天琴RR型变星的绝对星等与运动学参数须同祺

对天琴RR型变星绝对星等与运动学参数的测定及其对确定距离、球状星团年龄估计的影响,并对它们和其他距离指示器求得的结果的比较作了评述.由于不同作者采用的方法和资料不同,结果的不确定性较大.例如由直接和间接测定方法决定的天琴RR型变星的绝对星等分成较暗和较亮两类,由天琴RR型变星和其他距离指示器决定的大麦哲伦云(LMC) 的距离模数和球状星团年龄估计并不完全一致.这表明还有一些天体测量和天体物理问题需要深入研究.新的空间视差卫星和地基干涉测定计划将可能有助这些问题的解决.     

星星到底有多远（7）光度距离的绝对测定

在本系列文章之（3）～（6）中,我们已经概要介绍了多种不同的测定天体光度距离的方法,包括利用造父变星的周光关系,星团的主序重叠法,以早型亮星、新星、天琴RR型变星和超新星的绝对星等作为标准烛光（即标距参数）,以及利用球状星团系统和行星状星云系统光度函数中的特征星等作为标桂烛光等。在天文研究中,通过光度测距方法确定天体和天体系统的距离有着最为广泛的用武之地,后文（本系列文章之（8））还会再介绍若干种测定遥远河外星系光度距离的途径。     

星星到底有多远（8）——开发星系的测距功能

星系世界的景观 为了解决宇宙中天体的距离测定问题,天文学家首先寻求的自然是恒星级的标距天体,如造父变星、天琴RR型变星、亮星、新星、超新星、行星状星云系统等;或者是恒星集团,如星团和球状星团系统等。对标距天体的基本要求是,除了能用来测定它们的距离外,这类天体应该具有很高的光度,在很远的距离上都能观测到——观测不到一切免谈。     

重要测距结果一览

天体距离的多途径测定 从前面对天体距离测定一些主要方法的简要介绍,细心的读者不难看出,就某一类天体来说,可以通过不同的途径来确定它们的距离。例如,对于像仙女星系M31这样的近距离河外星系,能利用的标距天体（或标距关系）有天琴RR型变星、造父变星、新星、球状星团光度函数以及行星状星云光度函数,等等。这就为比较各种方法的测距结果,并进而为论证这些结果以及方法的可靠性提供了观测依据。     

球状星团的距离测定与水平支绝对星等的估值

本文介绍了测定球状星团的距离和确定球状星团水平支绝对星等的各种方法、结果及绝对星等的统计性质,并分析了引起不同结果的原因,最后对今后测定球状星团距离的研究作了简短的讨论.     

球状星团的天体测量(英)

球状星团是银河系中最年老的天体之一，是储存着银河系早期演化珍贵信息的“化石”．球状星团的天体测量，主要包括球状星因天区内恒星相对自行的测定，并由这些相对自行数据采用适当方法定出星团的绝对自行，或者直接测定绝对自行．利用这些自行数据，或者进一步与测光和视向速度数据结合，可以开展与球状星团的距离、运动、动力学状况、质量、年龄、演化等等以及银河系的结构和演化等有关的一系列重要的研究．在本文中对本世纪70年代中期以来在球状星团相对自行测定和成员概率估计、内部运动检测、绝对自行测定和空间运动研究这三方面取得的成果和进展以及存在的问题作了评述．     

球状星团的天体测量

球状星团是银河系中最年老的天体之一，是储存着银河系早期演化珍贵信息的“化石”。球状星团的天体测量，主要包括球状星团天区内恒星相对自行的测定，并由这些相对自行数据采用适当方法定出星团的绝对自行，或者直接测定绝对自行。利用这些自行数据，或者进一步与测光和视向速度数据结合，可以开展与球状星团的距离、运动、动力学状况、质量、年龄、演化等等以及银河系的结构和演化等有关的一系列重要的研究。在本文中对本世纪７０     

热超短周期造父变星的共性

热超短周期造父变星的周期≤0.~d1、变幅≥0.~m2、光谱型为A.在银河系中呈延仲球状分布;在银晕星族的球状星团和年老盘族的运动星群中都有.在色星等图上,处于造父不稳定带的左外侧而温度较高,故简称热造父变星.球状星团中超短周期造父变星现知五颗.三颗是热造父变星:半人马ω的V65星(M_v= 0.~m82),M56的V11星(M_v= 0.~m10)和M15的K1082星(M_v=0.~m09)。它们在色星等图上的位置紧邻,亮度和天琴RR型星相近,但色均较蓝.它们都处在银河系中呈延伸球状分布的贫金属星团中.银河系中已知超短周期造父变星的周期变幅图上,有可用0.~m2简示的变幅分布隙,和两条周期分布隙.其中变幅≥0.~m2、周期≤ 0.~d1的-群共九颗,是银河系一般星场的热造父变星.其银纬分布除一颗是b= 10°44′外,余均为|h|>20°.这九颗中的两颗是年老盘族的运动星群的成员,-颗具有空间速度高和金属线强度ΔS≥2的星族Ⅱ星的特点.     

