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The luminosities and distance scales of type II Cepheid and RR Lyrae variables
Infrared and optical absolute magnitudes are derived for the type IICepheids κ Pav and VY Pyx using revised Hipparcos parallaxes andfor κ Pav, V553 Cen and SW Tau from pulsational parallaxes.Revised Hipparcos and HST parallaxes for RR Lyrae agree satisfactorilyand are combined in deriving absolute magnitudes. Phase-corrected J, Hand Ks mags are given for 142 Hipparcos RR Lyraes based onTwo-Micron All-Sky Survey observations. Pulsation and trigonometricalparallaxes for classical Cepheids are compared to establish the bestvalue for the projection factor (p) used in pulsational analyses.The MV of RR Lyrae itself is 0.16 +/- 0.12 mag brighter thanpredicted from an MV-[Fe/H] relation based on RR Lyrae starsin the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) at a modulus of 18.39 +/- 0.05 asfound from classical Cepheids. This is consistent with the prediction ofCatelan & Cortés that it is overluminous for its metallicity.The results for the metal- and carbon-rich Galactic disc stars, V553 Cenand SW Tau, each with small internal errors (+/-0.08 mag) have a meandeviation of only 0.02 mag from the period-luminosity (PL) relationestablished by Matsunaga et al. for type II Cepheids in globularclusters and with a zero-point based on the same LMC-scale. Comparingdirectly the luminosities of these two stars with published data on typeII Cepheids in the LMC and in the Galactic bulge leads to an LMC modulusof 18.37 +/- 0.09 and a distance to the Galactic Centre of R0= 7.64 +/- 0.21kpc. The data for VY Pyx agree with these results withinthe uncertainties set by its parallax. Evidence is presented thatκ Pav may have a close companion and possible implications of thisare discussed. If the pulsational parallax of this star is incorporatedin the analyses, the distance scales just discussed will be increased by~0.15 +/- 0.15 mag. V553 Cen and SW Tau show that at optical wavelengthsPL relations are wider for field stars than for those in globularclusters. This is probably due to a narrower range of masses in thelatter case.
| Stellar evolution through the ages: period variations in galactic RRab stars as derived from the GEOS database and TAROT telescopes
Context: The theory of stellar evolution can be more closely tested ifwe have the opportunity to measure new quantities. Nowadays,observations of galactic RR Lyr stars are available on a time baselineexceeding 100 years. Therefore, we can exploit the possibility ofinvestigating period changes, continuing the pioneering work started byV. P. Tsesevich in 1969. Aims: We collected the available times ofmaximum brightness of the galactic RR Lyr stars in the GEOS RR Lyrdatabase. Moreover, we also started new observational projects,including surveys with automated telescopes, to characterise the O-Cdiagrams better. Methods: The database we built has proved to be a verypowerful tool for tracing the period variations through the ages. Weanalyzed 123 stars showing a clear O-C pattern (constant, parabolic orerratic) by means of different least-squares methods. Results: Clearevidence of period increases or decreases at constant rates has beenfound, suggesting evolutionary effects. The median values are β =+0.14 d Myr-1 for the 27 stars showing a period increase andβ = -0.20 d Myr-1 for the 21 stars showing a perioddecrease. The large number of RR Lyr stars showing a period decrease(i.e., blueward evolution) is a new and intriguing result. There is anexcess of RR Lyr stars showing large, positive β values. Moreover,the observed β values are slightly larger than those predicted bytheoretical models.Tables 3, 4, 5 and Figs. 2, 3 are only available in electronic form athttp://www.aanda.org
| The GEOS RR Lyr Survey
Not Available
| Analysis of RR Lyrae Stars in the Northern Sky Variability Survey
We use data from the Northern Sky Variability Survey (NSVS), obtainedfrom the first-generation Robotic Optical Transient Search Experiment(ROTSE-I), to identify and study RR Lyrae variable stars in the solarneighborhood. We initially identified 1197 RRab (RR0) candidate starsbrighter than the ROTSE median magnitude V=14. Periods, amplitudes, andmean V magnitudes are determined for a subset of 1188 RRab stars withwell-defined light curves. Metallicities are determined for 589 stars bythe Fourier parameter method and by the relationship between period,amplitude, and [Fe/H]. We comment on the difficulties of clearlyclassifying RRc (RR1) variables in the NSVS data set. Distances to theRRab stars are calculated using an adopted luminosity-metallicityrelation with corrections for interstellar extinction. The 589 RRabstars in our final sample are used to study the properties of the RRabpopulation within 5 kpc of the Sun. The Bailey diagram of period versusamplitude shows that the largest component of this sample belongs toOosterhoff type I. Metal-rich ([Fe/H]>-1) RRab stars appear to beassociated with the Galactic disk. Our metal-rich RRab sample mayinclude a thin-disk, as well as a thick-disk population, although theuncertainties are too large to establish this. There is some evidenceamong the metal-rich RRab stars for a decline in scale height withincreasing [Fe/H], as was found by Layden. The distribution of RRabstars with -1<[Fe/H]<-1.25 indicates that within this metallicityrange the RRab stars are a mixture of stars belonging to halo and diskpopulations.
