Lyrae Stars Research Articles

Stellar Atmospheric Parameters of ∼11,000 RR Lyrae Stars from LAMOST Spectra

Accurate determination of the stellar atmospheric parameters of RR Lyrae stars (RRLs) requires short individual exposures of the spectra to mitigate pulsation effects. We present improved template-matching methods to determine the stellar atmospheric parameters of RRLs from single-epoch spectra of the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope, also known as the Guoshoujing Telescope (LAMOST). We determine the radial velocities and stellar atmospheric parameters (effective temperature T eff, surface gravity logg , and metallicity [M/H]) of 10,486 and 1027 RRLs from 42,729 LAMOST low-resolution spectra (LRS) and 7064 LAMOST medium-resolution spectra (MRS), respectively. Our results are in good agreement with the parameters of other databases, where the external uncertainties of T eff, logg , and [M/H] for LRS/MRS are estimated to be 207/142 K, 0.21/0.16 dex, and 0.24/0.18 dex, respectively. We conclude with the variation characteristics of the radial velocities (RV) and stellar atmospheric parameters for RRLs during the pulsation phase. There is a significant difference of 28 ± 21 km s−1 between the peak-to-peak amplitude (A ptp) of RV from the Hα line (RVHα ) and from metal lines (RVmetal) for RRab, whereas it is only 4 ± 17 km s−1 for RRc. The A ptp of T eff is 930 ± 456 and 409 ± 375 K for RRab and RRc, respectively. The logg of RRab shows a mild variation of approximately 0.22 ± 0.42 dex near the phase of φ = 0.9, while that of RRc almost remains constant. The [M/H] of RRab and RRc show a minor variation of about 0.25 ± 0.50 and 0.28 ± 0.55 dex, respectively, near the phase of φ = 0.9. We expect that the determined stellar atmospheric parameters would shed new light on the study of stellar evolution and pulsation, the structure of the Milky Way, as well as other research fields.

Variations in Line Profiles of Atomic Transitions in RR Lyrae Stars

We have investigated the absorption shapes of atomic lines and Hα in RR Lyrae stars. We used the database of high-resolution spectra gathered with the Las Campanas Observatory du Pont Telescope, analyzing a set of about 2700 short exposure spectra of 17 RRab and 5 RRc variables. To increase the signal-to-noise ratio of the spectra for each star, we first coadded spectra in small photometric phase bins, and then coadded metallic line profiles in velocity space. The resulting line absorption shapes vary with photometric phase in a consistent manner for all RRab stars, while exhibiting no obvious phase-related variations for the RRc stars. We interpret these line profile variations in terms of velocity gradients in the photospheric layers that produce absorption line profiles. The Hα profiles are much broader, indicative of shock temperatures of order 100,000 K.

The Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey. XXXVII. Distant RR Lyrae Stars and the Milky Way Stellar Halo Out to 300 kpc

RR Lyrae stars are standard candles with characteristic photometric variability and serve as powerful tracers of Galactic structure, substructure, accretion history, and dark matter content. Here we report the discovery of distant RR Lyrae stars, including some of the most distant stars known in the Milky Way halo, with Galactocentric distances of ∼300 kpc. We use time-series u*g′i′z′ Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope/MegaCam photometry from the Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey (NGVS). We use a template light-curve fitting method based on empirical Sloan Digital Sky Survey Stripe 82 RR Lyrae data to identify RR Lyrae candidates in the NGVS data set. We eliminate several hundred suspected quasars and identify 180 RR Lyrae candidates with heliocentric distances of ∼20–300 kpc. The halo stellar density distribution is consistent with an r −4.09±0.10 power-law radial profile over most of this distance range with no signs of a break. The distribution of ab-type RR Lyrae in a period–amplitude plot (Bailey diagram) suggests that the mean metallicity of the halo decreases outward. Compared to other recent RR Lyrae surveys, like Pan-STARRS1, the High Cadence Transient Survey, and the Dark Energy Survey, our NGVS study has better single-epoch photometric precision and a comparable number of epochs but smaller sky coverage. At large distances, our RR Lyrae sample appears to be relatively pure and complete, with well-measured periods and amplitudes. These newly discovered distant RR Lyrae stars are important additions to the few secure stellar tracers beyond 150 kpc in the Milky Way halo.