球状星团NGC4147的绝对自行和颜色星等图

本文以上海天文台佘山40厘米折射望远镜于1958年拍摄的3张照相底片为第一期,印度Kavalur的234米VainuBappu望远镜于1996年用CCD拍摄的4幅图像为第二期,使用Brosche等1985年发表的球状星团NGC4147天区42颗恒星的位置和绝对自行作为参考架,用中心重叠法进行天体测量归算,得到了这个星团中心附近11'×11'天区内到B＝17.6为止115颗恒星的位置和绝对自行,利用这些自行对成员概率作了估计.本文还给出了用VainuBappu望远镜CCD测光结果得到的这个星因水平文和巨星支恒星V与B-V．V－R和V－I颜色星等图,并对这些颜色星等图和团自行作了讨论,得到这个星团的赤经方向绝对自行为-2.82±0.49mas／yr,赤纬方向绝对自行为2.37±0.43mas／yr.     

银河系中球状星团的空间运动

球状星团是银河系中最古老的天体类型之一,其累积光度很大,是银晕中重要的示踪天体。已以发现的银河系球状星团有１４０多个,其中１２０个银心距Ｒ〈４０Ｋｐｃ的星团已被准确地测定了视向速度。根据结数据以及球状星团金属度的统计分析,可以把球状星团次系再进一步分成某些不同的族群。目前已经测定过绝对自行的球状星团只有３８个,尽管这些自行的精度比视向速度和距离的精度差很多,然而,由此可以得出三维的空间速度,在统计     

The Absolute Magnitude of RR Lyraes: from Hipparcos Parallaxes and Proper Motions

We have used HIPPARCOS proper motions and the method of Statistical Parallax to estimate the absolute magnitude of RR Lyrae stars. In addition, we have used the HIPPARCOS parallax of RR Lyr itself to determine its absolute magnitude. These two results are in excellent agreement with 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 good agreement with that obtained recently by several groups using Baade-Wesselink methods which, averaged over the results from the different groups, gives M_v = 0.73 ± 0.14 at [Fe/H] = -1.53. Taking the HIPPARCOS based zero-point and assuming a value of 0.18 ± 0.03 for the slope we find the distance modulus of the LMC is 18.26 ± 0.15. This value is compared with recent estimates based on other methods. Potential problems that may affect the results are outlined. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Evolution of Population II stars

The current knowledge of the evolution of Population II stars, as observed in galactic halos and globular clusters, is outlined. The recent theoretical results provided by an improved physical understanding of the stars are reported, with a particular emphasis upon those stellar evolutionary phases which are the keystones of the interpretation of globular cluster stars. Within the up–to–date theoretical scenario, the luminosity of the turn–off stars and horizontal branch stars, which are of fundamental importance for distance and age determinations, turns out to be fainter and brighter, respectively, in comparison with previous theoretical computations. The predicted absolute magnitude of RR Lyrae stars is consistent with the bright values suggested from the long distance scale (Sandage 1993), but the slope of the relation between and metallicity ([Fe/H]) agrees with that suggested from the short distance scale (see, e.g., Carney et al. 1992, Clementini et al. 1995), at least with [Fe/H]-1.3. As to the globular cluster ages, the new computations provide younger ages ( 10 Gyr–13 Gyr), weakening the conflict with current cosmological estimates. The recent results derived from the fitting of HIPPARCOS parallaxes of field subdwarfs to the fiducial main sequence of globular clusters are consistent with the up–to–date theoretical models. However, the direct determinations of , which are based on the HIPPARCOS proper motions and trigonometric parallaxes of field RR Lyrae stars, give fainter absolute magnitudes than those obtained from the improved evolutionary models. This seems to suggest that the problem of the globular cluster distance and age is still open. Received 6 April 1998     

Identification of temperature anomaly RR Lyrae stars in LAMOST survey,misclassification and binarities

