# CCD PHOTOMETRY OF FAINT VARIABLE STARS IN THE GLOBULAR CLUSTER NGC 6752 1footnote 11footnote 1 Based on observations collected at the Las Campanas Observatory of the Carnegie Institution of Washington.

## 1 Introduction

NGC 6752 is a medium-rich globular cluster whose proximity, low reddening and relatively high galactic latitude ($`r3.8`$ kpc, $`E(BV)=0.04`$, $`b=25.6`$; Harris 1996) make it an excellent object for detailed studies. The cluster was selected as one of the targets of an ongoing survey for eclipsing binaries in globular clusters (Kaluzny, Thompson & Krzeminski 1997). The ultimate goal of the project is to use observations of detached eclipsing binaries to determine the ages and distances of globular clusters (Paczyński 1997), and to study the binary star fraction in these clusters.

Until recently only 3 variable stars were known in NGC 6752 (Hogg 1973; Clement 1996 and references therein). One of these is a population II Cepheid and there is insufficient information on the other two to define their types. The horizontal branch of NGC 6752 is blue and the cluster contains no RR Lyr stars. Three photometric studies of variable and binary stars based on HST data have been published during the last three years. Shara et al. (1995) reported null results in a search for short period variables in the core region of NGC 6752, while Bailyn et al. (1996) identified 3 candidate cataclysmic variables, also in the core of the cluster. From an analysis of the broadened, asymmetric main sequence in NGC 6752, Rubenstein & Bailyn (1997) determined that the binary fraction is probably in the range 15%–38% within the core radius.

In this contribution we present an analysis of CCD photometry of NGC 6752. This data set is best suited for a search for variable stars in the outer parts of the cluster. A separate paper will be devoted to the analysis of photometry for the central part of the cluster based on data obtained in 1998 with the 2.5-m du Pont telescope (Kaluzny et al., in preparation)

## 2 Observations and Data Reduction

Time-series photometry of NGC 6752 was obtained during the interval 1996 June 23 – 1997 September 15 with the 1.0m Swope telescope at Las Campanas Observatory. In 1996 a Loral CCD was used as the detector, with a scale of 0.435 arcsec/pixel and a field of view of $`14.8\times 14.8`$ arcmin. Two cameras were used in 1997. The first (LCO camera SITe1) has a field of view $`23.8\times 23.8`$ arcmin with a scale of 0.70 arcsec/pixel. The second (LCO camera SITe3) has a field of view of $`14.8\times 22.8`$ arcmin with a scale of 0.435 arcsec/pixel. In all cases the observations were approximately centered on the cluster. A total of 539 $`V`$-band images, 42 $`B`$-band images, and 2 $`U`$-band images were collected on 14 nights. Exposure times were sufficiency long – ranging from 100 to 300 s for the $`V`$-band, depending on the seeing – to ensure accurate photometry for stars located 2-3 mag below the cluster turnoff. The cluster was monitored for 28h35m, 13h30m and 12h00m with the SITe3, Loral and SITe1 cameras, respectively.

Instrumental photometry was extracted using DoPHOT (Schechter, Mateo & Saha 1993). We used DoPHOT in the fixed-position mode, with the stellar positions measured on ”template” images (either the best images obtained during a given run or a combination of the 2-3 best images). For each one of the CCD cameras used in this survey a separate data base was constructed using procedures described in detail in Kaluzny et al. (1996). The total number of stars included in the $`V`$ filter data bases for the SITe1, SITe3 and Loral cameras was 45049, 43882 and 22957, respectively. The quality of the derived photometry is illustrated in Fig. 1 in which we have plotted the $`rms`$ deviation versus average magnitude for stars measured with the SITe3 camera. This plot includes 31442 stars with $`12.1<V<20.8`$ with at least 74 observations. Photometry for stars with $`V<13.5`$ is poor since these stars were frequently over-exposed. To select potential variables we employed three methods, as described in some detail in Kaluzny et al. (1996). $`V`$-band light curves showing possible periodic signals or smooth changes on time scales of weeks were selected for further examination. Eleven certain variables were identified in this way. Note that the three variables listed in Clement (1996) are all saturated on our CCD frames.

