Aims.
Classical Cepheids provide the foundation for the empirical extragalactic distance ladder. Milky Way Cepheids are the only stars in this class accessible to trigonometric parallax measurements. ...However, the parallaxes of Cepheids from the second
Gaia
data release (GDR2) are affected by systematics because of the absence of chromaticity correction, and occasionally by saturation.
Methods.
As a proxy for the parallaxes of 36 Galactic Cepheids, we adopt either the GDR2 parallaxes of their spatially resolved companions or the GDR2 parallax of their host open cluster. This novel approach allows us to bypass the systematics on the GDR2 Cepheids parallaxes that is induced by saturation and variability. We adopt a GDR2 parallax zero-point (ZP) of −0.046 mas with an uncertainty of 0.015 mas that covers most of the recent estimates.
Results.
We present new Galactic calibrations of the Leavitt law in the
V
,
J
,
H
,
K
S
, and Wesenheit
W
H
bands. We compare our results with previous calibrations based on non-
Gaia
measurements and compute a revised value for the Hubble constant anchored to Milky Way Cepheids.
Conclusions.
From an initial Hubble constant of 76.18 ± 2.37 km s
−1
Mpc
−1
based on parallax measurements without
Gaia
, we derive a revised value by adopting companion and average cluster parallaxes in place of direct Cepheid parallaxes, and we find
H
0
= 72.8 ± 1.9 (statistical + systematics) ±1.9 (ZP) km s
−1
Mpc
−1
when all Cepheids are considered and
H
0
= 73.0 ± 1.9 (statistical + systematics) ±1.9 (ZP) km s
−1
Mpc
−1
for fundamental mode pulsators only.
Using high-quality observed period-luminosity (P-L) relations in both Magellanic Clouds in the VIJHKs bands and optical and near-infrared Wesenheit indices, we determine the effect of metallicity on ...Cepheid P-L relations by comparing the relative distance between the LMC and SMC as determined from the Cepheids to the difference in distance between the Clouds that has been derived with very high accuracy from late-type eclipsing binary systems. Within an uncertainty of 3%, which is dominated by the uncertainty on the mean difference in metallicity between the Cepheid populations in the LMC and SMC, we find metallicity effects smaller than 2% in all bands and in the Wesenheit indices, consistent with a zero metallicity effect. This result is valid for the metallicity range from −0.35 dex to −0.75 dex corresponding to the mean Fe/H values for classical Cepheids in the LMC and SMC, respectively. Yet most Cepheids in galaxies beyond the Local Group and located in the less crowded outer regions of these galaxies do fall into this metallicity regime, making our result important for applications to determine the distances to spiral galaxies well beyond the Local Group. Our result supports previous findings that indicated a very small metallicity effect on the near-infrared absolute magnitudes of classical Cepheids, and resolves the dispute about the size and sign of the metallicity effect in the optical spectral range. It also resolves one of the most pressing problems in the quest toward a measurement of the Hubble constant with an accuracy of 1% from the Cepheid-supernova Ia method.
In this study we investigate the calibration of surface brightness-color (SBC) relations based solely on eclipsing binary stars. We selected a sample of 35 detached eclipsing binaries with ...trigonometric parallaxes from Gaia DR1 or Hipparcos whose absolute dimensions are known with an accuracy better than 3% and that lie within 0.3 kpc from the Sun. For the purpose of this study, we used mostly homogeneous optical and near-infrared photometry based on the Tycho-2 and 2MASS catalogs. We derived geometric angular diameters for all stars in our sample with a precision better than 10%, and for 11 of them with a precision better than 2%. The precision of individual angular diameters of the eclipsing binary components is currently limited by the precision of the geometric distances (∼5% on average). However, by using a subsample of systems with the best agreement between their geometric and photometric distances, we derived the precise SBC relations based only on eclipsing binary stars. These relations have precisions that are comparable to the best available SBC relations based on interferometric angular diameters, and they are fully consistent with them. With very precise Gaia parallaxes becoming available in the near future, angular diameters with a precision better than 1% will be abundant. At that point, the main uncertainty in the total error budget of the SBC relations will come from transformations between different photometric systems, disentangling of component magnitudes, and for hot OB stars, the main uncertainty will come from the interstellar extinction determination. We argue that all these issues can be overcome with modern high-quality data and conclude that a precision better than 1% is entirely feasible.
