First results on RR Lyrae stars with the TESS space telescope: untangling the connections between mode content, colors and distances

Abstract

The TESS space telescope is collecting continuous, high-precision optical photometry of stars throughout the sky, including thousands of RR Lyrae stars. In this paper, we present results for an initial sample of 118 nearby RR Lyrae stars observed in TESS Sectors 1 and 2. We use differential-image photometry to generate light curves and analyse their mode content and modulation properties. We combine accurate light curve parameters from TESS with parallax and color information from the Gaia mission to create a comprehensive classification scheme. We build a clean sample, preserving RR Lyrae stars with unusual light curve shapes, while separating other types of pulsating stars. We find that a large fraction of RR Lyrae stars exhibit various low-amplitude modes, but the distribution of those modes is markedly different from those of the bulge stars. This suggests that differences in physical parameters have an observable effect on the excitation of extra modes, potentially offering a way to uncover the origins of these signals. However, mode identification is hindered by uncertainties when identifying the true pulsation frequencies of the extra modes. We compare mode amplitude ratios in classical double-mode stars to stars with extra modes at low amplitudes and find that they separate into two distinct groups. Finally, we find a high percentage of modulated stars among the fundamental-mode pulsators, but also find that at least 28% of them do not exhibit modulation, confirming that a significant fraction of stars lack the Blazhko effect.

arXiv comment35 pages, 26 figures, and a 19-page appendix. Accepted for publication in ApJS. Light curve data temporarily available: https://konkoly.hu/staff/lmolnar/tess_rrl_firstlight_all_lcs.txt

References in corpus (138)