The instrumental photometry was transformed to the standard $`BV`$ system using observations of standard stars from Landolt (1992), leading to relations of the form:

$`v=a_1+V+a_2\times (BV)`$ (1)   
$`b=a_3+B+a_4\times (BV)`$ (2)   
The linear coefficients $`a_2`$ and $`a_4`$ were separately derived for each of the CCD cameras. The additive constants $`a_1`$ and $`a_3`$ were derived based on $`BV`$ photometry of 12 secondary standards selected from Cannon & Stobie (1973). Average values of the $`BV`$ color were used when transforming the observations of the variables from instrumental $`v`$ magnitudes to standard $`V`$ magnitudes This procedure leads to systematic errors not exceeding 0.003 mag.<sup>2</sup><sup>2</sup>2The values of $`a_2`$ in Eq. 1 had values from –0.02 to 0.03 depending on the CCD. None of the detected variables has an observed variation of $`BV`$ exceed 0.1 mag. Hence, systematic errors due to the adoption of an average $`BV`$ color in Eq. 1 do not exceed 0.003 mag

On the night of Jun 26, 1997 we used the SITe1 camera to secure two $`600`$-sec $`U`$-band frames centered on the cluster. These frames, supplemented with a pair of short $`BV`$ exposures ($`V`$ 25-sec, $`B`$ 35-sec) and a pair of long exposures $`BV`$ exposures ($`V`$ 120-sec, $`B`$ 150-sec), were used to derive $`UBV`$ photometry for a large sample of stars from the cluster field. The color-magnitude diagram based on these data is discussed in Sec. 4. The transformation from the instrumental to the standard $`UBV`$ system was determined using observations of several Landolt (1992) fields obtained over the whole observing sub-run:

$`v=c_1+V+0.04\times (BV)`$ (3)   
$`bv=c_2+0.912\times (BV)`$ (4)   
$`ub=c_3+0.957\times (UB)`$ (5)   
The zero points of our $`UBV`$ photometry of NGC 6752 were derived from observations of secondary standards from Cannon & Stobie (1973).

## 3 Results for variables

In Table 1 we list equatorial coordinates of the 11 newly identified variables. Approximate angular distances of the variables from the cluster center are given in the 4th column. The last column gives a variability type for each object (ECL – eclipsing binary; EW – contact binary; EA – detached eclipsing binary, SX – SX Phe variable). The limiting radius of the cluster is estimated to be 31 $`arcmin`$ (Webbink 1985) and all variables from Table 1 are located within this radius.

Variables V4, V5 and V11, which are located at large radii from the cluster center, were outside the field of view of the SITe3 and Loral cameras and were observed only with the SITe1 camera. Variable V10 was outside the field of view of the Loral camera. Variables V12 and V13, which are located relatively close to the projected cluster center, are absent in the data base for the SITe1 camera because of crowding. All other variables are present in all data sets. Finding charts for the 11 variables are given in Figs. 2 and 3.

Variable V9 is the brighter component of an unresolved blend of two images. However, this close visual pair could be resolved on images obtained with the du Pont telescope. The fainter component has a $`V`$-magnitude of $`V=17.65`$ and color $`BV=0.45`$, and we used these values to decompose the observations of the combined image obtained with the Swope telescope.

Figure 4 shows the location of all of the newly identified variables on the cluster color-magnitude diagram (CMD). For the SX Phe stars the plotted positions correspond to the intensity-averaged magnitudes. For the eclipsing variables the magnitudes at maximum light are plotted. The phased light curves of variables V4-9 and V11-14 are shown in Fig. 5. The periods of variability were derived using an algorithm based on an analysis of variance statistic introduced by Schwarzenberg-Czerny (1989, 1991). Variable V10 showed flat light curves on all but one night. On the night of June 7 1997 that variable showed an eclipse event lasting more than 5 hours. Figure 6 shows time-domain light curves of V10 obtained on the nights of June 2 1997 and June 7 1997.