We present a detailed study of the classical Cepheid in the double-lined, highly eccentric eclipsing binary system OGLE-LMC562.05.9009. The Cepheid is a fundamental mode pulsator with a period of ...2.988 days. The orbital period of the system is 1550 days. Using spectroscopic data from three 4-8-m telescopes and photometry spanning 22 years, we were able to derive the dynamical masses and radii of both stars with exquisite accuracy. Both stars in the system are very similar in mass, radius, and color, but the companion is a stable, non-pulsating star. The Cepheid is slightly more massive and bigger (M sub(1) = 3.70 + or - 0.03 M sub(middot in circle), R sub(1) = 28.6 + or - 0.2 R sub(middot in circle)) than its companion (M sub(2) = 3.60 + or - 0.03 M sub(middot in circle), R sub(2) = 26.6 + or - 0.2 R sub(middot in circle)). Within the observational uncertainties both stars have the same effective temperature of 6030 + or - 150 K. Evolutionary tracks place both stars inside the classical Cepheid instability strip, but it is likely that future improved temperature estimates will move the stable giant companion just beyond the red edge of the instability strip. Within current observational and theoretical uncertainties, both stars fit on a 205 Myr isochrone arguing for their common age. From our model, we determine a value of the projection factor of p = 1.37 + or - 0.07 for the Cepheid in the OGLE-LMC562.05.9009 system. This is the second Cepheid for which we could measure its p-factor with high precision directly from the analysis of an eclipsing binary system, which represents an important contribution toward a better calibration of Baade-Wesselink methods of distance determination for Cepheids.
We have obtained deep near-infrared images in J and K filters of three fields in the Sculptor galaxy NGC 300 with the ESO VLT and ISAAC Camera. For 16 Cepheid variables in these fields, we have ...determined J and K magnitudes at two different epochs and have derived their mean magnitudes in these bands. The slopes of the resulting period-luminosity relations are in very good agreement with the slopes of these relations measured in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) by Persson et al. Fitting the LMC slopes to our data, we have derived distance moduli in J and K. Using these values together with the values derived in the optical V and I bands in our previous work, we have determined an improved total reddening for NGC 300 of E(B - V) = 0.096 c 0.006 mag, which yields extremely consistent values for the absorption-corrected distance modulus of the galaxy from VIJK bands. Our distance result for NGC 300 from this combined optical/near-infrared Cepheid study is (m = M) sub(0) = 26.37 c 0.05 (random) c 0.03 (systematic) mag and is tied to an adopted true LMC distance modulus of 18.50 mag. Both random and systematic uncertainties are dominated by photometric errors, while errors due to reddening, metallicity effects, and crowding are less important. Our distance determination is consistent with the earlier result from near-infrared (H-band) photometry of two Cepheids in NGC 300 by Madore et al., but far more accurate. Our distance value also agrees with the HST key Project result of Freedman et al. and with the recent distance estimate for NGC 300 from Butler et al. from the tip of the red giant branch (TRGB) I-band magnitude when our improved reddening is used to calculate the absorption corrections. Our distance results from the different optical and near-infrared bands indicate that the reddening law in NGC 300 must be very similar to the Galactic one. With the results of this work, the distance of NGC 300 relative to the LMC now seems determined with an accuracy of approximately c3%. The distance to this nearby Sculptor galaxy is therefore now known with higher accuracy than that of most (nearer) Local Group galaxies.