| [Fe/H] derived from the light curves of RR Lyrae stars in the Galactic halo
Context: .The iron abundance of halo RR Lyrae stars can provideimportant information about the formation history of the Galactichalo. Aims: .We determine the [Fe/H] of the sample of halo RRabstars by using the P-ϕ31-[Fe/H] relation developed byJurcsik & Kovács based on their light curves. We need toextend the relation from the V band to our unfiltered CCD band. Methods: .To do this, we use the low-dispersion spectroscopic [Fe/H] ofliteratures and the photometric data released by the first-generationRobotic Optical Transient Search Experiment (ROTSE-I) project. We doregression analyses for the calibrating sample using a linear functionand test its validity by comparing of the predicted [Fe/H] with thespectroscopic [Fe/H]. In general, the fit accuracy for the two different[Fe/H] is better than 0.19 dex. Results: . We derive an empiricalP-ϕ31-[Fe/H] linear relation for the unfiltered CCD band(ROTSE-I), i.e. [ Fe/H]=-3.766-5.350P+1.044ϕ31. In ourtest, the P-ϕ31-[Fe/H] relation is also fit for ourunfiltered CCD band. In addition, another linear relation,ϕ31_V=0.882+0.792ϕ31_W, is also derivedfor the transformation between the V and W bands. We present thepredicted [Fe/H] of the sample (the 31 halo RRab stars) in a catalog. Conclusions: . The mean [Fe/H] of the sample is -1.63 with dispersionof 0.45 dex in distribution, which is consistent with the resultsderived from the blue horizontal branch star candidates by Kinnman etal. (2000, A&A, 364, 102). The mean [Fe/H] values of the RRab starsin the range of 1 kpc, 2 kpc, and 3 kpc from the star 91 (a double-modeRR Lyrae star), are all lower than that of the background halo stars.These values are consistent with that of star 91 suggested by Wu et al.(2005, AJ, 130, 1640), which indicates they might have a common origin.
| A catalogue of RR Lyrae stars from the Northern Sky Variability Survey
A search for RR Lyrae stars has been conducted in the publicly availabledata of the Northern Sky Variability Survey. Candidates have beenselected by the statistical properties of their variation; the standarddeviation, skewness and kurtosis with appropriate limits determined froma sample 314 known RRab and RRc stars listed in the General Catalogue ofVariable Stars. From the period analysis and light-curve shape of over3000 candidates 785 RR Lyrae have been identified of which 188 arepreviously unknown. The light curves were examined for the Blazhkoeffect and several new stars showing this were found. Six double-mode RRLyrae stars were also found of which two are new discoveries. Somepreviously known variables have been reclassified as RR Lyrae stars andsimilarly some RR Lyrae stars have been found to be other types ofvariable, or not variable at all.
| Proper identification of RR Lyrae stars brighter than 12.5 mag
RR Lyrae stars are of great importance for investigations of Galacticstructure. However, a complete compendium of all RR-Lyraes in the solarneighbourhood with accurate classifications and coordinates does notexist to this day. Here we present a catalogue of 561 local RR-Lyraestars (V_max ≤ 12.5 mag) according to the magnitudes given in theCombined General Catalogue of Variable Stars (GCVS) and 16 fainter ones.The Tycho2 catalogue contains ≃100 RR Lyr stars. However, manyobjects have inaccurate coordinates in the GCVS, the primary source ofvariable star information, so that a reliable cross-identification isdifficult. We identified RR Lyrae from both catalogues based on anintensive literature search. In dubious cases we carried out photometryof fields to identify the variable. Mennessier & Colome (2002,A&A, 390, 173) have published a paper with Tyc2-GCVSidentifications, but we found that many of their identifications arewrong.