The Galactic bulge exploration

We present a new set of tools to derive systemic velocities for single-mode RR Lyrae stars from visual and near-infrared spectra. We derived scaling relations and line-of-sight velocity templates using both APOGEE and Gaia spectroscopic products combined with photometric G-band amplitudes. We provide a means to estimate systemic velocities for the RR Lyrae subclasses, RRab and RRc. Our analysis indicates that the scaling relation between the photometric and line-of-sight velocity amplitudes is nonlinear, with a break in a linear relation occurring around ≈0.4 mag in both the V-band and G-band amplitudes. We did not observe such a break in the relation for the first-overtone pulsators. Using stellar pulsation models, we further confirm and examine the nonlinearity in scaling relation for the RRab subclass. We observed little to no variation with stellar parameters (mass, metallicity, and luminosity) in the scaling relation between the photometric and line-of-sight velocity amplitudes for fundamental-mode pulsators. We observed an offset in the scaling relation between the observations and stellar pulsation models, mainly in the low-amplitude RR Lyrae regime. This offset disappears when different sets of convective parameters are used. Thus, the Fourier amplitudes obtained from the photometry and line-of-sight velocity measurements can be utilized to constrain convective parameters of stellar pulsation models. The scaling relations and templates for APOGEE and Gaia data accurately predict systemic velocities compared to literature values. In addition, our tools derived from the Gaia spectra improve the precision of the derived systemic velocities by approximately 50 percent and provide a better description of the uncertainty distribution in comparison with previous studies. Our newly derived tools will be used for RR Lyrae variables observed toward the Galactic bulge.

The GALAH survey: tracing the Milky Way’s formation and evolution through RR Lyrae stars

ABSTRACT Stellar mergers and accretion events have been crucial in shaping the evolution of the Milky Way (MW). These events have been dynamically identified and chemically characterized using red giants and main-sequence stars. RR Lyrae (RRL) variables can play a crucial role in tracing the early formation of the MW since they are ubiquitous, old (t ≥ 10 Gyr) low-mass stars and accurate distance indicators. We exploited Data Release 3 of the GALAH survey to identify 78 field RRLs suitable for chemical analysis. Using synthetic spectra calculations, we determined atmospheric parameters and abundances of Fe, Mg, Ca, Y, and Ba. Most of our stars exhibit halo-like chemical compositions, with an iron peak around [Fe/H] ≈ −1.40, and enhanced Ca and Mg content. Notably, we discovered a metal-rich tail, with [Fe/H] values ranging from −1 to approximately solar metallicity. This sub-group includes almost 1/4 of the sample, it is characterized by thin disc kinematics and displays sub-solar α-element abundances, marginally consistent with the majority of the MW stars. Surprisingly, they differ distinctly from typical MW disc stars in terms of the s-process elements Y and Ba. We took advantage of similar data available in the literature and built a total sample of 535 field RRLs for which we estimated kinematical and dynamical properties. We found that metal-rich RRLs (1/3 of the sample) likely represent an old component of the MW thin disc. We also detected RRLs with retrograde orbits and provided preliminary associations with the Gaia–Sausage–Enceladus, Helmi, Sequoia, Sagittarius, and Thamnos stellar streams.

Taking the pulse of the outer Milky Way with the Halo Outskirts With Variable Stars (HOWVAST) survey: an RR Lyrae density profile out to >200 kpc

