ON THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ASTRONOMICAL DETECTION OF CHROMATICITY EFFECTS IN MICROLENSING BY WORMHOLE-LIKE OBJECTS

We study the colour changes induced by blending in a wormhole-like microlensing scenario with extended sources. The results are compared with those obtained for limb darkening. We assess the possibility of an actual detection of the colour curve using the difference image analysis method.

RV Tauri stars and Type II Cepheids in the LMC

A review of the main results from the MACHO project for RV Tauri stars and Type II Cepheids in the LMC is presented. In light and colour curve behaviour, the RV Tauri stars appear to be a direct extension of the Type II Cepheids to longer periods. A single period–luminosity–colour relationship is seen to describe both the Type II Cepheids and RV Tauri stars in the LMC.Follow-up low resolution spectroscopy of the LMC RV Tauri stars has been undertaken. The spectra of the longest period RV Tauri star in the MACHO sample show that this star has strong C2 bands with a pronounced phase dependence, their strength being greater at minimum light. This and other spectral features are similar to those observed in proto-planetary nebulae. This LMC star therefore appears to combine the main spectral anomaly of the proto-planetary nebulae with RV Tauri-like photometric variability. This is an intriguing result which indicates a possible link between RV Tauri stars and proto-planetary nebulae, and strengthens the post-AGB interpretation of the RV Tauri stars.

A Photometric and Spectroscopic Study of Southern RV Tauri Stars

A program to obtain photometric and spectroscopic (high and medium resolution) observations of a number of southern RV Tauri stars has been undertaken over the past two years at the Mount John University Observatory (MJUO). Eleven RV Tauri stars of both RVa (constant mean magnitude) and RVb (varying mean magnitude) photometric type have been chosen as well as normal and weak metal lined RV Tauri stars.Most program stars display the alternating deep and shallow semi-regular light variations as well as the light curve - colour curve phase lag characteristic of RV Tauri stars. Fourier analyses of the light curves have revealed the dominant periodicities (see figure 1) and allowed phasing of the spectroscopic observations.High resolution échelle spectra obtained of these stars around the Hα region display the complex emission and absorption structure of the Hα line at various phases. Metallic lines show emission and line doubling or ‘splitting’ - profiles characteristic of the shock wave that propagates through the line-formation regions of these stars during a pulsational cycle. Spectra at specific phases will be used in an abundance analysis of selected RV Tauri stars.