Peculiar double-periodic pulsation in RR Lyrae stars of the OGLE collection. II. Short-period stars with dominant radial fundamental mode

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of a new group of double-periodic RR Lyrae stars with peculiar pulsation properties, challenging existing pulsation models and suggesting the need for further investigation into their nature.

Contribution

The study identifies a new class of double-periodic RR Lyrae stars with unusual period ratios and amplitude ratios, providing observational data that challenge current pulsation theories.

Findings

Detected additional shorter periodicity in 42 RR Lyrae stars.

Observed period ratios smaller than typical RRd stars.

Four stars exhibit Blazhko-type modulation.

Abstract

We report the discovery of a new group of double-periodic stars in the OGLE Galactic bulge photometry. In 38 stars identified as fundamental mode RR~Lyrae and 4 classified as the first-overtone RR~Lyrae, we detected additional shorter periodicity. Periods of the dominant variability in the newly discovered group are $0.28<P_{\rm D}<0.41$\,days. Period ratios $(0.68 - 0.72)$ are smaller than the period ratios of the Galactic bulge RRd stars. The typical amplitude ratio (of the additional to the dominant periodicity) is 20\,\% for the stars identified as fundamental mode RR~Lyrae and 50\,\% for stars classified as the first-overtone RR~Lyrae. Ten stars from our sample exhibit equidistant peaks in the frequency spectrum, that suggest the Blazhko-type modulation of the main pulsation frequency and/or the additional periodicity. The Fourier coefficients $R_{\mathrm{21}}$ and $R_{\mathrm{31}}$ are one of the lowest among fundamental mode RR Lyrae stars, but among the highest for the first-overtone pulsators. For the phase Fourier coefficients $\varphi_{\mathrm{21}}$ and $\varphi_{\mathrm{31}}$, our stars lie in between RRab and RRc stars. Discussed stars were compared with the radial, linear pulsation models. Their position in the Petersen diagram cannot be reproduced assuming that two radial modes are excited and their physical parameters are similar to that characteristic for RR~Lyrae stars. The non-radial mode scenario also faces difficulties. We conclude that the dominant variability is most likely due to pulsation in the radial fundamental mode including stars classified as the first overtone mode pulsators. At this point, we cannot explain the nature of the additional periodicity. Even more, classification of the stars as RR~Lyrae should be treated as tentative.