• Astropy: A Community Python Package for Astronomy
• Gaia Data Release 2. Summary of the contents and survey properties
• Measuring Reddening with SDSS Stellar Spectra and Recalibrating SFD
• The Gaia mission
• The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite
• Binary companions of evolved stars in APOGEE DR14: Search method and catalog of ~5,000 companions
• The SIMBAD astronomical database
• Estimating distances from parallaxes. V: Geometric and photogeometric distances to 1.47 billion stars in Gaia Early Data Release 3
• Local Kinematics and the Local Standard of Rest
• Estimating distances from parallaxes IV: Distances to 1.33 billion stars in Gaia Data Release 2
• The K2 Mission: Characterization and Early results
• galpy: A Python Library for Galactic Dynamics
• The merger that led to the formation of the Milky Way's inner stellar halo and thick disk
• Gaia Early Data Release 3: The astrometric solution
• Gaia Early Data Release 3: Parallax bias versus magnitude, colour, and position
• Detection of the gravitational redshift in the orbit of the star S2 near the Galactic centre massive black hole
• Gaia Early Data Release 3: Photometric content and validation
• The GALAH+ Survey: Third Data Release
• Gaia broad band photometry
• Vertical waves in the solar neighbourhood in Gaia DR2
• The Kilodegree Extremely Little Telescope (KELT): A Small Robotic Telescope for Large-Area Synoptic Surveys
• The first WASP public data release
• Galactic Rotation and Solar Motion from Stellar Kinematics
• The RR Lyrae Period-Luminosity Relation. I. Theoretical Calibration
• On Galactic density modeling in the presence of dust extinction
• eleanor: An open-source tool for extracting light curves from the TESS Full-Frame Images
• On a new theoretical framework for RR Lyrae stars I: the metallicity dependence
• A multi-color and Fourier study of RR Lyrae variables in the globular cluster NGC 5272 (M3)
• Gaia Data Release 2: The catalogue of radial velocity standard stars
• Machine-Learned Identification of RR Lyrae Stars from Sparse, Multi-band Data: the PS1 Sample
• The Sixth Data Release of the Radial Velocity Experiment (RAVE) -- I: Survey Description, Spectra and Radial Velocities
• The KELT-South Telescope
• FITSH -- a software package for image processing
• Metal Abundances, Radial Velocities and other Physical Characteristics for the RR Lyrae Stars in the Kepler Field
• The shape of the Galactic halo with $Gaia$ DR2 RR Lyrae. Anatomy of an ancient major merger
• Does Kepler unveil the mystery of the Blazhko effect? First detection of period doubling in Kepler Blazhko RR Lyrae stars
• The Carnegie-Chicago Hubble Program. I. An Independent Approach to the Extragalactic Distance Scale Using only Population II Distance Indicators
• The GALAH survey: An abundance, age, and kinematic inventory of the solar neighbourhood made with TGAS
• RR-Lyrae-type pulsations from a 0.26-solar-mass star in a binary system
• The Konkoly Blazhko Survey: Is light-curve modulation a common property of RRab stars?
• The MACHO Project Large Magellanic Cloud variable star inventory. XI. Frequency analysis of the fundamental mode RR Lyrae stars
• Flavours of variability: 29 RR Lyrae stars observed with Kepler
• On the Blazhko Effect in RR Lyrae Stars
• Solar System objects observed with TESS -- First data release: bright main-belt and Trojan asteroids from the Southern Survey
• Nonlinear Beat Cepheid and RR Lyrae Models
• Standing on the shoulders of giants: New mass and distance estimates for Betelgeuse through combined evolutionary, asteroseismic, and hydrodynamical simulations with MESA
• Kepler photometry of RRc stars: peculiar double-mode pulsations and period doubling
• The Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment: Analysis of the bulge RR Lyrae population from the OGLE-III data
• Multiplicity of Galactic Cepheids and RR Lyrae stars from Gaia DR2 - I. Binarity from proper motion anomaly
• Period doubling bifurcation and high-order resonances in RR Lyrae hydrodynamical models
• Frequency analysis of Cepheids in the Large Magellanic Cloud. New types of classical Cepheid pulsators
• Long time-scale behavior of the Blazhko effect from rectified Kepler data
• MOST photometry of the RRd Lyrae variable AQ Leo: Two radial modes, 32 combination frequencies, and beyond
• The complex case of V445 Lyr observed with Kepler: Two Blazhko modulations, a non-radial mode, possible triple mode RR Lyrae pulsation, and more
• The Geometry of Sagittarius Stream from Pan-STARRS1 3$\pi$ RR Lyrae
• Blazhko RR Lyrae light curves as modulated signals
• Multiperiodic Galactic field RR Lyrae stars in the ASAS catalog
• Standard Galactic Field RR Lyrae II: A Gaia DR2 calibration of the period-Wesenheit-metallicity relation
• Automated Nonlinear Stellar Pulsation Calculations: Applications to RR Lyrae stars. The Slope of the Fundamental Blue Edge and the First RRd Model Survey
• On the use of field RR Lyrae as Galactic probes: I. The Oosterhoff dichotomy based on fundamental variables
• On the Use of Field RR Lyrae as Galactic Probes. II. A new $\Delta$S calibration to estimate their metallicity
• Revisiting CoRoT RR Lyrae stars: detection of period doubling and temporal variation of additional frequencies
• New RR Lyrae variables in binary systems
• Multiplicity of Galactic Cepheids and RR Lyrae stars from Gaia DR2 -- II. Resolved common proper motion pairs
• The VMC Survey - X. Cepheids, RR Lyrae stars and binaries as probes of the Magellanic System's structure
• Template RR Lyrae H alpha, H beta, and H gamma Velocity Curves
• The occurrence of Binary Evolution Pulsators in the classical instability strip of RR Lyrae and Cepheid variables
• Overtone and multi-mode RR Lyrae stars in the globular cluster M3
