Bright Blazhko RRab Lyrae stars observed by ASAS and the SuperWASP surveys (original) (raw)
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Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2016
Aims. We investigated 1234 fundamental mode RR Lyrae stars observed by the All Sky Automated Survey (ASAS) to identify the Blazhko (BL) effect. A sample of 1547 BL stars from the literature was collected to compare the modulation-period distribution with stars newly identified in our sample. Methods. A classical frequency spectra analysis was performed using Period04 software. Data points from each star from the ASAS database were analysed individually to avoid confusion with artificial peaks and aliases. Statistical methods were used in the investigation of the modulation-period distribution. Results. Altogether we identified 87 BL stars (48 new detections), 7 candidate stars, and 22 stars showing long-term period variations. The distribution of modulation periods of newly identified BL stars corresponds well to the distribution of modulation periods of stars located in the Galactic field, Galactic bulge, Large Magellanic Cloud, and globular cluster M5 collected from the literature. As a very important by-product of this comparison, we found that pulsation periods of BL stars follow Gaussian distribution with the mean period of 0.54 ± 0.07 d, while the modulation periods show log-normal distribution with centre at log(P m [d]) = 1.78 ± 0.30 dex. This means that 99.7% of all known modulated stars have BL periods between 7.6 and 478 days. We discuss the identification of long modulation periods and show, that a significant percentage of stars showing long-term period variations could be classified as BL stars.
The Shortest Modulation Period Blazhko RR Lyrae Star: SS Cancri
The Astronomical Journal
Extended BV(RI)C CCD observations of SS Cnc, a short-period RRab star, are presented. Nearly 1400 data points in each band have been obtained, spanning over 79 days during the spring of 2005. The star exhibits light-curve modulation, the so-called Blazhko effect, with small amplitude (B maximum brightness varies by 0.1 mag) and with the shortest modulation period (5.309 days) ever observed. In the Fourier spectrum of the V light curve, the pulsation frequency components are detected up to the 24th harmonic order, and modulation sidelobe frequencies with significantly asymmetric amplitudes are seen up to the 15th and 9th orders for the lower and higher frequency components, respectively. A detailed comparison of the modulation behavior of SS Cnc and RR Gem, two recently discovered small-amplitude, short-modulation-period Blazhko stars, is presented. The modulation frequency (fm) appears in the Fourier spectrum of both stars with similar amplitude. We also demonstrate that the modulat...
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2012
A thorough analysis of multicolour CCD observations of two modulated RRab-type variables, XY And and UZ Vir is presented. These Blazhko stars show relatively simple light-curve modulation with the usual multiplet structures in their Fourier spectra. One additional, independent frequency with linear-combination terms of the pulsation frequency is also detected in the residual spectrum of each of the two stars. The amplitude and phase relations of the triplet components are studied in detail. Most of the epoch-independent phase differences show a slight, systematic colour dependence, however, these trends have the opposite sign in the two stars. The mean values of the global physical parameters and their changes with Blazhko phase are determined utilizing the Inverse Photometric Method (IPM). The modulation properties and the IPM results are compared for the two variables. The pulsation period of XY And is the shortest when its pulsation amplitude is the highest, while UZ Vir has the longest pulsation period at this phase of the modulation. Despite this opposite behaviour, the phase relations of their mean-physical-parameter variations are similar. These results are not in accord with the predictions of the Blazhko model of Stothers (2006, ApJ, 652, 643).
V0784 Ophiuchi: an RR Lyrae star with multiple Blazhko modulations
arXiv (Cornell University), 2013
The results of an observation campaign of V0784 Ophiuchi over a time span of two years have revealed a multi-periodic Blazhko effect. A Blazhko effect for V0784 Ophiuchi has not been reported previously. From the observed light curves, 60 pulsation maxima have been measured. The Fourier analyses of the (O-C) values and of magnitudes at maximum light (M max) have revealed a main Blazhko period of 24.51 days but also two other secondary Blazhko modulations with periods of 34.29 and 31.07 days. A complete light curve Fourier analysis with PERIOD04 has shown triplet structures based on main and secondary Blazhko frequencies close to the reciprocal of Blazhko periods measured from the 60 pulsation maxima.
Period analysis of a Blazhko star V0346 Draconis
2015
Period analysis of an RRab star V0346 Dra based on photometric measurements from NSVS and DASCH projects is presented. We confirm light curve modulation known from literature and estimate modulation period for the first time. NSVS measurements spanning one year allowed us to determine the length of the Blazhko cycle as 101(2) d. This value is close to 103.65(2)-day period estimated from photographic measurements from the DASCH project which have a lower quality but 92-year long timebase. Blazhko effect causes well apparent phase and amplitude modulation easily visible in O-C diagram and in maximum-O-C dependency.
We present the results of multi-longitude observations of KV Cancri, an RR Lyrae star showing an irregular Blazhko effect. With a pulsation period of 0.50208 day, the times of light curve maxima are delayed by 6 minutes per day. This daily delay regularly leads to long periods of time without maximum light curve observations for a given site. To cope with this observing time window problem, we have organized a multi-longitude observation campaign including a telescope of the AAVSONet. From the observed light curves, 92 pulsation maxima have been measured covering about six Blazhko periods. The Fourier analysis of magnitudes at maximum light has revealed a main Blazhko period of 77.6 days and also a secondary period of 40.5 days. A Fourier analysis of (O-C) values did not show the secondary Blazhko period. The frequency spectrum of the complete light curve, from a Fourier analysis and successive pre-whitening with PERIOD04, has shown triplet structures around the two Blazhko modulati...