ABSTRACT In order to constrain the evolutionary history of the Milky Way, we hunt for faint RR Lyrae stars (RRLs) using Dark Energy Camera data from the High cadence Transient Survey and the Halo Outskirts With Variable Stars survey. We report the detection of $\sim$500 RRLs, including previously identified stars and $\sim$90 RRLs not yet reported. We identify nine new RRLs beyond 100 kpc from the Sun, most of which are classified as fundamental-mode pulsators. The periods and amplitudes of the distant RRLs do not place them in either one of the two classical Oosterhoff groups, but in the Oosterhoff intermediate region. We detect two groups of clumped distant RRLs with similar distances and equatorial coordinates, which we interpret as an indication of their association with undiscovered bound or unbound satellites. We study the halo density profile using spheroidal and ellipsoidal ($q=0.7$) models, following a Markov chain Monte Carlo methodology. For a spheroidal halo, our derived radial profile is consistent with a broken power law with a break at $18.1^{+2.1}_{-1.1}$ kpc separating the inner and the outer halo, and an outer slope of $-4.47^{+0.11}_{-0.18}$. For an ellipsoidal halo, the break is located at $24.3^{+2.6}_{-3.2}$ kpc and the outer slope is $-4.57^{+0.17}_{-0.25}$. The break in the density profile is a feature visible in different directions of the halo. The similarity of these radial distributions with previous values reported in the literature seems to depend on the regions of the sky surveyed (direction and total area) and halo tracer used. Our findings are compatible with simulations and observations that predict that the outer regions of Milky Way-like galaxies are mainly composed of accreted material.

Stellar Variability and Distance Indicators in the Near-infrared in Nearby Galaxies. I. RR Lyrae and Anomalous Cepheids in Draco Dwarf Spheroidal

The Draco Dwarf spheroidal (dSph) galaxy is one of the nearest and the most dark-matter-dominated satellites of the Milky Way. We obtained multiepoch near-infrared (NIR, JHK s ) observations of the central region of Draco dSph covering a sky area of ∼21′ × 21′ using the WIRCam instrument at the 3.6 m Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope. Homogeneous JHK s time-series photometry for 212 RR Lyrae (173 fundamental-mode, 24 first-overtone, and 15 mixed-mode variables) and five Anomalous Cepheids in Draco dSph are presented and used to derive their period–luminosity relations at NIR wavelengths for the first-time. The small scatter of ∼0.05 mag in these empirical relations for RR Lyrae stars is consistent with those in globular clusters and suggests a very small metallicity spread, up to ∼0.2 dex, among these centrally located variables. Based on empirically calibrated NIR period–luminosity–metallicity relations for RR Lyrae in globular clusters, we determined a distance modulus to Draco dSph of μ RRL = 19.557 ± 0.026 mag. The calibrated K s -band period–luminosity relations for Anomalous Cepheids in the Draco dSph and the Large Magellanic Cloud exhibit statistically consistent slopes but systematically different zero points, hinting at possible metallicity dependence of ∼ − 0.3 mag dex−1. Finally, the apparent magnitudes of the tip of the red-giant branch in I and J bands also agree well with their absolute calibrations with the adopted RR Lyrae distance to Draco. Our recommended ∼1.5% precise RR Lyrae distance, D Draco = 81.55 ± 0.98(statistical) ± 1.17(systematic) kpc, is the most accurate and precise distance to Draco dSph galaxy.

The VELOCE modulation zoo I. Spectroscopic detection of non-radial modes in the first-overtone Cepheids BG Crucis, QZ Normae, V0391 Normae, and V0411 Lacertae

The photometric observations from the recent decade revolutionized our view on classical pulsators. Low-amplitude signals have been detected photometrically in addition to the dominant high-amplitude radial mode pulsations in many RR Lyrae stars and classical Cepheids. First-overtone pulsators with an additional low-amplitude signal at a period ratio of around 0.61 with the main mode, the so-called 0.61 stars, form the most populous group among these stars. The nature of this signal has been attributed to non-radial pulsations. Another mysterious group are stars in which the additional signal forms a period ratio of around 0.68. These are the 0.68 stars. The origin of the signal remains unknown. Here, we search for similar phenomena in spectroscopic observations of first-overtone classical Cepheids collected as part of the project. We performed a frequency analysis of several parameters derived from cross-correlation functions (CCFs), including radial velocity, the full width at half maximum, the bisector inverse span, and the CCF depth (contrast). Using standard pre-whitening, we searched for additional low-amplitude signals. We identified the location of these stars in various sequences of the Petersen diagram. We detect additional signals in four first-overtone classical Cepheids: BG Cru, QZ Nor, V0391 Nor, and V0411 Lac. We classified BG Cru, QZ Nor, and V0391 Nor as 0.61 stars based on their period ratios. V0411 Lac, however, exhibits a ratio of 0.68 between the two modes, and the additional signal has a longer period. This type of multi-periodicity remains unexplained. CCFs yield the first spectroscopic detections of non-radial pulsation modes in classical Cepheids. This opens an asteroseismic window for pursuing a more detailed understanding of these important stars. While the 0.61 signal of BG Cru, QZ Nor, and V0391 Nor is understood to originate from non-radial modes of moderate degrees, the 0.68 signal of V0411 Lac still lacks a physical explanation.