### 3.1 SX Phe stars

The periods, average colors, intensity averaged $`V`$ brightnesses and full amplitudes of the 3 identified SX Phe stars are listed in Table 2. All three variables are candidate blue straggler stars. The observed luminosities of these SX Phe stars are consistent with membership in NGC 6752. This is demonstrated in Fig. 7 which shows the positions of the variables in a period $`vs.`$ absolute magnitude diagram. The standard relation for SX Phe stars from McNamara (1997) is also shown. Absolute magnitudes for the SX Phe stars were calculated assuming a distance modulus of $`(mM)_V=13.02`$ (Harris 1996).

While V17 is clearly a fundamental mode pulsator, based on its amplitude and asymmetric light curve, a classification of V12 and V13 is more problematical. Observational error and the low amplitudes of these stars combine to complicate a determination of the asymmetry of the light curves. In addition, as McNamara (1997) points out, classification of a star as a first overtone pulsator based only on low amplitude and symmetrical light curves is itself questionable. We note here simply that the properties of these three SX Phe stars are consistent with pulsation in the fundamental mode and membership in NGC 6752.

### 3.2 Eclipsing binaries

Our sample of newly identified variables includes 8 eclipsing binaries. Table 3 lists some basic photometric characteristics of their light curves. Seven objects can be classified as contact binaries (EW type eclipsing binaries according to the GCVS scheme) and one – variable V10 – is most likely a detached eclipsing binary. We have managed to catch just one eclipse-like event for V10. Our data indicate that the orbital period of that binary is longer than 2 days. The position of V10 on the cluster CMD (see Fig. 4) does not support its membership in NGC 6752 unless the error in $`BV`$ is unusually large. In addition, the variable is located relatively far from the cluster center. Determination of the radial velocity and/or proper motion of V10 is necessary in order to clarify the membership status of this potentially important binary.

Of the seven identified contact binaries only V8 is located among the blue stragglers on the cluster CMD. Variable V6 occupies a position slightly below the cluster main-sequence. V11 is located about 0.2 mag to the red of the subgiant branch. Its position on the CMD indicates that it does not belong to the cluster. The remaining 3 EW systems are located to the red of the cluster main-sequence. We have applied the absolute brightness calibration established by Rucinski (1995) to estimate $`M_V`$ for the newly identified contact binaries<sup>3</sup><sup>3</sup>3Rucinski & Duerbeck (1997) have derived a new version of the calibration $`M_V=M_V(logP,BV)`$ using a sample of EW systems with $`HIPPARCOS`$ parallaxes. However, that new calibration is based on stars from the solar neighbourhood and does not include a metallicity term.. That calibration gives $`M_V`$ as a function of period, unreddened color and metallicity:

$`M_V=2.38logP+4.26(BV)_0+0.280.3[\mathrm{Fe}/\mathrm{H}]`$ (6)   
where $`P`$ is the period in days.

We adopt $`[\mathrm{Fe}/\mathrm{H}]=1.61`$ and $`E(BV)=0.04`$ for NGC 6752 (Harris 1996). The formal errors of the estimated values of $`M_V`$ are about 0.5 magnitude. Figure 8 shows a period versus apparent distance modulus diagram for the 7 contact binaries from the cluster field. The apparent distance modulus was calculated as the difference between $`V_{max}`$ and $`M_V^{cal}`$ for each system. The data presented in Fig. 8 indicate that only V14 can be considered a possible cluster member. The remaining 6 EW systems are most likely background/foreground objects.