The Konkoly Blazhko Survey: is light-curve modulation a common property of RRab stars?
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2009
A systematic survey to establish the true incidence rate of Blazhko modulation among shortperiod, fundamental-mode, Galactic field RR Lyrae stars has been carried out. The Konkoly Blazhko Survey (KBS) was initiated in 2004. Since then, more than 750 nights of observation have been devoted to this project. A sample of 30 RRab stars was extensively observed, and light-curve modulation was detected in 14 cases. The 47 per cent occurrence rate of the modulation is much larger than any previous estimate. The significant increase of the detected incidence rate is mostly a result of the discovery of small-amplitude modulation. Half of the Blazhko variables in our sample show the modulation with such a small amplitude that they would definitely have been missed in previous surveys. We have found that the modulation can be very unstable in some cases; for example, RY Com showed regular modulation during only one part of the observations, and had a stable light curve with abrupt, small changes in the pulsation amplitude during two observing seasons. This type of light-curve variability is hard to detect in the data from other surveys. The higher frequency of the light-curve modulation of RRab stars makes it even more important to find an explanation for the Blazhko phenomenon. The validity of the [Fe/H](P , ϕ 31) relationship using the mean light curves of Blazhko variables is checked in our sample. We found that the formula gives accurate result for smallmodulation-amplitude Blazhko stars, and this is also the case for large-modulation-amplitude stars if the light curve has complete phase coverage. However, if the data for large-modulationamplitude Blazhko stars are not extended enough (e.g. fewer than 500 data points from fewer than 15 nights), the formula may give false result owing to the distorted shape of the mean light curve used.
We present the results of collaborative observations of three RR Lyrae stars (CX Lyr, NU Aur, and VY CrB) which have a strong Blazhko effect. This work has been initiated and performed in the framework of the GEOS RR Lyr Survey (Groupe Européen d'Observations Stellaires). From the measured light curves, we have determined the times and the magnitudes at maximum. The times of maxima have been compared to ephemerides to obtain the (O-C) values and from a period analysis of these (O-C) values, the Blazhko period is derived. The Blazhko periods of NU Aur (114.8 days) and VY CrB (32.3 days) are reported here for the first time and a more accurate period for CX Lyr (68.3 days) has been obtained. The three stars are subject to strong Blazhko effect, but this effect has different characteristics for each of them. When we compare the variations of magnitude at maximum and variations of (O-C) values with respect to the Blazhko phase, these variations are in phase, in opposition, or even i...
First CoRoT light curves of RR Lyrae stars
Astronomy and Astrophysics, 2010
Context. The CoRoT-Convection Rotation and planetary Transits-space mission is a great opportunity for monitoring stars with excellent time-sampling and unprecedented photometric precision for up to 150 days. As an important benefit, high-quality RR Lyrae light curves are obtained with a quasi-uninterrupted coverage over several pulsation and Blazhko cycles. Aims. The Blazhko effect in RR Lyrae stars is an unsolved problem of astrophysics. We used the high-precision space data to contribute more precise knowledge to explain the possible physical processes behind the phenomenon. Methods. We applied different period-finding techniques including Period04, MuFrAn, PDM and SigSpec. Amplitude and phase modulation were investigated by an analytical function method as well as with the traditional O-C diagrams. Results. The Blazhko modulation frequency is directly detected in the spectrum, as well as its first and second harmonics. It shows the non-linear nature of the Blazhko modulation. Besides the triplets, further higher-order modulation side peaks appear around the pulsation frequency as quintuplet, septuplet, nonuplet, undecaplet, tredecaplet, quindecaplet and sepdecaplet structures. Additional frequencies, not belonging to the classical multiplet structures, are detected, as well as their linear combinations with the fundamental radial mode. We interpret these additional terms as non-radial modes. During the five consecutive Blazhko cycles, there is a shift of the maximum phase around 0.011 pulsation phase which is likely the consequence of a long term modulation.
Kepler photometry of the prototypical Blazhko star RR Lyr: an old friend seen in a new light
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2010
We present our analysis of the long-cadence Kepler data for the well-studied Blazhko star RR Lyr, gathered during the first two quarters of the satellite's observations and covering a total of 127 d. Besides being of great importance for our understanding of RR Lyrae stars in general, these RR Lyr data can be regarded as a case study for observations of bright stars with Kepler. Kepler can perform high-precision photometry on targets like RR Lyr, as the saturated flux is conserved to a very high degree. The Kepler data on RR Lyr are revolutionary in several respects. Even with long-cadence sampling (one measurement per 29.4 min), the unprecedented precision (< mmag) of the Kepler photometry allows the study of the star's extreme light-curve variations in detail. The multiplet structures at the main frequency and its harmonics, typical for Blazhko stars, are clearly detected up to the quintuplets. For the first time, photometric data of RR Lyr reveal the presence of half-integer frequencies, linked to a period-doubling effect. This phenomenon may be connected to the still unexplained Blazhko modulation. Moreover, with three observed Blazhko cycles at our disposal, we observe that there is no exact repetition in the light-curve changes from one modulation cycle to the next for RR Lyr. This may be due to additional periodicities in the star, or to transient or quasi-periodic changes.