The MACHO Project LMC Variable Star Inventory. VII. The Discovery of RV Tauri Stars and New Type II Cepheids in the Large Magellanic Cloud

Journal Article · Fri May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1998 · Astronomical Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/300317· OSTI ID:656321

Alcock, C ^[1]; Allsman, R A ^[2]; Alves, D R ^[1]; Axelrod, T S ^[3]; Becker, A ^[4]; Bennett, D P ^[1]; Cook, K H ^[1]; Freeman, K C ^[3]; Griest, K ^[4]; Lawson, W A ^[5]; Lehner, M J ^[6]

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1. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550 (United States)
2. Supercomputing Facility, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200 (Australia)
3. Mount Stromlo and Siding Spring Observatories, Australian National University, Weston, ACT 2611 (Australia)
4. Center for Particle Astrophysics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States)
5. Department of Physics, Australian Defence Force Academy, University of New South Wales, Canberra, ACT 2600 (Australia)
6. Center for Particle Astrophysics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley (United States)

We report the discovery of RV Tauri stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). In light- and color-curve behavior, the RV Tauri stars appear to be a direct extension of the type II Cepheids to longer periods. A single period-luminosity-color relationship is seen to describe both the type II Cepheids and the RV Tauri stars in the LMC. We derive the relation {ital V}{sub 0} = 17.89({plus_minus}0.20){minus}2.95({plus_minus}0.12) log {ital P} + 5.49({plus_minus}0.35){l_angle}({ital V} {minus} {ital R}){sub 0}{r_angle}, which is valid for type II Cepheids and RV Tauri stars in the period range 0.9 {lt} log {ital P} {lt} 1.75. Assuming a distance modulus to the LMC of 18.5, the relation in terms of the absolute luminosities becomes {ital M}{sub {ital V}} = {minus}0.61({plus_minus}0.20){minus}2.95({plus_minus}0.12) log {ital P} + 5.49({plus_minus}0.35){l_angle}({ital V} {minus} {ital R}){sub 0}{r_angle}. {copyright} {ital {copyright} 1998.} {ital The American Astronomical Society}

• OSTI ID: 656321
• Journal Information: Astronomical Journal, Journal Name: Astronomical Journal Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 115; ISSN 0004-6256; ISSN ANJOAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
BRIGHTNESS
CEPHEIDS
COLOR
DISTANCE
GRAVITATIONAL LENSES
LUMINOSITY
MAGELLANIC CLOUDS
MILKY WAY
VARIABLE STARS