Although V9 is classified as a contact binary with $`P=0.36`$ d we cannot exclude the possibility that the true period is $`P=0.72`$ d and that the variable is a single spotted star, presumably of type RS CVn. Its position on the cluster CMD suggests that in this case the star is a subgiant belonging to the cluster (see Fig. 4).

## 4 The color-magnitude diagrams

Since the pioneering studies by Alcaino (1972) and Cannon & Stobie (1973) it has been known that the horizontal branch of NGC 6752 is strongly dominated by stars located to the blue side of the instability strip. The CMD of the cluster was studied in detail by Buonanno et al. (1986) based on deep photographic photometry. They showed that the horizontal branch of NGC 6752 spans about 4 magnitudes in $`V`$ reaching $`V18.0`$ ($`M_V5.0`$) on its faint end. Detailed studies of the properties of the hot subdwarfs forming extended horizontal branch (EHB) of NGC 6752 have been published by Heber et al. (1986) and Moehler, Heber & Rupprecht (1997).

As a by-product of our variability program we have obtained medium-deep CMD’s for the surveyed fields. In Fig. 9 we present a $`V/BV`$ CMD based on the pair of ”template” images obtained with the SITe3 camera. The photometry was extracted using the Daophot/Allstar package (Stetson 1987). The CMD shows several features of the EHB discussed in some detail by Buonanno et al. (1986). In particular, we confirm the presence of stars in the EHB gap between $`V16.0`$ and $`V17.0`$, and an apparent faint limit to the EHB stars at $`V18.0`$. We comment briefly on two features of this CMD that bear on the origin and evolution of EHB stars. The first is that there are several stars located slightly to the red of the EHB in Fig. 9. Although we cannot exclude the possibility that some of them are field objects, we find that these stars are strongly concentrated toward the cluster center. These stars are candidate composite systems, consisting of an EHB star plus a red dwarf. We are planning a more detailed discussion of these systems in a forthcoming paper based on data obtained with the 2.5m du Pont telescope (Kaluzny et al. in preparation). The CMD in Fig. 9 also shows two blue stars with $`BV0.25`$ which form an apparent faint extension of the EHB of the cluster. These stars are marked with triangles in Fig. 9 and their coordinates as well as $`UBV`$ photometry are listed in Table 4. In Fig. 10 we present a $`V/UB`$ CMD based on the data collected with the SITe1 camera. The positions of the two faint blue stars in Fig. 9 are marked. Faint blue stars located below the EHB have been observed in other stellar clusters. Kaluzny & Rucinski (1995) noted the presence of several $`UV`$-bright stars with $`M_V>8`$ in the center of NGC 6791 and more recently Cool et al. (1998) identified similar objects in the core of NGC 6397. They argue that these stars are either low-mass helium white dwarfs or very-low-mass core-He-burning stars. We note that both faint blue objects discovered in the field of NGC 6752 are good targets for spectroscopic follow up with large ground-based telescopes.

Photometry and equatorial coordinates of all stars plotted in Figs. 9 and 10 are available on request from the second author of this paper.

## 5 Conclusions

We have used time series CCD observations to identify eleven new variables in the direction of the globular cluster NGC 6752. Three of these variables are SX Phe stars which are likely to be cluster members. Six out of the seven identified contact binaries are probably field objects. One candidate detached eclipsing binary has been discovered and follow-up observations are planned to get complete light curves for this potentially important variable. As a side-result we obtained $`UBV`$ photometry for a large sample of stars from the cluster field, and we note the presence of two faint blue objects located below the apparent cut-off of the EHB of the cluster.

JK, WP and WK were supported by the Polish Committee of Scientific Research through grant 2P03D-011-12 and by NSF grant AST-9528096 to Bohdan Paczyński. We are indebted to Dr. B. Paczyński for his long-term support to this project. Thanks are due to Randy Phelps for taking some data which were used in this paper. Dr. Dona Dinescu kindly provided us with positional data for stars from the NGC 6752 field.