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arXiv · astro-ph/0112130

RR Lyrae variables in Omega Centauri: a theoretical route

Abstract

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 $\pm$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.

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V. Castellani, S. Degl'Innocenti, M. Marconi. 2001-12-06. RR Lyrae variables in Omega Centauri: a theoretical route. https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0112130

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