• Gaia 18dvy: a new FUor in the Cygnus OB3 association
• Evidence for Galactic disc RR~Lyrae stars in the Solar neighbourhood
• On the Variation of Fourier Parameters for Galactic and LMC Cepheids at Optical, Near-Infrared and Mid-Infrared Wavelengths
• The CoRoT star 105288363: strong cycle to cycle changes of the Blazhko modulation
• TESS observations of Cepheid stars: first light results
• Scaled oscillation frequencies and echelle diagrams as a tool for comparative asteroseismology
• Nonlinear asteroseismology of RR Lyrae
• Metallicity of Galactic RR Lyrae from Optical and Infrared Light Curves: I. Period-Fourier-Metallicity Relations for Fundamental Mode RR Lyrae
• Probing the galactic halo with RR Lyrae stars I: The catalog
• Anomalous Double-Mode RR Lyrae Stars in the Magellanic Clouds
• An RR Lyrae family portrait: 33 stars observed in Pisces with K2-E2
• The Compact Triply Eclipsing Triple Star TIC 209409435 Discovered with TESS
• RR Lyrae variables in Messier 53: Near-infrared Period--Luminosity relations and the calibration using Gaia Early Data Release 3
• Blazhko-type modulation in the double-mode RR Lyrae stars of the OGLE Galactic bulge collection
• On the Use of Field RR Lyrae as Galactic Probes. III. The $\alpha$-element abundances
• A Comparative Study of Multiwavelength Theoretical and Observed Light Curves of Cepheid Variables
• The Multi-periodic Blazhko Modulation of CZ Lacertae
• Discovery of a new group of double-periodic RR Lyrae stars in the OGLE-IV photometry
• Bright Blazhko RRab Lyrae stars observed by ASAS and the SuperWASP surveys
• Pushing the limits, episode 2: K2 observations of extragalactic RR Lyrae stars in the dwarf galaxy Leo IV
• On the modulation of RR Lyrae stars in the globular cluster M3
• New analysis of the light time effect in TU Ursae Majoris
• Metallicities from high resolution spectra of 49 RR Lyrae Variables
• On the separation between RR Lyrae and Type II Cepheids and their importance for distance determination: the case of $\omega$ Cen
• Period doubling and Blazhko modulation in BL Herculis hydrodynamic models
• The census of non-radial pulsation in first-overtone RR Lyrae stars of the OGLE Galactic bulge collection
• When a Period Is Not a Full Stop: Light Curve Structure Reveals Fundamental Parameters of Cepheid and RR Lyrae Stars
• Double-mode radial-non-radial RR Lyrae stars. OGLE-IV photometry of two high cadence fields in the Galactic bulge
• A Massive Star's Dying Breaths: Pulsating Red Supergiants and Their Resulting Type IIP Supernovae
• Peculiar double-periodic pulsation in RR Lyrae stars of the OGLE collection. I. Long-period stars with dominant radial fundamental mode
• Studies of RR Lyrae Variables in Binary Systems. I.: Evidence of a Trimodal Companion Mass Distribution
• Blazhko effect in the Galactic bulge fundamental mode RR Lyrae stars II: Modulation shapes, amplitudes and periods
• Precision distances to dwarf galaxies and globular clusters from Pan-STARRS1 3$\pi$ RR Lyrae
• Peculiar double-periodic pulsation in RR Lyrae stars of the OGLE collection. II. Short-period stars with dominant radial fundamental mode
• KIC 2831097 - A 2-year orbital-period RR Lyrae binary candidate
• Stellar Evolution in Real Time: Models Consistent with Direct Observation of Thermal Pulse in T Ursae Minoris
• V473 Lyrae, a unique second-overtone Cepheid with two modulation cycles
• EPIC 201585823, a rare triple-mode RR Lyrae star discovered in K2 mission data
• On the Oosterhoff dichotomy in the Galactic bulge: I. spatial distribution
• Extended Aperture Photometry of K2 RR Lyrae stars
• On the Use of Field RR Lyrae as Galactic Probes. V. Optical and radial velocity curve templates
• Milky Way archaeology using RR Lyrae and type II Cepheids I. The Orphan stream in 7D using RR Lyrae stars
• First observations of W Virginis stars with K2: detection of period doubling
• TESS in the Solar System
• On the variation of light curve parameters of RR Lyrae variables at multiple wavelengths
• Infrared $K_s$-band Photometry of Field RR Lyrae Variable Stars
• Are all RR Lyrae stars modulated?
• Blazhko Effect in the first overtone RR Lyrae stars of the OGLE Galactic bulge collection
• Can turbulent convective variations drive the Blazhko cycle? Dynamical investigation of the Stothers idea
• Metal-Rich RRc stars in the Carnegie RR Lyrae Survey
• RR Lyrae stars in NGC 6362
• Revisiting the Kepler non-Blazhko RR Lyrae sample: Cycle-to-cyle variations and additional modes
• A cautionary tale of interpreting O-C diagrams: period instability in a classical RR Lyr Star Z CVn mimicking as a distant companion
• The Blazhko effect and additional excited modes in RR Lyrae stars
• Finest light curve details, physical parameters, and period fluctuations of CoRoT RR Lyrae stars
• The relationship between photometric and spectroscopic oscillation amplitudes from 3D stellar atmosphere simulations
• A Radial Velocity Search for Binary RR Lyrae Variables
• A stellar population synthesis approach to the Oosterhoff dichotomy
• HD344787: a true Polaris analogue?
• Ultralow-amplitude RR Lyrae Stars in M4
• Dipper-like variability of the Gaia alerted young star V555 Ori
• Extended Aperture Photometry of K2 RR Lyrae stars
• Four 'Peculiar' RRd Stars Observed by K2
• The additional-mode garden of RR Lyrae stars
• Possible evidence of hydrogen emission in the first-overtone and multi-mode RR Lyrae variables
• A modulated RRd star observed by K2
• The Changing Lightcurve of the Double-Mode RR Lyrae Variable Star V338 Boo
• Asteroseismology of the heartbeat star KIC 5006817
• Blueshifted hydrogen emission and shock wave of RR Lyrae variables in SDSS and LAMOST
• A study of the photometric and spectroscopic variations of the prototypical FU Orionis-type star V1057 Cyg

