On the modulation of RR Lyrae stars in the globular cluster M3

TL;DR

This study presents extended photometry of M3 RR Lyrae stars, revealing that a subset exhibits large-amplitude Blazhko modulation, with unique behaviors and potential links to stellar generation, challenging previous assumptions about modulation prevalence.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed analysis of Blazhko modulation in double-mode RR Lyrae stars in M3, highlighting peculiar behaviors and possible correlations with stellar generations.

Findings

Four of ten double-mode stars show large-amplitude Blazhko modulation.

Blazhko modulation occurs only in 10% of overtone variables in M3.

Blazhko stars are mostly bright, evolved objects, possibly linked to first-generation stars.

Abstract

A new, extended time-series photometry of M3 RR Lyrae stars has revealed that four of the ten double-mode stars show large-amplitude Blazhko modulation of both radial modes. The first, detailed analysis of the peculiar behavior of the unique, Blazhko RRd stars is given. While the P1/P0 period ratio is normal, and the overtone mode is dominant in the other RRd stars of the cluster, the period ratio is anomalous and the fundamental mode has a larger (or similar) mean amplitude than the overtone has in Blazhko RRd stars. The modulations of the fundamental and overtone modes are synchronized only in one of the Blazhko RRd stars. No evidence of any connection between the modulations of the modes in the other three stars is found. The Blazhko modulation accounts, at least partly, for the previously reported amplitude and period changes of these stars. Contrary to the $\sim50$$%$ Blazhko statistics of RRab and RRd stars, Blazhko modulation occurs only in 10$%$ of the overtone variables in M3. Four of the five Blazhko RRc stars are bright, evolved objects, and one has a similar period and brightness as Blazhko RRd stars have. The regions of the instability strip with high and low occurrence rate of the Blazhko modulation overlap with the regions populated by first- and second-generation stars according to theoretical and observational studies, raising up the possibility that the Blazhko modulation occurs preferentially in first-generation RR Lyrae stars.