| RR Lyrae stars: kinematics, orbits and z-distribution
RR Lyrae stars in the Milky Way are good tracers to study the kinematicbehaviour and spatial distribution of older stellar populations. Arecently established well documented sample of 217 RR Lyr stars withV<12.5 mag, for which accurate distances and radial velocities aswell as proper motions from the Hipparcos and Tycho-2 catalogues areavailable, has been used to reinvestigate these structural parameters.The kinematic parameters allowed to calculate the orbits of the stars.Nearly 1/3 of the stars of our sample have orbits staying near the MilkyWay plane. Of the 217 stars, 163 have halo-like orbits fulfilling one ofthe following criteria: Θ < 100 km s-1, orbiteccentricity >0.4, and normalized maximum orbital z-distance>0.45. Of these stars roughly half have retrograde orbits. Thez-distance probability distribution of this sample shows scale heightsof 1.3±0.1 kpc for the disk component and 4.6±0.3 kpc forthe halo component. With our orbit statistics method we found a(vertical) spatial distribution which, out to z=20 kpc, is similar tothat found with other methods. This distribution is also compatible withthe ones found for blue (HBA and sdB) halo stars. The circular velocityΘ, the orbit eccentricity, orbit z-extent and [Fe/H] are employedto look for possible correlations. If any, it is that the metal poorstars with [Fe/H] <1.0 have a wide symmetric distribution aboutΘ=0, thus for this subsample on average a motion independent ofdisk rotation. We conclude that the Milky Way possesses a halo componentof old and metal poor stars with a scale height of 4-5 kpc having randomorbits. The presence in our sample of a few metal poor stars (thus partof the halo population) with thin disk-like orbits is statistically notsurprising. The midplane density ratio of halo to disk stars is found tobe 0.16, a value very dependent on proper sample statistics.
| Subsystems of RR Lyrae Variable Stars in Our Galaxy
We have used published, high-accuracy, ground-based and satelliteproper-motion measurements, a compilation of radial velocities, andphotometric distances to compute the spatial velocities and Galacticorbital elements for 174 RR Lyrae (ab) variable stars in the solarneighborhood. The computed orbital elements and published heavy-elementabundances are used to study relationships between the chemical,spatial, and kinematic characteristics of nearby RR Lyrae variables. Weobserve abrupt changes of the spatial and kinematic characteristics atthe metallicity [Fe/H]≈-0.95 and also when the residual spatialvelocities relative to the LSR cross the critical value V res≈290km/s. This provides evidence that the general population of RR Lyraestars is not uniform and includes at least three subsystems occupyingdifferent volumes in the Galaxy. Based on the agreement between typicalparameters for corresponding subsystems of RR Lyrae stars and globularclusters, we conclude that metal-rich stars and globular clusters belongto a rapidly rotating and fairly flat, thick-disk subsystem with a largenegative vertical metallicity gradient. Objects with larger metaldeficiencies can, in turn, be subdivided into two populations, but usingdifferent criteria for stars and clusters. We suggest that field starswith velocities below the critical value and clusters with extremelyblue horizontal branches form a spherical, slowly rotating subsystem ofthe protodisk halo, which has a common origin with the thick disk; thissubsystem has small but nonzero radial and vertical metallicitygradients. The dimensions of this subsystem, estimated from theapogalactic radii of orbits of field stars, are approximately the same.Field stars displaying more rapid motion and clusters with redderhorizontal branches constitute the spheroidal subsystem of the accretedouter halo, which is approximately a factor of three larger in size thanthe first two subsystems. It has no metallicity gradients; most of itsstars have eccentric orbits, many display retrograde motion in theGalaxy, and their ages are comparatively low, supporting the hypothesisthat the objects in this subsystem had an extragalactic origin.