Cited by in corpus (21)

• TESS-Gaia Light Curve: a PSF-based TESS FFI light curve product
• Revisiting bright delta Scuti stars and their period-luminosity relation with TESS and Gaia DR3
• Periodic variable A-F spectral type stars in the northern TESS continuous viewing zone
• Asteroseismology of RR Lyrae stars with non-radial modes
• Frequency analysis of the first-overtone RR Lyrae stars based on the Extended Aperture Photometry from the K2 data
• Time series analysis of bright TESS RRc stars: Additional modes, phase variations and more
• First Overtone Cepheids of the OGLE Magellanic Cloud Collection -- beyond radial modes
• Multi-wavelength Photometric Study of RR Lyrae Variables in the Globular Cluster NGC 5272 (Messier 3)
• Reanalysis of c-type RR Lyrae Variable BE Dor, Period Modulations and Possible Mechanism
• To Grow Old and Peculiar: A Survey of Anomalous Variable Stars in M80 and Age Determination using K2 and Gaia
• Detection of Gravity Modes in RR Lyrae Stars
• MOCKA -- A PLATO mock asteroseismic catalogue: Simulations for gravity-mode oscillators
• On the incidence rate of RR Lyrae stars with non-radial modes
• Rare Find: Discovery and chemo-dynamical properties of two s-process enhanced RR Lyrae stars
• Type II and anomalous Cepheids in the Kepler K2 mission
• Testing ultralow amplitude Cepheid candidates in the Galactic disk by TESS and Gaia
• Extraction of Physical Parameters of RRab Variables using Neural Network based Interpolator
• Digging Deeper for RR Lyrae Stars with Low Modulation Amplitudes
• Exploring Low-Amplitude Variability in First Overtone Cepheids with TESS
• Kepler Pixel Project -- background RR Lyrae stars in the primary Kepler mission field of view
• A Multiband Photometric Study of RR Lyrae Stars in M53 (NGC 5024)