar mass and its luminosity, pulsation period, Helium content and Fourier parameter ϕ31. Combining his equations we obtain:(1)from which one can estimate the stellar mass by using the observable quantities P and ϕ31 and a luminosity scale, e.g. the one derived by Cacciari, Clementini and Fernley (1992, Astrophys. J. in press).


2019 ◽  
Vol 623 ◽  
pp. A109 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Gillet ◽  
B. Mauclaire ◽  
T. Lemoult ◽  
Ph. Mathias ◽  
J.-S. Devaux ◽  
...  

Context. RRab stars are large amplitude pulsating stars in which the pulsation wave is a progressive wave. Consequently, strong shocks, stratification effects, and phase lag may exist between the variations associated with line profiles formed in different parts of the atmosphere, including the shock wake. The pulsation is associated with a large extension of the expanding atmosphere, and strong infalling motions are expected. Aims. The objective of this study is to provide a general overview of the dynamical structure of the atmosphere occurring over a typical pulsation cycle. Methods. We report new high-resolution observations with high time resolution of Hα and sodium lines in the brightest RR Lyrae star of the sky: RR Lyr (HD 182989). A detailed analysis of line profile variations over the whole pulsation cycle is performed to understand the dynamical structure of the atmosphere. Results. The main shock wave appears when it exits from the photosphere at φ ≃ 0.89, i.e., when the main Hα emission is observed. Whereas the acceleration phase of the shock is not observed, a significant deceleration of the shock front velocity is clearly present. The radiative stage of the shock wave is short: 4% of the pulsation period (0.892 < φ < 0.929). A Mach number M > 10 is required to get such a radiative shock. The sodium layer reaches its maximum expansion well before that of Hα (Δφ = 0.135). Thus, a rarefaction wave is induced between the Hα and sodium layers. A strong atmospheric compression occurring around φ = 0.36, which produces the third Hα emission, takes place in the highest part of the atmosphere. The region located lower in the atmosphere where the sodium line is formed is not involved. The amplification of gas turbulence seems mainly due to strong shock waves propagating in the atmosphere rather than to the global compression of the atmosphere caused by the pulsation. It has not yet been clearly established whether the microturbulence velocity increases or decreases with height in the atmosphere. Furthermore, it seems very probable that an interstellar component is visible within the sodium profile.


2019 ◽  
Vol 622 ◽  
pp. A60 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Clementini ◽  
V. Ripepi ◽  
R. Molinaro ◽  
A. Garofalo ◽  
T. Muraveva ◽  
...  

Context. The Gaia second Data Release (DR2) presents a first mapping of full-sky RR Lyrae stars and Cepheids observed by the spacecraft during the initial 22 months of science operations. Aims. The Specific Objects Study (SOS) pipeline, developed to validate and fully characterise Cepheids and RR Lyrae stars (SOS Cep&RRL) observed by Gaia, has been presented in the documentation and papers accompanying the Gaia first Data Release. Here we describe how the SOS pipeline was modified to allow for processing the Gaia multi-band (G, GBP, and GRP) time-series photometry of all-sky candidate variables and produce specific results for confirmed RR Lyrae stars and Cepheids that are published in the DR2 catalogue. Methods. The SOS Cep&RRL processing uses tools such as the period–amplitude and the period–luminosity relations in the G band. For the analysis of the Gaia DR2 candidates we also used tools based on the GBP and GRP photometry, such as the period–Wesenheit relation in (G, GRP). Results. Multi-band time-series photometry and characterisation by the SOS Cep&RRL pipeline are published in Gaia DR2 for 150 359 such variables (9575 classified as Cepheids and 140 784 as RR Lyrae stars) distributed throughout the sky. The sample includes variables in 87 globular clusters and 14 dwarf galaxies (the Magellanic Clouds, 5 classical and 7 ultra-faint dwarfs). To the best of our knowledge, as of 25 April 2018, the variability of 50 570 of these sources (350 Cepheids and 50 220 RR Lyrae stars) has not been reported before in the literature, therefore they are likely new discoveries by Gaia. An estimate of the interstellar absorption is published for 54 272 fundamental-mode RR Lyrae stars from a relation based on the G-band amplitude and the pulsation period. Metallicities derived from the Fourier parameters of the light curves are also released for 64 932 RR Lyrae stars and 3738 fundamental-mode classical Cepheids with periods shorter than 6.3 days.


1966 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
pp. 3-5
Author(s):  
W. W. Morgan

1. The definition of “normal” stars in spectral classification changes with time; at the time of the publication of theYerkes Spectral Atlasthe term “normal” was applied to stars whose spectra could be fitted smoothly into a two-dimensional array. Thus, at that time, weak-lined spectra (RR Lyrae and HD 140283) would have been considered peculiar. At the present time we would tend to classify such spectra as “normal”—in a more complicated classification scheme which would have a parameter varying with metallic-line intensity within a specific spectral subdivision.


1966 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 93-97
Author(s):  
Richard Woolley

It is now possible to determine proper motions of high-velocity objects in such a way as to obtain with some accuracy the velocity vector relevant to the Sun. If a potential field of the Galaxy is assumed, one can compute an actual orbit. A determination of the velocity of the globular clusterωCentauri has recently been completed at Greenwich, and it is found that the orbit is strongly retrograde in the Galaxy. Similar calculations may be made, though with less certainty, in the case of RR Lyrae variable stars.


2012 ◽  
Vol 423 (2) ◽  
pp. 993-1005 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Jurcsik ◽  
Á. Sódor ◽  
G. Hajdu ◽  
B. Szeidl ◽  
Á. Dózsa ◽  
...  

Abstract The analysis of recent, extended multicolour CCD and archive photoelectric, photographic and visual observations has revealed several important properties of RZ Lyr, an RRab-type variable exhibiting large-amplitude Blazhko modulation. On the time base of ∼110 yr, a strict anticorrelation between the pulsation- and modulation-period changes is established. The light curve of RZ Lyr shows a remarkable bump on the descending branch in the small-amplitude phase of the modulation, similarly to the light curves of bump Cepheids. We speculate that the stellar structure temporally suits a 4:1 resonance between the periods of the fundamental and one of the higher order radial modes in this modulation phase. The light-curve variation of RZ Lyr can be correctly fitted with a two-modulation-component solution; the 121-d period of the main modulation is nearly but not exactly four times longer than the period of the secondary modulation component. Using the inverse photometric method, the variations in the pulsation-averaged values of the physical parameters in different phases of both modulation components are determined.


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.


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