| Bias Properties of Extragalactic Distance Indicators. XI. Methods to Correct for Observational Selection Bias for RR Lyrae Absolute Magnitudes from Trigonometric Parallaxes Expected from the Full-Sky Astrometric Mapping Explorer Satellite
A short history is given of the development of the correction forobservation selection bias inherent in the calibration of absolutemagnitudes using trigonometric parallaxes. The developments have beendue to Eddington, Jeffreys, Trumpler & Weaver, Wallerstein,Ljunggren & Oja, West, Lutz & Kelker, after whom the bias isnamed, Turon Lacarrieu & Crézé, Hanson, Smith, andmany others. As a tutorial to gain an intuitive understanding of severalcomplicated trigonometric bias problems, we study a toy bias model of aparallax catalog that incorporates assumed parallax measuring errors ofvarious severities. The two effects of bias errors on the derivedabsolute magnitudes are (1) the Lutz-Kelker correction itself, whichdepends on the relative parallax error δπ/π and the spatialdistribution, and (2) a Malmquist-like ``incompleteness'' correction ofopposite sign due to various apparent magnitude cutoffs as they areprogressively imposed on the catalog. We calculate the bias propertiesusing simulations involving 3×106 stars of fixedabsolute magnitude using Mv=+0.6 to imitate RR Lyraevariables in the mean. These stars are spread over a spherical volumebounded by a radius 50,000 pc with different spatial densitydistributions. The bias is demonstrated by first using a fixed rmsparallax uncertainty per star of 50 μas and then using a variable rmsaccuracy that ranges from 50 μas at apparent magnitude V=9 to 500μas at V=15 according to the specifications for the Full-SkyAstrometric Mapping Explorer (FAME) satellite to be launched in 2004.The effects of imposing magnitude limits and limits on the``observer's'' error, δπ/π, are displayed. We contrast themethod of calculating mean absolute magnitude directly from theparallaxes where bias corrections are mandatory, with an inverse methodusing maximum likelihood that is free of the Lutz-Kelker bias, althougha Malmquist bias is present. Simulations show the power of the inversemethod. Nevertheless, we recommend reduction of the data using bothmethods. Each must give the same answer if each is freed from systematicerror. Although the maximum likelihood method will, in theory, eliminatemany of the bias problems of the direct method, nevertheless the biascorrections required by the direct method can be determined empiricallyvia Spaenhauer diagrams immediately from the data, as discussed in theearlier papers of this series. Any correlation of the absolute(trigonometric) magnitudes with the (trigonometric) distances is thebias. We discuss the level of accuracy that can be expected in acalibration of RR Lyrae absolute magnitudes from the FAME data over themetallicity range of [Fe/H] from 0 to -2, given the known frequency ofthe local RR Lyrae stars closer than 1.5 kpc. Of course, use will alsobe made of the entire FAME database for the RR Lyrae stars over thecomplete range of distances that can be used to empirically determinethe random and systematic errors from the FAME parallax catalog, usingcorrelations of derived absolute magnitude with distance and position inthe sky. These bias corrections are expected to be much more complicatedthan only a function of apparent magnitude because of variousrestrictions due to orbital constraints on the spacecraft.
| Empirical relations for cluster RR Lyrae stars revisited
Our former study on the empirical relations between the Fourierparameters of the light curves of the fundamental mode RR Lyrae starsand their basic stellar parameters has been extended to considerablylarger data sets. The most significant contribution to the absolutemagnitude MV comes from the period P and from the firstFourier amplitude A1, but there are statistically significantcontributions also from additional higher order components, mostimportantly from A3 and in a lesser degree from the Fourierphase varphi51. When different colors are combined inreddening-free quantities, we obtain basically period-luminosity-colorrelations. Due to the log Teff(B-V,log g,[Fe/H]) relationfrom stellar atmosphere models, we would expect some dependence also onvarphi 31. Unfortunately, the data are still not extensiveand accurate enough to decipher clearly the small effect of this Fourierphase. However, with the aid of more accurate multicolor data on fieldvariables, we show that this Fourier phase should be present either inV-I or in B-V or in both. From the standard deviations of the variousregressions, an upper limit can be obtained on the overall inhomogeneityof the reddening in the individual clusters. This yields sigmaE(B-V)<~ 0.012 mag, which also implies an average minimumobservational error of sigmaV >~ 0.018 mag.
