Pulsational MV versus [Fe/H] relation(s) for globular cluster RR Lyrae variables |
| |
| Authors: | F Caputo V Castellani M Marconi V Ripepi |
| |
| Institution: | Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, via di Frascati 33, 00040 Monte Porzio Catone, Italy;Dipartimento di Fisica, Piaza Torricelli 2, 56100 Pisa, Italy;Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, Via Moiariello 16, 80131 Napoli, Italy |
| |
| Abstract: | 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) 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. |
| |
| Keywords: | stars: horizontal branch stars: variables: other globular clusters: general distance scale |
|
|