Validating Gaia DR3 Pulsating Variable Classifications with TESS: Building Reliable δ Scuti and γ Doradus Stars Catalogs (In Progress)*

Abstract Gaia DR3 revealed 748,058 pulsating variable stars of mixed DSCT∣GDOR∣SXPHE types. This project undertakes a comprehensive examination to validate and distinguish these stars using Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite data. Aiming for reliable catalogs of bona fide δ Scuti and γ Doradus stars, I have validated 1715 δ Scuti stars, 1403 γ Doradus stars, and identified 260 eclipsing binaries, one RR Lyrae star, and 460+ rotating variables from an initial sample of 16,690 objects. Notably, 15 of the newfound eclipsing binaries harbor pulsating γ Doradus components.

Asteroseismological Analysis of the Non-Blazhko RRab Star EPIC 248846335 in the LAMOST–Kepler/K2 Project

We conduct an asteroseismological analysis on the non-Blazhko ab-type RR Lyrae star EPIC 248846335, employing the Radial Stellar Pulsations module of the Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics based on the set of stellar parameters. The atmospheric parameters T eff = 6933 ± 70 K, log g = 3.35 ± 0.50, and [Fe/H] = −1.18 ± 0.14 are estimated from low-resolution spectra of LAMOST DR9. The luminosity L = 49.70−1.80+2.99 L ⊙ and mass M = 0.56 ± 0.07 M ⊙ are calculated, respectively, using the distance provided by Gaia and the metallicity estimated from the low-resolution spectra. The Fourier parameters of the light curves observed by K2 and radial velocity (RV) curves determined from the medium-resolution spectra of LAMOST DR10 are also calculated in this work. The period of the fundamental mode of the star and the residuals r of the Fourier parameters between the models and observations serve to select an optimal model, whose stellar parameters are T eff = 6700 ± 220 K, log g = 2.70, [Fe/H] = −1.20 ± 0.2, M = 0.59 ± 0.05 M ⊙, and L = 56.0 ± 4.2 L ⊙. The projection factors are constrained as 1.20 ± 0.02 and 1.59 ± 0.13 by the blue- and red-arm observed velocities with their corresponding RV curves derived from the best-fit model, respectively. The precise determination of stellar parameters in ab-type RR Lyrae stars is crucial for understanding the physical processes that occur during pulsation and for providing a deeper understanding of their period–luminosity relationship.

The Galactic bulge exploration

We present a new set of period–absolute magnitude–metallicity (PMZ) relations for single-mode RR Lyrae stars calibrated for the optical GBP, V, G, GRP, near-infrared I, J, H, and Ks passbands. We compiled a large dataset (over 100 objects) of fundamental and first-overtone RR Lyrae pulsators consisting of mean intensity magnitudes, reddenings, pulsation properties, iron abundances, and parallaxes measured by the Gaia astrometric satellite in its third data release. Our newly calibrated PMZ relations encapsulate the most up-to-date ingredients in terms of both data and methodology. They are intended to be used in conjunction with large photometric surveys targeting the Galactic bulge, including the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE), the Vista Variables in the Vía Láctea Survey (VVV), and the Gaia catalog. In addition, our Bayesian probabilistic approach provides accurate uncertainty estimates of the predicted absolute magnitudes of individual RR Lyrae stars. Our derived PMZ relations provide consistent results when compared to benchmark distances to globular clusters NGC 6121 (also known as M 4), NGC 5139 (also known as omega Cen), and Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, which are stellar systems rich in RR Lyrae stars. Lastly, our Ks-band PMZ relations match well with the previously published PMZ relations based on Gaia data and accurately predict the distance toward the prototype of this class of variables, the eponymic RR Lyr itself.