| Absolute Magnitudes and Kinematic Parameters of the Subsystem of RR Lyrae Variables
The statistical parallax technique is applied to a sample of 262 RRabLyrae variables with published photoelectric photometry, metallicities,and radial velocities and with measured absolute proper motions.Hipparcos, PPM, NPM, and the Four-Million Star Catalog (Volchkov et al.1992) were used as the sources of proper motions; the proper motionsfrom the last three catalogs were reduced to the Hipparcos system. Wedetermine parameters of the velocity distribution for halo [(U_0, V_0,W_0) = (-9 +/- 12, -214 +/- 10, -16 +/- 7) km/s and (sigma_U, sigma_V,sigma_W) = (164 +/- 11, 105 +/- 7, 95 +/- 7) km/s] and thick-disk [(U_0,V_0, W_0) = (-16 +/- 8, -41 +/- 7, -18 +/- 5) km/s and (sigma_U,sigma_V, sigma_W) = (53 +/- 9, 42 +/- 8, 26 +/- 5) km/s] RR Lyrae, aswell as the intensity-averaged absolute magnitude for RR Lyrae of thesepopulations: = 0.77 +/- 0.10 and = +1.11 +/-0.28 for the halo and thick-disk objects, respectively. The metallicitydependence of the absolute magnitude of RR Lyrae is analyzed(=(0.76 +/- 0.12) + (0.26 +/- 0.26) x ([Fe/H] + 1.6) = 1.17 +0.26 x [Fe/H]). Our results are in satisfactory agreement with the_(RR)-[Fe/H] relation from Carney et al. (1992)(_(RR) = 1.01 + 0.15 x [Fe/H]) obtained by Baade-Wesselink'smethod. They provide evidence for a short distance scale: the LMCdistance modulus and the distance to the Galactic center are 18.22 +/-0.11 and 7.4 +/-±0.5 kpc, respectively. The zero point ofthe distance scale and the kinematic parameters of the RR Lyraepopulations are shown to be virtually independent of the source ofabsolute proper motions used and of whether they are reduced to theHipparcos system or not.
| Stars with the Largest Hipparcos Photometric Amplitudes
A list of the 2027 stars that have the largest photometric amplitudes inHipparcos Photometry shows that most variable stars are all Miras. Thepercentage of variable types change as a function of amplitude. Thiscompilation should also be of value to photometrists looking forrelatively unstudied, but large amplitude stars.
| Revised Prediction Elements For 33 Southern RR Lyrae Stars
Visual observations in the AAVSO International Database of 23 RR Lyraestars of southern declination have been reduced; revised maximaprediction elements are given for 21 of these stars. Maxima predictionelements are established for RZ Cap and AN Cap.
| Kinematics of Metal-poor Stars in the Galaxy. II. Proper Motions for a Large Nonkinematically Selected Sample
We present a revised catalog of 2106 Galactic stars, selected withoutkinematic bias and with available radial velocities, distance estimates,and metal abundances in the range -4.0<=[Fe/H]<=0.0. This updateof the 1995 Beers & Sommer-Larsen catalog includes newly derivedhomogeneous photometric distance estimates, revised radial velocitiesfor a number of stars with recently obtained high-resolution spectra,and refined metallicities for stars originally identified in the HKobjective-prism survey (which account for nearly half of the catalog)based on a recent recalibration. A subset of 1258 stars in this cataloghave available proper motions based on measurements obtained with theHipparcos astrometry satellite or taken from the updated AstrographicCatalogue (second epoch positions from either the Hubble Space TelescopeGuide Star Catalog or the Tycho Catalogue), the Yale/San Juan SouthernProper Motion Catalog 2.0, and the Lick Northern Proper Motion Catalog.Our present catalog includes 388 RR Lyrae variables (182 of which arenewly added), 38 variables of other types, and 1680 nonvariables, withdistances in the range 0.1 to 40 kpc.
