CoRoT light curves of RR Lyrae stars (original) (raw)
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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.
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.
Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2010
Context. The CoRoT (Convection, Rotation and planetary Transits) space mission provides a valuable opportunity to monitor stars with uninterrupted time sampling for up to 150 days at a time. The study of RR Lyrae stars, performed in the framework of the Additional Programmes belonging to the exoplanetary field, will particularly benefit from such dense, long-duration monitoring. Aims. The Blazhko effect in RR Lyrae stars is a long-standing, unsolved problem of stellar astrophysics. We used the CoRoT data of the new RR Lyrae variable CoRoT 101128793 ( f 0 =2.119 d −1 , P=0.4719296 d) to provide us with more detailed observational facts to understand the physical process behind the phenomenon. Methods. The CoRoT data were corrected for one jump and the long-term drift. We applied different period-finding techniques to the corrected timeseries to investigate amplitude and phase modulation. We detected 79 frequencies in the light curve of CoRoT 101128793. They have been identified as the main frequency f 0 and its harmonics, two independent terms, the terms related to the Blazhko frequency f m , and several combination terms.
The Kepler RR Lyrae SC Data Set: Period Variation and Blazhko Effect
arXiv: Solar and Stellar Astrophysics, 2013
We study the 1.28 million short cadence {\it Kepler} data points (Q5-Q14) for RR Lyrae covering 24 cycles of the Blazhko variation, and more than one half of the 4-year modulation of the Blazhko variation. This very rich data set clearly shows variability of the 0.5667 day pulsation period (from 0.5655 to 0.5685 day) with each Blazhko cycle, as well as a variation of the Blazhko period itself (from 39.2 days at amplitude maximum to 38.4 days at amplitude minimum) during the 4 year modulation, as well as a rapid increase in Blazhko period as the new cycle commences.
Bright Blazhko RRab Lyrae stars observed by ASAS and the SuperWASP surveys
Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2014
Aims. Period study of 321 fundamental mode RR Lyrae type stars (RRab), which had appropriate data in ASAS and SuperWASP surveys, was performed to complement and extend the list of known Blazhko stars in galactic field with bright stars up to 12.5 mag in maximum light. Methods. An individual approach was applied to each studied star. Permanent visual supervision was maintained to each procedure in data analysis (data cleaning, frequency spectra examination) to avoid missing any possible sign of the Blazhko effect. Period analysis was performed using Period04 software. Results. We found 100 stars to be definitely modulated. In 25 cases, previously unknown modulation was revealed and 8 new candidates for Blazhko stars were identified. Their modulation needs to be confirmed. In 18 previously found Blazhko stars, no modulation was detectable. Multiple modulation was revealed for eight stars that were previously proposed to show simple modulation. In total, there were twelve stars with some peculiarity in their modulation in the sample. This brings the incidence rate of multiple/irregularlymodulated stars to 12%. The ratio of the modulation periods of five of the double-modulated stars was within the ratios of small integers. One of stars studied, IK Hya, showed a very interesting frequency spectrum, which we interpret as changing Blazhko period between 71.81 and 75.57 days and an additional 1403-day-long cycle analogous to a four-year cycle of the prototype RR Lyr. The limits of the shorter period produce a beating period that is approximately twice as big as a 1403-day period. The newly revealed Blazhko star RZ CVn seems to undergo changes in the amplitude of the modulation, as well as in the basic pulsation and Blazhko periods. We found that the incidence rate of the Blazhko RR Lyraes is at least 31%, more likely even higher. It was also found that the majority of the Blazhko variables show triplet structures in their frequency spectra and that in 89% of these cases, the peak with larger amplitude is on the right-hand side of the main pulsation component.
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.
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.
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).
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...
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.