RR Lyrae stars,a well-known type of pulsating variable stars,have been known about for more than a century.A large amount of photometric data on RR Lyrae stars has been accumulated by space-and ground-based sky surveys,but the spectral data are relatively poor.Fortunately,the LAMOST sky survey project provides an opportunity to view them from the point of view of spectra.We collect the atmospheric parameters of 1685 RR Lyrae stars provided by the LAMOST catalog,and carry out research by using the reliable T_(eff).We find that there is a clear correlation between their Teff and pulsation periods,which is consistent with the pulsation and evolution theories of RR Lyrae stars.In addition,we focus on those RR Lyrae stars with abnormal temperatures.After analyzing the data from several photometric surveys,we find that some of these temperature anomalies are misclassified variable stars(e.g.,eclipsing binaries,pulsating stars on main sequence),and some are RR Lyrae binary candidates.For the latter,the temperatures of potential companions should be lower and their luminosities should not be neglected(e.g.,red giant stars).We obtain that the ratio of temperature anomaly stars to all the sample stars is 4%,which means that the impact on the further analysis(e.g.,kinematics analysis) is low.We also present the catalogs of spectral anomaly RR Lyrae stars.     

A catalogue of RR Lyrae stars from the Northern Sky Variability Survey

A search for RR Lyrae stars has been conducted in the publicly available data of the Northern Sky Variability Survey. Candidates have been selected by the statistical properties of their variation; the standard deviation, skewness and kurtosis with appropriate limits determined from a sample 314 known RRab and RRc stars listed in the General Catalogue of Variable Stars. From the period analysis and light-curve shape of over 3000 candidates 785 RR Lyrae have been identified of which 188 are previously unknown. The light curves were examined for the Blazhko effect and several new stars showing this were found. Six double-mode RR Lyrae stars were also found of which two are new discoveries. Some previously known variables have been reclassified as RR Lyrae stars and similarly some RR Lyrae stars have been found to be other types of variable, or not variable at all.     

The role of chemical composition in RR Lyrae pulsationalproperties – I. Periods

We analyse the periods of theoretical radial pulsators, covering the range of total masses, luminosities, effective temperatures and chemical compositions expected for RR Lyrae variables in both galactic fields and globular clusters.
We show that for fixed values of the structural parameters (mass, luminosity and effective temperature), the period of fundamental and first-overtone pulsators is independent of the helium content ( Y ), whereas it slightly increases as the amount of metals ( Z ) increases. Furthermore, we find that the period along the blue edge for first-overtone pulsation is a function of mass, luminosity and helium content, with a marginal dependence on Z .
On these grounds, new linear relations connecting the periods to stellar parameters are derived. Such new relations should allow a more accurate interpretation of the RR Lyrae observed periods and, in particular, they should help in ascertaining the calibration of the mean absolute magnitude of RR Lyrae stars in terms of metal content.     

Formation of Carbon-Enhanced Metal-Poor RR Lyrae Stars

Carbon-enhanced metal-poor (CEMP) stars are considered to be related to the first generation of stars, and responsible for the chemical evolution of the early Galaxy. More than half of them are in binaries, and could be explained by the binary evolution, but the formation channel of them is still not fully understood. Among the hundreds of CEMP stars, there are nine CEMP RR Lyrae stars identified, and at least seven of which are very likely not binaries. The usual binary star evolution channel is difficult to produce such a single star, particularly that of carbon enrichment. One way in which such a single star might be produced is the merger of a helium white dwarf with a Hertzsprung gap (HG) star. We use a stellar evolution program to calculate the models of the merger remnants, and find that the models can reproduce the observed distribution of these CEMP single RR Lyrae stars in terms of surface temperature, gravity, and carbon abundance. Hence, it is extremely possible that the helium white dwarf and HG star merger model is one of the formation channels of the metal-poor carbon-rich RR Lyrae stars.     