| A Test for Large-Scale Systematic Errors in Maps of Galactic Reddening
Accurate maps of Galactic reddening are important for a number ofapplications, such as mapping the peculiar velocity field in the nearbyuniverse. Of particular concern are systematic errors which vary slowlyas a function of position on the sky, as these would induce spuriousbulk flow. We have compared the reddenings of Burstein & Heiles (BH)and those of Schlegel, Finkbeiner, & Davis (SFD) to independentestimates of the reddening, for Galactic latitudes |b|>10^deg. Ourprimary source of Galactic reddening estimates comes from comparing thedifference between the observed B-V colors of early-type galaxies, andthe predicted B-V color determined from the B-V-Mg_2 relation. We havefitted a dipole to the residuals in order to look for large-scalesystematic deviations. There is marginal evidence for a dipolar residualin the comparison between the SFD maps and the observed early-typegalaxy reddenings. If this is due to an error in the SFD maps, then itcan be corrected with a small (13%) multiplicative dipole term. Weargue, however, that this difference is more likely to be due to a small(0.01 mag) systematic error in the measured B-V colors of the early-typegalaxies. This interpretation is supported by a smaller, independentdata set (globular cluster and RR Lyrae stars), which yields a resultinconsistent with the early-type galaxy residual dipole. BH reddeningsare found to have no significant systematic residuals, apart from theknown problem in the region 230^deg
| The absolute magnitudes of RR Lyraes from HIPPARCOS parallaxes and proper motions
We have used HIPPARCOS proper motions and the method of StatisticalParallax to estimate the absolute magnitude of RR Lyrae stars. Inaddition we used the HIPPARCOS parallax of RR Lyrae itself to determineit's absolute magnitude. These two results are in excellent agreementwith each other and give a zero-point for the RR Lyrae M_v,[Fe/H]relation of 0.77+/-0.15 at [Fe/H]=-1.53. This zero-point is in goodagreement with that obtained recently by several groups usingBaade-Wesselink methods which, averaged over the results from thedifferent groups, gives M_v = 0.73+/-0.14 at [Fe/H]=-1.53. Taking theHIPPARCOS based zero-point and a value of 0.18+/-0.03 for the slope ofthe M_v,[Fe/H] relation from the literature we find firstly, thedistance modulus of the LMC is 18.26+/-0.15 and secondly, the mean ageof the Globular Clusters is 17.4+/-3.0 GYrs. These values are comparedwith recent estimates based on other "standard candles" that have alsobeen calibrated with HIPPARCOS data. It is clear that, in addition toastrophysical problems, there are also problems in the application ofHIPPARCOS data that are not yet fully understood. Table 1, whichcontains the basic data for the RR Lyraes, is available only at CDS. Itmay be retrieved via anonymous FTP at cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5)or via the Web at http://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html
| Early evolution of the Galactic halo revealed from Hipparcos observations of metal-poor stars
The kinematics of 122 red giant and 124 RR Lyrae stars in the solarneighborhood are studied using accurate measurements of their propermotions obtained by the Hipparcos astrometry satellite, combined withtheir published photometric distances, metal abundances, and radialvelocities. A majority of these sample stars have metal abundances of(Fe/H) = -1 or less and thus represent the old stellar populations inthe Galaxy. The halo component, with (Fe/H) = -1.6 or less, ischaracterized by a lack of systemic rotation and a radially elongatedvelocity ellipsoid. About 16 percent of such metal-poor stars have loworbital eccentricities, and we see no evidence of a correlation between(Fe/H) and e. Based on the model for the e-distribution of orbits, weshow that this fraction of low-e stars for (Fe/H) = -1.6 or less isexplained by the halo component alone, without introducing the extradisk component claimed by recent workers. This is also supported by theabsence of a significant change in the e-distribution with height fromthe Galactic plane. In the intermediate-metallicity range, we find thatstars with disklike kinematics have only modest effects on thedistributions of rotational velocities and e for the sample at absolutevalue of z less than 1 kpc. This disk component appears to constituteonly 10 percent for (Fe/H) between -1.6 and -1 and 20 percent for (Fe/H)between -1.4 and -1.
| The Absolute Magnitude and Kinematics of RR Lyrae Stars Via Statistical Parallax
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1996AJ....112.2110L&db_key=AST
| Determination of [Fe/H] from the light curves of RR Lyrae stars.
