Period-Color and Amplitude-Color Relations in Classical Cepheid Variables - VI. New Challenges for Pulsation Models

TL;DR

This study analyzes phase-dependent nonlinearities in Cepheid variable relations using observational data and pulsation models, revealing new challenges for theoretical understanding of stellar pulsation.

Contribution

It introduces multiphase Period-Color and Period-Luminosity relations and compares them with models, highlighting discrepancies and nonlinearity in pulsation phases.

Findings

Relations are dynamic and highly nonlinear at certain phases.

Models predict similar nonlinearity but with amplitude discrepancies.

Models with specific metallicity and helium content better match observations.

Abstract

We present multiphase Period-Color/Amplitude-Color/Period-Luminosity relations using OGLE III and Galactic Cepheid data and compare with state of the art theoretical pulsation models. Using this new way to compare models and observations, we find convincing evidence that both Period-Color and Period-Luminosity Relations as a function of phase are dynamic and highly nonlinear at certain pulsation phases. We extend this to a multiphase Wesenheit function and find the same result. Hence our results cannot be due to reddening errors. We present statistical tests and the urls of movies depicting the Period-Color/Period Luminosity and Wesenheit relations as a function of phase for the LMC OGLE III Cepheid data: these tests and movies clearly demonstrate nonlinearity as a function of phase and offer a new window toward a deeper understanding of stellar pulsation. When comparing with models, we find that the models also predict this nonlinearity in both Period-Color and Period-Luminosity planes. The models with (Z=0.004, Y=0.25) fare better in mimicking the LMC Cepheid relations, particularly at longer periods, though the models predict systematically higher amplitudes than the observations.