Cepheid Period-Radius and Period-Luminosity Relations and the Distance to the LMC

Details Cepheid Period-Radius and Period-Luminosity Relations and the Distance to the LMC Cepheid Period-Radius and Period-Luminosity Relations and the Distance to the LMC

1997-10-15

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/9710161v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

LaTeX, AASTeX style, 9 Figures, 10 Tables, The Astrophysical Journal in press (accepted Oct. 14, 1997). Fig. 3 replaced

Scientific paper

10.1086/305374

We have used the infrared Barnes-Evans surface brightness technique to derive the radii and distances of 34 Galactic Cepheid variables. Radius and distance results obtained from both versions of the technique are in excellent agreement. The radii of 28 variables are used to determine the period-radius relation. This relation is found to have a smaller dispersion than in previous studies, and is identical to the period-radius relation found by Laney & Stobie from a completely independent method, a fact which provides persuasive evidence that the Cepheid period-radius relation is now determined at a very high confidence level. We use the accurate infrared distances to determine period-luminosity relations in the V, I, J, H and K passbands from the Galactic sample of Cepheids. We derive improved slopes of these relations from updated LMC Cepheid samples and adopt these slopes to obtain accurate absolute calibrations of the PL relation. By comparing these relations to the ones defined by the LMC Cepheids, we derive strikingly consistent and precise values for the LMC distance modulus in each of the passbands which yield a mean value of DM (LMC) = 18.46 +- 0.02. Our results show that the infrared Barnes-Evans technique is very insensitive to both Cepheid metallicity and adopted reddening, and therefore a very powerful tool to derive accurate distances to nearby galaxies by a direct application of the technique to their Cepheid variables, rather than by comparing PL relations of different galaxies, which introduces much more sensitivity to metallicity and absorption corrections which are usually difficult to determine.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Cepheid Period-Radius and Period-Luminosity Relations and the Distance to the LMC does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Cepheid Period-Radius and Period-Luminosity Relations and the Distance to the LMC, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Cepheid Period-Radius and Period-Luminosity Relations and the Distance to the LMC will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-166158