We present an accurate and robust method for the calculation of [Fe/H]from the light curves of RRab stars. The method introduces aconsiderable improvement relative to our previously published formulae.First of all, it uses an improved and extended data base for the lightcurves and more accurate, very recent iron abundances. Secondly, the newdata base makes it possible to show that the basic relation between[Fe/H] and the Fourier parameters is linear and contains only the periodand one of the Fourier phases, most importantly φ_31_. Last but notleast, we derive interrelations among the Fourier parameters which helpus to filter out peculiar stars where more caution is needed inaccepting the calculated abundance. The applicability of the method isdemonstrated on independent samples of globular cluster stars.Peculiarities encountered in Blazhko variables and in some other casesare also discussed.
| Accurate Positions Of Variable Stars Near The South Galactic Pole
Not Available
| The Metallicities and Kinematics of RR Lyrae Variables.II. Galactic Structure and Formation from Local Stars
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1995AJ....110.2288L
| Kinematics of metal-poor stars in the galaxy
We discuss the kinematic properties of a sample of 1936 Galactic stars,selected without kinematic bias, and with abundances (Fe/H) is less thanor equal to -0.6. The stars selected for this study all have measuredradial velocities, and the majority have abundances determined fromspectroscopic or narrow-/intermediate-band photometric techniques. Incontrast to previous examinations of the kinematics of the metal-poorstars in the Galaxy, our sample contains large numbers of stars that arelocated at distances in excess of 1 kpc from the Galactic plane. Thus, amuch clearer picture of the nature of the metal-deficient populations inthe Galaxy can now be drawn.
| The metallicities and kinematics of RR Lyrae variables, 1: New observations of local stars
In order to study the structure and formation history of the galaxy, wehave obtained low-to-moderate dispersion spectra of 302 nearby RR Lyraevariables of Bailey type 'ab'. We derived abundances, typically accurateto 0.15-0.20 dex and calibrated to the Zinn & West (1984) globularcluster metallicity scale, from the pseudoequivalent widths of the Ca IIK, H delta, H gamma, and H beta lines. Radial velocities accurate tobetween 2 and 30 km/s were obtained from the spectra and from theliterature. Distances accurate to between 5% and 20% were derived frompublished apparent magnitudes and Burstein & Heiles (1982)reddenings. The metallicity distribution of the RR Lyrae stars peaks at(Fe/H)K approximately equals -1.5, and is narrower than thatof the Ryan & Norris (1991) subdwarfs, as expected since the mostmetal-rich and metal-poor progenitors preferentially appear as stablered and blue horizontal branch stars, rather than as RR Lyrae. Themetal-rich tail of the RR Lyrae distribution extends to(Fe/H)K approximately equals 0, and a qualitative analysis ofthe distribution of distances from the galactic plane shows that thestars in this tail (i.e., (Fe/H)K greater than -1.0) are moreconcentrated to the plane than the more metal-poor stars. The abundancedistribution of the local RR Lyrae stars is in excellent agreement withthe changing abundance distributions of distant RR Lyrae stars as afunction of galactocentric distance, as derived by Suntzeff et al.(1991), who ascribed this change to systematic variation in horizontalbranch morphology (probably age variations) with galactocentricdistance. The abundance distribution of the local RR Lyrae stars alsoagrees well with those of the distant RR Lyrae stars as a function ofdistance from the galactic plane. There is no evidence for an abundancegradient in this direction, suggesting that gaseous dissipation did notplay a major role in the formation of the outer halo.