The Baade-Wesselink projection factor of RR Lyrae stars

Context. The application of the parallax-of-pulsation (PoP) technique to determine the distances of pulsating stars implies the use of a scaling parameter, namely the projection factor (p-factor), which is required to transform disc-integrated radial velocities (RVs) into photospheric expansion velocities. The value of this parameter is poorly known and is still debated. Most present applications of the PoP technique assume a constant p-factor. However, it may actually depend on the physical parameters of each star, as past studies designed to calibrate the p-factor (predominantly for Cepheids) led to a broad range of individual values. Aims. We aim to calibrate the p-factors of a sample of RR Lyrae stars (RRLs) in order to compare them with classical Cepheids (CCs). Due to their higher surface gravity, RRLs have more compact atmospheres, and therefore provide a valuable comparison with their supergiant siblings. Methods. We determined the p-factor of 17 RRLs by modelling their pulsation using the SPIPS code. The models are constrained using Gaia DR3 parallaxes, photometry, and new RVs that we collected with the OHP/SOPHIE spectrograph. We carefully examine the different steps of the PoP technique, in particular the method used to determine the RV from spectra using the classical approach based on the cross-correlation function (CCF). Results. The method employed to extract the RV from the CCF has a strong impact on the p-factor, that is, of up to 10%. However, this choice of method results in a global scaling of the p-factor, and only marginally affects the scatter of p within the sample for a given method. Over our RRL sample, we find a mean value of p = 1.248 ± 0.022 for RVs derived using a Gaussian fit of the CCF. There is no evidence for a different value of the p-factor of RRLs, although its distribution for RRLs appears significantly less scattered (σ ≈ 7%) than that for CCs (σ ≈ 12%). Conclusions. The p-factor does not appear to depend in a simple way on fundamental stellar parameters (pulsation period, radius, metallicity, amplitude of the RV curve). We argue that large-amplitude dynamical phenomena occurring in the atmospheres of RRLs (and CCs) during their pulsation affect the relative velocity of the spectral line-forming regions compared to the velocity of the photosphere.

A New Tidal Stream Discovered in Gaia DR3

Thanks to the precise astrometric measurements of proper motions by the Gaia mission, a new tidal stellar stream has been discovered in the northern hemisphere. The distribution of star count shows that the stream is approximately 80° long and 1.°70 wide. Observations of 21 member stars, including 14 RR Lyrae stars, indicate that the stream has an eccentric and retrograde orbit with e = 0.58. The low metallicity, high total energy, and large angular momentum suggest that it is associated with the merging event Sequoia. This discovery suggests the possibility of finding more substructures with high eccentricity orbits, even in the inner halo.

The Selection Function of Gaia DR3 RR Lyrae

The Third Data Release (DR3) of the Gaia mission almost doubled the number of RR Lyrae (RRL) stars release in its Specific Object Studies (SOS) catalog, in comparison with DR2. Here I provide empirically inferred 2D and 3D completeness maps for the Gaia DR3 SOS RRL catalog along with maps for the combined Gaia SOS+PS1+ASAS-SN-II catalog. The latter currently has the best performance with an improvement of 9% relative to Gaia DR3 alone and close to 20% relative to Gaia DR2 for the VC+SOS RRL, while significantly smoothing out the effect of the Gaia scanning law.