We have analyzed the double-lined eclipsing binary system OGLE-LMC-CEP-1812 in the LMC and demonstrate that it contains a classical fundamental mode Cepheid pulsating with a period of 1.31 days. The ...secondary star is a stable giant. We derive the dynamical masses for both stars with an accuracy of 1.5%, making the Cepheid in this system the second classical Cepheid with a very accurate dynamical mass determination, following the OGLE-LMC-CEP-0227 system studied by Pietrzynski et al. The measured dynamical mass agrees very well with that predicted by pulsation models. We also derive the radii of both components and accurate orbital parameters for the binary system. This new, very accurate dynamical mass for a classical Cepheid will greatly contribute to the solution of the Cepheid mass discrepancy problem, and to our understanding of the structure and evolution of classical Cepheids.
We have applied the infrared surface brightness (ISB) technique to derive distances to 13 Cepheid variables in the LMC that span a period range from 3 to 42 days. From the absolute magnitudes of the ...variables calculated from these distances, we find that the LMC Cepheids define tight period-luminosity (PL) relations in the V, I, W, J, and K bands that agree exceedingly well with the corresponding Galactic PL relations derived from the same technique and are significantly steeper than the LMC PL relations in these bands observed by the OGLE-II Project in V, I, and W and by Persson and coworkers in J and K. We find that the LMC Cepheid distance moduli we derive, after correcting them for the tilt of the LMC bar, depend significantly on the period of the stars, in the sense that the shortest period Cepheids have distance moduli near 18.3, whereas the longest period Cepheids are found to lie near 18.6. Since such a period dependence of the tilt-corrected LMC distance moduli should not exist, there must be a systematic, period-dependent error in the ISB technique not discovered in previous work. We identify as the most likely culprit the p-factor, which is used to convert the observed Cepheid radial velocities into their pulsational velocities. By demanding (1) a zero slope on the distance modulus versus period diagram and (2) a zero mean difference between the ISB and ZAMS fitting distance moduli of a sample of well-established Galactic cluster Cepheids, we find that p = 1.58( plus or minus 0.02) - 0.15( plus or minus 0.05) log P, with the p-factor depending more strongly on Cepheid period (and thus luminosity) than indicated by past theoretical calculations. When we recalculate the distances of the LMC Cepheids with the revised p-factor law suggested by our data, we not only obtain consistent distance moduli for all stars but also decrease the slopes in the various LMC PL relations (and particularly in the reddening-independent K and W bands) to values that are consistent with the values observed by OGLE-II and Persson and coworkers. From our 13 Cepheids, we determine the LMC distance modulus to be 18.56 plus or minus 0.04 mag, with an additional estimated systematic uncertainty of similar to 0.1 mag. Using the same corrected p-factor law to redetermine the distances of the Galactic Cepheids, the new Galactic PL relations are also found consistent with the observed optical and near-infrared PL relations in the LMC. Our main conclusion from the ISB analysis of the LMC Cepheid sample is that, within current uncertainties, there seems to be no significant difference between the slopes of the PL relations in the Milky Way and LMC. With literature data on more metal-poor systems, it seems now possible to conclude that the slope of the Cepheid PL relation is independent of metallicity in the broad range in Fe/H from -1.0 dex to solar abundance, within a small uncertainty. The new evidence from the first ISB analysis of a sizable sample of LMC Cepheids suggests that the previous, steeper Galactic PL relations obtained from this technique were caused by an underestimation of the period dependence in the model-based p-factor law used in the previous work. We emphasize, however, that our current results must be substantiated by new theoretical models capable of explaining the steeper period dependence of the p-factor law, and we will also need data on more LMC field Cepheids to rule out remaining concerns about the validity of our current interpretation.