| Pulsation and stability of RR Lyrae stars. 1: Instability strip
In order to provide a detailed analysis of RR Lyrae instability striptopology, an extensive grid of nonlinear, nonlocal, and time-dependentconvective models of RR Lyrae stars has been computed at fixed mass (M =0.65 solar mass) and chemical composition (Y = 0.299, Z = 0.001). Fourseries of envelope models at different luminosity levels (log(L/solarluminosity) = 1.81, 1.72, 1.61, 1.51) and on a large range of effectivetemperatures (5700 K less than Te less than 8000 K) have beeninvestigated. The nonlinear modal stability has been evaluated atlimiting amplitude for both the fundamental and the first overtone. Theequations governing both dynamical and convective interactions have beenintegrated in time until the initial perturbations and the nonlinearfluctuations due to superposition of higher order modes settled down.The theoretical observables obtained by the present survey (radius,luminosity, velocity and temperature amplitudes, periods) describe thepulsation characteristics of the models at full amplitude, hence theycan be properly compared with observations. A linear, nonadiabaticsurvey of the first three modes of RR Lyrae models has been alsocomputed to supply the static structure of the envelope to the nonlinearstability analysis. Several numerical simulations have been performed totest both the numerical accuracy (boundary conditions, time-step size,zoning) and the adequacy of the physical assumption (efficiency of theturbulent regime, artificial viscosity dependence, convective structureinitialization) adopted to describe the coupling between dynamical andconvective fields. The structure of the instability strip shows severalstriking features concerning the width in temperature of the regionwhere only the first overtone is unstable. Indeed, the fundamental blueedge, moving from higher to lower luminosity levels, becomes redder, incontrast to previous findings but in agreement with globular clustersobserved data. Moreover, using an improved treatment of the convectivetransport, the first-overtone red edge has been directly evaluated andhence also the width of the 'either-or' region (i.e., the region whereboth the fundamental and the first overtone are simultaneouslyunstable). It has been found that the periods of the nonlinearconvective models are systematically smaller than the correspondingperiods of both linear and nonlinear radiative models. The differencesbetween linear and nonlinear results are smaller than 2% of the period,however. This effect has been explained as a consequence of the changesinduced during the phases of maximum compression by the convectivetransport on the adiabatic exponent, and on the density inversionlocated in coincidence with the hydrogen ionization reigon.
| The Oosterhoff period-metallicity relation for RR Lyrae stars at the blue fundamental edge of the instability strip.
It is argued that the division of cluster variables into two nearlydiscrete period groups, which is the Oosterhoff dichotomy, is due to acombination of the continuous variation of period with metallicity andthe blueward progression of cluster horizontal branches such as M13 outof the instability strip for intermediate metallicities for (Fe/H)between about -1.7 and -1.9. The subsequent evolutionary tracks,starting beyond the blue side of the instability strip, move into thestrip above the zero-age horizontal branch, producing longer periods inthis metallicity range. The strong variation of period with metallicityis seen both in the cluster data and in the field star data.
| Infrared photometry and radial velocities of field RR Lyraes
Infrared photometry of 110 field RR Lyraes is presented along withradial velocities of 13 field RR Lyraes. The methods used are described.
| A re-analysis of the period shifts in RR Lyrae stars
The period shift in both field and globular cluster RR Lyrae stars isexamined. The stellar pulsation theory called the Sandage Period Shiftto determine the mean M(V) of RR Lyrae stars is investigated. Theadvantages of (V-K) compared to (B-V) as a temperature indicator for RRLyraes are discussed in detail. Period shift-metallicity relations arederived using recently published infrared photometry of field RR Lyraesand globular cluster RR Lyraes. Other method for determining mean M(V)for RR Lyraes are critically reviewed. It is argued that results formain sequence fitting, statistical parallax, and Red Giant Branch theoryare presently too uncertain to be used. The slope of themass-metallicity relation from pulsation theory is in seriousdisagreement with that from Horizontal Branch Theory.
| The reddening of type AB RR Lyrae stars
The paper modifies Sturch's (1966) method for deriving, from observednear-minimum light colors, EB-V values for RR Lyrae starswith Bailey's types for a or b light curves in order to avoid the use ofreddening and metallicity-sensitive U-B colors. The Delta(S), (Fe/H)calibration is examined, and blanketing corrections are derived fromsynthetic colors of models by Kurucz (1975, 1979). Sturch's finding thatthe intrinsic blanketing-corrected near-minimum light B-V color of avariable can be estimated from its period is verified. The inherentaccuracy of the method is discussed and found to depend appreciably oncycle-to-cycle color variations. Comparisons are made with otherreddening determinations. The blanketing corrections determined bySturch from delta(U-B) values are found to make his EB-Vvalues less than those found in the present study, while his estimatedintrinsic colors make his EB-V values greater than thosefound in this study.
| Detection of a galactic color gradient for blue horizontal-branch stars of the halo field and implications for the halo age and density distributions
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1991ApJ...375..121P
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Observation and Astrometry data
| Constellation: | Wassermann |
| Right ascension: | 23h19m17.20s |
| Declination: | -24°12'58.8" |
| Apparent magnitude: | 11.161 |
| Proper motion RA: | 43.5 |
| Proper motion Dec: | -14 |
| B-T magnitude: | 11.603 |
| V-T magnitude: | 11.198 |
Catalogs and designations:
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