Homogeneous metallicities for 14 old LMC globular clusters based on their fundamental mode RR Lyrae stars

ABSTRACT We present the first internally consistent set of [Fe/H] values for 14 of the 15 old globular clusters in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). We make use of periods and amplitudes of fundamental mode (ab-type) RR Lyrae stars in the vicinity of these LMC clusters, mostly taken from the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) data base, in order to calculate metallicities for the clusters. Our data set contains a total of 417 ab-type cluster RR Lyrae stars (289 from OGLE and the rest from the literature) and yields a set of homogeneous metallicities for 14 old LMC globular clusters all on the Zinn and West scale. No previously published work contains metallicities for as many of the old LMC globular clusters as presented herein. An analysis of a subset of our abundances compared with seven other metallicity studies in the peer-reviewed literature indicates very little overall agreement between these [Fe/H] values suggesting that significantly more effort needs to be devoted to measuring internally consistent [Fe/H]s for the old LMC globular clusters.

Variability Census of Legacy Catalogs. II. 6600+ New δ Scuti and γ Doradus Stars* *Dedicated to my wife Jingyun Zhang.

From Phase II of a variability vetting census in BD, HD, SAO and PPM catalogs, I have identified a total of new variables of over 5000 δ Scuti, 3500 γ Doradus, 1200 Maia variables, 4 RR Lyrae stars, 420 eclipsing binaries, 5500 rotating variables (220+ ellipsoidal variable stars, 550+ ACV and several other subtypes including solar-like oscillators), and other types. Notably, more than 66 eclipsing binary systems have been identified with pulsating primary components of either DSCT or GDOR type, while 10 more binaries feature overlapping Maia-type pulsation. Moreover, over 960 of these variables exhibit hybrid δ Sct-γ Dor pulsations.

RR Lyrae Stars Belonging to the Candidate Globular Cluster Patchick 99

Patchick 99 is a candidate globular cluster located in the direction of the Galactic bulge, with a proper motion almost identical to the field and extreme field star contamination. A recent analysis suggests it is a low-luminosity globular cluster with a population of RR Lyrae stars. We present new spectra of stars in and around Patchick 99, targeting specifically the three RR Lyrae stars associated with the cluster as well as the other RR Lyrae stars in the field. A sample of 53 giant stars selected from proper motions and a position on the color–magnitude diagram are also observed. The three RR Lyrae stars associated with the cluster have similar radial velocities and distances, and two of the targeted giants also have radial velocities in this velocity regime and [Fe/H] metallicities that are slightly more metal-poor than the field. Therefore, if Patchick 99 is a bona fide globular cluster, it would have a radial velocity of −92 ± 10 km s−1, a distance of 6.7 ± 0.4 kpc (as determined from the RR Lyrae stars), and an orbit that confines it to the inner bulge.

La Silla-QUEST RR Lyrae star survey II: the Crater II tidal streams

ABSTRACT We describe photometry improvements in the La Silla-Quest RR Lyrae star (RRLS) survey that enable it to reach distances from the Sun (d⊙) ∼140 kpc. We report the results of surveying ∼300 deg2 of sky around the large, low-surface-brightness Crater II dwarf spheroidal galaxy. At d⊙ >80 kpc, we find a large overdensity of RRLS that extends beyond the traditional isophotal contours used for Crater II. The majority of these RRLS (34) have a linear distribution on the sky, extending over 15°, that runs through Crater II and is oriented along Crater II’s proper motion vector. We hypothesize that this unlikely distribution traces extended tidal streams associated with Crater II. To test this, we search for other Crater II stellar populations that should be in the streams. Using Gaia proper motion data, we isolate ≈ 17 candidate stars outside of Crater II that are consistent with being luminous stars from the Crater II Red Giant Branch (RGB). Their spatial distribution is consistent with the RRLS one. The inferred streams are long, spanning a distance range ∼80–135 kpc from the Galactic Centre. They are oriented at a relatively small-angle relative to our line of sight (∼25°), which means some stream stars are likely projected onto the main body of the galaxy. Comparing the numbers of RRLS and RGB candidate stars found in the streams to those in the main galaxy, we estimate Crater II has lost $\gtrsim 30~{{\rm per\ cent}}$ of its stellar mass.