We have measured accurate near-infrared magnitudes in the J and K bands of 39 Cepheid variables in the irregular Local Group galaxy IC 1613 with well-determined periods and optical VI light curves. ...Using the template light curve approach of Soszynski, Gieren, & Pietrzynski, accurate mean magnitudes were obtained from these data, which allowed us to determine the distance to IC 1613 relative to the LMC from a multiwavelength period-luminosity solution in the optical VI and near-IR JK bands with an unprecedented accuracy. Our result for the IC 1613 distance is (m - M) sub(0) = 24.291 c 0.035 (random error) mag, with an additional systematic uncertainty smaller than 2%. From our multiwavelength approach, we find for the total (average) reddening to the IC 1613 Cepheids E(B - V) = 0.090 c 0.019 mag, which is significantly higher than the foreground reddening of about 0.03 mag, showing the presence of appreciable dust extinction inside the galaxy. Our data suggest that the extinction law in IC 1613 is very similar to the Galactic one. Our distance result agrees, within the uncertainties, with two earlier infrared Cepheid studies in this galaxy, of Macri et al. (from HST data on 4 Cepheids) and McAlary et al. (from ground-based H-band photometry of 10 Cepheids), but our result has reduced the total uncertainty on the distance to IC 1613 (relative to the LMC) to less than 3%. With distances to nearby galaxies from Cepheid infrared photometry at this level of accuracy, which are currently being obtained in our Araucaria Project, it seems possible to significantly reduce the systematic uncertainty of the Hubble constant, as derived from the HST Key Project approach, by improving the calibration of the metallicity effect on PL relation zero points and by improving the distance determination to the LMC.
Context.
The effective temperature is a key parameter governing the properties of a star. For stellar chemistry, it has the strongest impact on the accuracy of the abundances derived. Since Cepheids ...are pulsating stars, determining their effective temperature is more complicated than in the case of nonvariable stars.
Aims.
We want to provide a new temperature scale for classical Cepheids, with a high precision and full control of the systematics.
Methods.
Using a data-driven machine learning technique employing observed spectra, and in taking great care to accurately phase single-epoch observations, we tied flux ratios to (label) temperatures derived using the infrared surface brightness method.
Results.
We identified 143 flux ratios, which allow us to determine the effective temperature with a precision of a few Kelvin and an accuracy better than 150 K, which is in line with the most accurate temperature measures available to date. The method does not require a normalization of the input spectra and provides homogeneous temperatures for low- and high-resolution spectra, even at the lowest signal-to-noise ratios. Due to the lack of a dataset with a sufficient sample size for Small Magellanic Cloud Cepheids, the temperature scale does not extend to Cepheids with Fe/H < −0.6 dex. However, it nevertheless provides an exquisite, homogeneous means of characterizing Galactic and Large Magellanic Cloud Cepheids.
Conclusions.
The temperature scale will be extremely useful in the context of spectroscopic surveys for Milky Way archaeology with the WEAVE and 4MOST spectrographs. It paves the way for highly accurate and precise metallicity estimates, which will allow us to assess the possible metallicity dependence of Cepheids’ period-luminosity relations and, in turn, to improve our measurement of the Hubble constant H
0
.
We present a new study of late-type eclipsing binary stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) undertaken with the aim of improving the distance determination to this important galaxy. A sample of 10 ...new detached, double-lined eclipsing binaries identified from the OGLE variable star catalogs and consisting of F- and G-type giant components has been analyzed. The absolute physical parameters of the individual components have been measured with a typical accuracy of better than 3%. All but one of the systems consist of young and intermediate population stars with masses in the range of 1.4 to 3.8 M☉. This new sample has been combined with five SMC eclipsing binaries previously published by our team. Distances to the binary systems were calculated using a surface brightness-color calibration. The targets form an elongated structure, highly inclined to the plane of the sky. The distance difference between the nearest and most-distant system amounts to 10 kpc with the line-of-sight depth reaching 7 kpc. We find tentative evidence of the existence of a spherical stellar substructure (core) in the SMC coinciding with its stellar center, containing about 40% of the young and intermediate age stars in the galaxy. The radial extension of this substructure is ∼1.5 kpc. We derive a distance to the SMC center of DSMC = 62.44 0.47 (stat.) 0.81 (syst.) kpc corresponding to a distance modulus (m − M)SMC = 18.977 0.016 0.028 mag, representing an accuracy of better than 2%.
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