Variable Stars in M31 Stellar Clusters from the Panchromatic Hubble Andromeda Treasury

TL;DR

This study catalogs 86 luminous variable stars in M31 clusters using Hubble data, analyzing their evolutionary phases, types, and properties to enhance understanding of stellar evolution in extragalactic clusters.

Contribution

First systematic analysis of variable stars in extragalactic stellar clusters using Hubble data, combining statistical light curve analysis and difference imaging for detailed characterization.

Findings

Identified diverse variable star types including Cepheids, Wolf Rayet, and Mira variables.

Determined initial masses ranging from 0.8 to 67 solar masses.

Characterized evolutionary phases of variable stars in M31 clusters.

Abstract

Variable stars in stellar clusters can offer key constraints on stellar evolution and pulsation models, utilising estimates of host cluster properties to constrain stellar physical parameters. We present a catalogue of 86 luminous (F814W<19) variable stars in M31 clusters identified by mining the archival Panchromatic Hubble Andromeda Treasury (PHAT) survey using a combination of statistical analysis of sparse PHAT light curves and difference imaging. We determine the evolutionary phases and initial masses of these variable stars by matching them with theoretical isochrones generated using host cluster properties from the literature. We calculate the probability of PHAT photometry being blended due to the highly crowded nature of cluster environments for each cluster-variable star, using these probabilities to inform our level of confidence in the derived properties of each star. Our 86 cluster-variable stars have initial masses between 0.8--67 $M_{\odot}$. Their evolutionary phases span the main sequence, more evolved hydrogen- and helium-burning phases, and the post-asymptotic giant branch. We identify numerous candidate variable star types: RV Tauri variables, red supergiants and slowly pulsating B-type supergiants, along with Wolf Rayet stars, $\alpha$ Cygni and Mira variables, a classical Cepheid and a possible super-asymptotic giant. We characterise 12 cluster-variable stars at higher confidence based on their difference image quality and lower blending probability. Ours is the first systematic study of variable stars in extragalactic stellar clusters leveraging the superior resolution of the Hubble Space Telescope and demonstrating the unique power of stellar clusters in constraining the fundamental properties of variable stars.