Variable stars in galactic globular clusters. I. The population of RR Lyrae stars

We present a comprehensive catalog of $2824$ RR Lyrae stars (RRLs) residing in $115$ Galactic globular clusters (GCs). Our catalog includes 1594 fundamental-mode (RRab), 824 first-overtone (RRc), and 28 double-mode (RRd) RRLs, as well as 378 RRLs of an unknown pulsation mode. We cross-matched 481\,349 RRLs reported in the third data release (DR3) of the ESA mission and the literature to 170 known GCs. Membership probabilities were computed as the products of a position and shape-dependent prior and a likelihood was computed using parallaxes, proper motions, and, where available, radial velocities from Membership likelihoods of RRLs were computed by comparing cluster average parameters based on known member stars and the cross-matched RRLs. We determined empirical RRL instability strip (IS) boundaries based on our catalog and detected three new cluster RRLs inside this region via their excess $G-$band photometric uncertainties. We find that $77<!PCT!>$ of RRLs in GCs are included in the DR3 Specific Object Study, and $82<!PCT!>$ were classified as RRLs by the DR3 classifier, with the majority of the missing sources being located at the crowded GC centers. Surprisingly, we find that $25<!PCT!>$ of cluster member stars located within the empirical IS are not RRLs and appear to be non-variable. Additionally, we find that $80<!PCT!>$ of RRab, $84<!PCT!>$ of RRc, and $100<!PCT!>$ of the RRd stars are located within theoretical IS boundaries predicted using MESA models with $Z=0.0003$, $M=0.7$ \(M_ and $Y=0.290$. Unexpectedly, a higher $Y=0.357$ is required to fully match the location of RRc stars, and lower $Y=0.220$ is needed to match the location of RRab stars. Lastly, our catalog does not exhibit an Oosterhoff dichotomy, with at least 22 GCs located inside the Oosterhoff "gap," which is close to the mode of the distribution of mean RRL periods in GCs.

The VMC survey. L. Type II Cepheids in the Magellanic Clouds: Period–luminosity relations in the near-infrared bands

Type II Cepheids (T2Cs) are the less frequently used counterparts of classical or type I Cepheids (CCs) which provide the primary calibration of the distance ladder for measuring the Hubble constant in the local Universe. In the era of the `Hubble tension', T2C variables together with the RR Lyrae stars and the tip of the red giant branch (TRGB) can potentially provide non-CC-dependent calibration of the cosmic distance ladder. Our goal is to provide an absolute calibration of the period--luminosity, period--luminosity--colour, and period--Wesenheit relations (PL, PLC, and PW, respectively) of T2Cs in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), which traditionally serves as a crucial first anchor of the extragalactic distance ladder. We exploited time-series photometry in the near-infrared (NIR) $Y,\,J,$ and $K_s$ bands for a sample of approximately $320$ T2Cs in the Magellanic Clouds (MCs). These observations were acquired during 2009--2018 in the context of the VISTA survey of the Magellanic Clouds system (VMC), an ESO public survey. We supplemented the NIR photometry from the VMC survey with well-sampled optical light curves and accurate pulsation periods from the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) IV survey and the $Gaia$ mission. We used the best-quality NIR light curves to generate custom templates for modelling sparsely sampled light curves in $YJK_s$ bands. The best-fitting $YJK_s$ template light curves were used to derive accurate and precise intensity-averaged mean magnitudes and pulsation amplitudes of 277 and 62 T2Cs in the LMC and SMC, respectively. We used optical and NIR mean magnitudes for different T2C subclasses (BLHer, WVir, and RVTau) to derive PL/PLC/PW relations in multiple bands, which were calibrated with the geometric distance to the LMC as derived from eclipsing binaries and with the $Gaia$ parallaxes. We used our new empirical calibrations of PL and PW relations to obtain distances to 22 T2C-host Galactic globular clusters, which were found to be systematically smaller by $ $0.1 mag and 0.03--0.06 mag than in the literature when the zero points are calibrated with the distance of the LMC or $Gaia$ parallaxes, respectively. Better agreement is found between our distances and those based on RR Lyrae stars in globular clusters, providing strong support for using these population II stars together with the TRGB for future distance scale studies.