A new visit to the variable stars in M56 and its colour magnitude diagram structure

TL;DR

This study provides detailed photometric analysis and evolutionary modeling of the globular cluster M56, identifying new variable stars and refining its distance, metallicity, and reddening parameters through comparison with theoretical isochrones and models.

Contribution

It offers a comprehensive CMD analysis of M56, incorporating new variable star discoveries and improved constraints on cluster parameters using advanced evolutionary models.

Findings

Decontaminated CMD enables better isochrone fitting.

Derived cluster parameters: distance 9.4 kpc, metallicity -1.96, reddening 0.26.

Identified 5 new variable stars including SX Phe and RRc.

Abstract

We present a $VI$ CCD photometric study and a membership analysis of the globular cluster M56 (NGC 6779). This produced a decontaminated CMD from field stars, which enabled a better confrontation with theoretical isochrones; Zero-Age Horizontal Branches (ZAHB) and post-ZAHB evolutionary tracks. Post He-flash evolutionary models with a He-core mass of 0.5 M$_\odot$ and envelopes of 0.04 - 0.18 M$_\odot$, cover the complete Horizontal Branch. Models with total mass $\sim$ 0.68 M$_\odot$ explain the RR Lyrae, while those with a mass $\sim$ 0.56 M$_\odot$ and a very subtle envelope, explain the Pop II cepheids with a progenitor in the blue tail of the HB. %Using the mean $(V-I)$ at minimum color curve for the RRab stars, we derived a value for the reddening of $E(B-V)$ = 0.26 $\pm$ 0.02. Based on the Fourier decomposition of the $V$ light curve of a single cluster member RRc star, we determined a metallicity of $\rm [Fe/H]_{ ZW}$ = -1.96 $\pm$ 0.09. Several independent distance determination approaches lead to a mean distance to M56 of $\big< d \big>$ = 9.4 $\pm$ 0.4 kpc. Finally, we report 5 new variables: 1 SX Phe, 3 EB, and 1 RRc.