The Baade-Wesselink p-factor applicable to LMC Cepheids

TL;DR

This study confirms that the period-projection factor relation for LMC Cepheids is consistent with Galactic Cepheids, supporting the universal application of the Baade-Wesselink method for distance measurements.

Contribution

It demonstrates that S/N, metallicity, and observation wavelength differences do not significantly affect the Pp relation, validating its universal use.

Findings

No significant effect of S/N on Pp relation

Metallicity does not alter the Pp relation

Optical vs infrared observations do not impact the Pp relation

Abstract

Context. Recent observations of LMC Cepheids bring new constraints on the slope of the period-projection factor relation (hereafter Pp relation) that is currently used in the Baade-Wesselink (hereafter BW) method of distance determination. The discrepancy between observations and theoretical analysis is particularly significant for short period Cepheids Aims. We investigate three physical effects that might possibly explain this discrepancy: (1) the spectroscopic S/N that is systematically lower for LMC Cepheids (around 10) compared to Galactic ones (up to 300), (2) the impact of the metallicity on the dynamical structure of LMC Cepheids, and (3) the combination of infrared photometry/interferometry with optical spectroscopy. Methods. To study the S/N we use a very simple toy model of Cepheids. The impact of metallicity on the projection factor is based on the hydrodynamical model of delta Cep already described in previous studies. This model is also used to derive the position of the optical versus infrared photospheric layers. Results. We find no significant effect of S/N, metallicity, and optical-versus-infrared observations on the Pp relation. Conclusions. The Pp relation of Cepheids in the LMC does not differ from the Galactic relation. This allows its universal application to determine distances to extragalactic Cepheids via BW analysis.