The slope of the RR Lyrae MV–[Fe/H] relation

We review the available observational data to show that the slope of the RR Lyrae M_V –[Fe/H] relation is 0.18±0.03. The recent claim by Feast that, because of biases, the true slope is much steeper is not justified.     

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.     

RR Lyrae variables in M5 as a test of pulsational theory

We present B and V CCD photometry for variables in the cluster central region, adding new data for 32 variables and giving suitable light curves, mean magnitudes and corrected colours for 17 RR Lyrae variables. Adding the data given in this paper to similar data that have already appeared in the literature, we discuss a sample of 42 variables, as given by 22 RR_ab and 20 RR_c, in the light of recent predictions from pulsational theories. We find that the observational evidence concerning M5 pulsators appears in marginal disagreement with predictions concerning the colour of the first overtone blue edge (FOBE), whereas a clear disagreement appears between the zero-age horizontal branch (ZAHB) luminosities predicted through evolutionary and pulsational theories.     

RR Lyrae variables in the globular cluster M3 (NGC 5272) — I. BVI CCD photometry

New BVI CCD photometry is presented for 60 RR Lyrae variables in the globular cluster M3. Light curves have been constructed and ephemerides have been (re)-derived for all of them. Four stars (i.e. V29, V136, V155 and V209), although recognized as variables, had no previous period determinations. Also, the period derived for V129 is significantly different from the one published by Sawyer-Hogg. Light curve parameters, i.e. mean magnitudes, amplitudes and rise times, have been derived.   The discussion of these results in the framework of the stellar evolution and pulsation theories will be presented in a forthcoming paper.     

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.     

RR Lyrae pulsational temperature scales: on the consistency between different empirical relations

In this paper, by assuming the equilibrium temperatures of RRab Lyrae variables defined by Carney, Storm & Jones as correct we show that temperatures derived from ( B − V ) colour (mean colour over the pulsational cycle calculated on the magnitude scale) transformations by Bessel, Castelli & Plez are consistent with the Carney et al. equilibrium temperatures within a probable error of δ  log  T _e =±0.003 . As a consequence, it is shown that the pulsational temperature scale temperature–period–blue amplitude [ T _eff= f ( P , A _B )] relation provided by De Santis, who studied the ( B − V ) colour of about 70 stars of Lub's sample, is a suitable relation, being reddening- and metallicity-free, to calculate equilibrium temperatures for RRab variables. This relation is independent of variable mass and luminosity within a large range of period-shift from the mean period–amplitude relation valid for Lub's sample of variables. On the contrary, it is also shown that a temperature–amplitude–metallicity relation is strictly dependent on the period–amplitude relation of the sample used for calibrating it: we prove that this means it is dependent on both the mass and luminosity variations of variables.     

测定天琴RR变星金属丰度的方法

银晕中天琴RR变星金属丰度的测定对于研究银河系晕的形成和演化具有重要的意义．在当前的技术条件下,高分辨光谱的方法难以测量银晕中较暗的天琴RR变星的金属丰度．高分辨光谱测定金属丰度的方法对恒星大气模型的依赖性较高,而恒星脉动引起的复杂大气状况对于建立正确的大气模型本身就是挑战．△S光谱方法、Caby测光方法和光变曲线的参数方法则弥补了高分辨光谱方法的不足,将能测量更远距离上的天琴RR变星的金属丰度．着重介绍了这3种方法发展的历史、具体的观测流程以及需要注意的问题。通过比较这3种方法的优劣,为实际观测时方法的选用提供借鉴。     

Cluster AgeS Experiment (CASE): RR Lyrae stars from the globular cluster ω Centauri as standard candles

New photometry of RRab and RRc stars in ω Centauri is used to calibrate their absolute magnitudes M_V as a function of (a) metallicity and (b) the Fourier parameters of light curves in the V band. The zero point of both calibrations relies on the distance modulus to the cluster derived earlier by the Cluster AgeS Experiment (CASE) project based on observations of the detached eclipsing binary OGLE GC17. For RRab variables, we obtained a relation of   M_V = (0.26 ± 0.08)[ Fe/H ] + (0.91 ± 0.13)  . A dereddened distance modulus to the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) based on that formula is  μ₀= 18.56 ± 0.14 mag  . The second calibration of M_V , which is based on Fourier coefficients of decomposed light curves, results in the LMC distance of  μ₀= 18.51 ± 0.07 mag  .     

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.     

A catalogue of helium abundance indicators from globular cluster photometry

We present a survey of helium abundance indicators derived from a comprehensive study of globular cluster photometry in the literature. For each of the three indicators used, we conduct a thorough error analysis, and identify systematic errors in the computational procedures. For the population ratio R N _HB N _RGB, we find that there is no evidence of a trend with metallicity, although there appears to be real scatter in the values derived. Although this indicator is the one best able to provide useful absolute helium abundances, the mean value is Y ≈0.20, indicating the probable presence of additional systematic error.
For the magnitude difference from the horizontal branch to the main sequence Δ and the RR Lyrae mass–luminosity exponent A , it is only possible to determine relative helium abundances reliably. This is due to continuing uncertainties in the absolute metallicity scale for Δ, and uncertainty in the RR Lyrae temperature scale for A . Both indicators imply that the helium abundance is approximately constant as a function of [Fe/H]. According to the A indicator, both Oosterhoff I and II group clusters have constant values independent of [Fe/H] and horizontal branch type. In addition, the two groups have slopes d log〈 P _ab 〉/d[Fe/H] that are consistent with each other, but significantly smaller than the slope for the combined sample.     

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.     

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.