2001/12/06 by V. Castellani, Castellani, V., S. Degl'Innocenti +3
Physics and Astronomy · #Astrophysics (astro-ph) #FOS: Physical sciences #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.astro-ph/0112130
11 pages with 9 eps figs, newpasp.sty, to be published in the "Omega Centauri: a Unique Window into Astrophysics" (Cambridge, Aug. 2001), ASP Conf. Ser. edited by F. van Leeuwen, G. Piotto,and J. Hughes
arxiv created 2001/12/06 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01
We present a theoretical approach to infer information about RR Lyrae variables from the morphology of their light curves. The method, already successfully applied to the field first overtone variable U Comae, is now tested on a RR\mathrm ab variable in the globular cluster ω Cen. We show that, with this method, it could be possible to give an estimate of the distance modulus of the cluster with an uncertainty not larger than ±0.1 mag. The predicted variable luminosity and mass are well within the range of theoretical evolutionary expectations giving the ``feeling'' of a full compatibility between pulsational and evolutionary theory. However, before completely relying on the method, further tests are needed; the goal is that a well tested and well calibrated pulsational theory could provide reliable distance moduli from just one (or few) RR Lyrae stars.