Photometric properties of carbon stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud

TL;DR

This study analyzes the photometric properties of carbon stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud, revealing distinct behaviors in infrared colors and correlations between dust, pulsation, and period, with implications for bolometric magnitude estimates.

Contribution

It provides a detailed infrared photometric analysis of over 1,800 carbon-rich variable stars, highlighting differences between semi-regulars and Miras and addressing systematic errors in bolometric corrections.

Findings

Semi-regulars and Miras follow different color-color sequences.

Dustiest Miras exhibit strongest pulsation amplitudes and longest periods.

Potential systematic errors in published bolometric corrections.

Abstract

The Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment identified over 1,800 carbon-rich Mira and semi-regular variables in the Small Magellanic Cloud. Multi-epoch infrared photometry reveals that the semi-regulars and Miras follow different sequences in color-color space when using colors sensitive to molecular absorption bands. The dustiest Miras have the strongest pulsation amplitudes and longest periods. Efforts to determine bolometric magnitudes reveal possible systematic errors with published bolometric corrections.