Double-mode stellar pulsation

The current observational and theoretical status of the double-mode variables is reviewed. Focusing mostly on the RR Lyrae stars, we address the question of the observational evidence ofmodal stability. The problem of stationarity is a crucial issue in the modelling of these stars.We mention past efforts in hydrodynamical and analytical modelling together with a detailed discussion of some very recent results. It is suggested that stochastic forcing due to turbulent convection may play a crucial role in exciting some marginally stable modes in the limiting pulsation. The latest hydrodynamical results first demonstrate that purelyradiative models are able to showpermanent double-mode behavior in the relevant period regime of RRd stars. The reason for the previous lack of double-mode behavior is attributed to the large dissipation,i.e. artificial viscosity, generally used in the codes to ensure numerical stability and to obtain amplitudes comparable to the observed ones.We think that better models should include some physical dissipation, most probably turbulent convection, and a more accurate numerical treatment of the radiative hydrodynamics.