A Comparison of the Near‐Infrared and Visible Spectra of Three Bright Cepheids

Abstract

Recent studies have suggested that signi-cant di†erences may exist between the IR and the visible radial velocity curves and line pro-les for Cepheid variable stars. Such wavelength-dependent pheno- mena would a†ect the relationship between pulsational and radial velocities and the derived surface brightness (Baade-Wesselink) distances for Cepheids. In a further investigation of this problem, radial velocity curves and line pro-le asymmetries have been obtained from 100 absorption lines in the near-IR (8000 for the bright Cepheids d Cep (5 day period), g Aql (7 day), and X Cyg (16 day). A -ducial ) wavelength scale has been provided by the embedded telluric absorption lines. The relative radial veloc- ity errors of individual stellar absorption lines have been reduced to a few hundred meters per second. The shape and amplitude of velocity curves from lines in the near-IR are very similar to those from lines of the same atomic species and similar excitation observed in the visible region. For the two shorter period Cepheids in this study, the near-IR and visible velocity curves di†er by less than 1 km s~1. The longer period Cepheid X Cyg shows velocity di†erences of as much as 3 km s~1. The near-IR line pro-le asymmetries are very similar to those observed in the visible. As in the case of the visible lines, the high excitation potential (high-EP) lines in the near-IR appear to have a greater asymmetry amplitude than the low-EP lines. Radial velocity curves and line pro-les for Ha and Hb have also been obtained. The Cepheids in this sample show a clear trend with increasing pulsation period. The Ha and Hb line pro-les of the shortest period star (d Cep) remain relatively symmetric throughout the entire pulsation cycle, and their respec- tive radial velocity curves remain continuous at maximum infall velocity. The Hb radial velocity curve shows only small deviations from that of the standard (Fe I) velocity curve. The Hb line of the longer period star, g Aql, remains relatively symmetric, but Ha becomes extremely asymmetric near the phase of maximum infall. The Ha radial velocity amplitude is 57% larger than the standard Fe I velocity curve. Both the Ha and Hb velocity curves are very sharply peaked (almost discontinuous) at maximum infall velocity, and they lag the standard velocity curve (derived from strong 3E 6e V Fe Ilines in the 5000E 6300 region) by 0.06 in phase. Both Ha and Hb show extreme asymmetries. For the longest period Cepheid in the sample, X Cyg, the Ha pro-le splits into two components for half the pulsation cycle. The Ha radial velocity curve is completely out of phase with the standard velocity curve, while the Hb velocity curve remains relatively well behaved, lagging the Fe I velocity curve by 0.12 in phase. Subject headings: Cepheids E infrared: stars E line: pro-les E stars: oscillations E techniques: radial velocities