Pulsation period changes as a tool to identify pre-zero age horizontal branch stars

One of the most dramatic events in the life of a low-mass star is the He flash, which takes place at the tip of the red giant branch (RGB) and is followed by a series of secondary flashes before the star settles into the zero-age horizontal branch (ZAHB). Yet, no stars have been positively identified in this key evolutionary phase, mainly for two reasons: first, this pre-ZAHB phase is very short compared to other major evolutionary phases in the life of a star; and second, these pre-ZAHB stars are expected to overlap the loci occupied by asymptotic giant branch (AGB), HB, and RGB stars observed in the color-magnitude diagram (CMD). We investigate the possibility of detecting these stars through stellar pulsations, since some of them are expected to rapidly cross the Cepheid/RR Lyrae instability strip in their route from the RGB tip to the ZAHB, thus becoming pulsating stars along the way. As a consequence of their very high evolutionary speed, some of these stars may present anomalously large period change rates. We constructed an extensive grid of stellar models and produced pre-ZAHB Monte Carlo simulations appropriate for the case of the Galactic globular cluster M3 (NGC 5272), where a number of RR Lyrae stars with high period change rates are found. Our results suggest that some—but certainly not all—of the RR Lyrae stars in M3 with large period change rates are in fact pre-ZAHB pulsators.     

Pulsational MV versus [Fe/H] relation(s) for globular cluster RR Lyrae variables

We use the results from recent computations of updated non-linear convective pulsating models to constrain the distance modulus of Galactic globular clusters through the observed periods of first-overtone (RR _c ) pulsators. The resulting relation between the mean absolute magnitude of RR Lyrae stars 〈 M _V (RR)〉 and the heavy element content [Fe/H] appears well in the range of several previous empirical calibrations, but with a non-linear dependence on [Fe/H] so that the slope of the relation increases when moving towards larger metallicities. On this ground, our results suggest that metal-poor ([Fe/H]<−1.5) and metal-rich ([Fe/H]>−1.5) variables follow two different linear 〈 M _V (RR)〉−[Fe/H] relations. Application to RR Lyrae stars in the metal-poor globular clusters of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) provides an LMC distance modulus of the order of 18.6 mag, thus supporting the 'long' distance scale. The comparison with recent predictions based on updated stellar evolution theory is briefly presented and discussed.     

The distance to Galactic globular clusters through RR Lyrae pulsational properties

By adopting the same approach outlined by De Santis & Cassisi, we evaluate the absolute bolometric magnitude of the zero-age horizontal branch (ZAHB) at the level of the RR Lyrae variable instability strip in selected Galactic globular clusters. This allows us to estimate the ZAHB absolute visual magnitude for these clusters and to investigate its dependence on the cluster metallicity. The derived M _V (ZAHB)–[Fe/H] relation, corrected in order to account for the luminosity difference between the ZAHB and the mean RR Lyrae magnitude, has been compared with some of the most recent empirical determinations in this field, such as the one provided by Baade–Wesselink analyses, RR Lyrae periods, Hipparcos data for field variables and main-sequence fitting based on Hipparcos parallaxes for field subdwarfs. As a result, our relation provides a clear support to the 'long' distance scale. We discuss also another method for measuring the distance to Galactic globular clusters. This method is quite similar to the one adopted for estimating the absolute bolometric magnitude of the ZAHB but it relies only on the pulsational properties of the Lyrae variables in each cluster. The reliability and accuracy of this method have been tested by applying it to a sample of globular clusters for which, owing to the morphology of their horizontal branch (HB), the use of the commonly adopted ZAHB fitting is a risky procedure. We notice that the two approaches for deriving the cluster distance modulus provide consistent results when applied to globular clusters, the RR Lyrae instability strip is well populated. As the adopted method relies on theoretical predictions on both the fundamental pulsational equation and the allowed mass range for fundamental pulsators, we give an estimate of the error affecting present results, owing to systematic uncertainties in the adopted theoretical framework.     

贫金属富碳天琴RR变星的形成

贫金属富碳恒星(Carbon-Enhanced Metal-Poor, CEMP)是研究宇宙早期恒星性质和化学演化的极佳样本,通常认为来自双星.目前发现的贫金属富碳星中有9颗天琴RR变星(RR Lyrae star, RRL),其中至少7颗未表现出任何双星特征.传统双星物质转移模型不足以充分解释贫金属富碳天琴RR变星(CEMP-RR Lyrae)单星的形成.之前研究表明氦白矮星和赫氏空隙星(HG)的并合模型可以解释部分富碳红巨星单星的碳增丰现象,因此贫金属富碳星单星也可能来自氦白矮星和赫氏空隙星的并合模型渠道.通过详细计算的氦白矮星和赫氏空隙星并合模型来检验这一演化渠道,结果表明:该并合模型在后续的演化过程中,其重力加速度、温度、表面碳丰度均能与观测符合较好.由此,氦白矮星和赫氏空隙星并合模型极有可能是贫金属富碳天琴RR变星的形成渠道之一.