# Theoretical Models for Classical Cepheids: II. Period-Luminosity, Period-Color and Period-Luminosity-Color Relations.

## 1 INTRODUCTION

The Cepheid Period-Luminosity (PL) relation has long played a central role in constraining Galactic and extragalactic distance scales. On very general grounds, the pulsation period is expected to be tightly correlated with the luminosity, mass and effective temperature of the pulsator. Furthermore, stellar evolution theory predicts, for each given original chemical composition, a relation between mass and luminosity. As a consequence, at fixed chemical composition the Cepheid luminosity is expected to be a function of period and effective temperature only. The outcome of this argument into the observative plane is a relation which sets the mean<sup>1</sup><sup>1</sup>1The mean magnitude over a pulsation cycle may be either intensity-weighted $`<M_j>`$, or magnitude-weighted $`(M_j)`$. The discrepancy between these two different averages depend on the shape of the light curve. As a matter of example, we find that the difference $`(M_V)<M_V>`$ is 0.016 mag at log$`P`$=1.0 and 0.070 mag at log$`P`$=1.7, whereas the difference $`(M_K)<M_K>`$ ranges from 0.002 mag to 0.010 mag. magnitude $`<M_j>`$ in a given bandpass as a function of period ($`P`$) and color index ($`CI`$), as given by

$`<M_j>`$ = $`\alpha `$ \+ $`\beta `$ log$`P`$ \+ $`\gamma `$ \[$`CI`$\]

Dating back to the pioneering investigation by Sandage (1958), the existence and the estimate of the color term coefficient $`\gamma `$ in the period–luminosity–color \[PLC\] relation has been the subject of several thorough theoretical and observational analyses (see, e.g., Feast 1984, 1991, 1995; Caldwell & Coulson 1986; Laney & Stobie 1986; Stothers 1988; Caldwell & Laney 1991; Sasselov et al. 1997). However, in the recent literature the effect of the color term has been widely neglected by adopting as observables only magnitudes and periods. In this framework, the distance modulus $`DM`$ is generally derived by adopting a period–luminosity \[PL\] relation which is often given in the linear form

$`\overline{<M_j>}`$ = a + blog$`P`$,

where $`\overline{<M_j>}`$ is the average of the mean magnitudes of Cepheids at a given period.

Absolute magnitudes, and in turn distances, are usually derived according to Iben & Renzini (1984) suggestion that the PL relation presents a negligible dependence on the chemical composition. This assumption is adopted by the Hubble Space Telescope Key Project devoted to the identification of Cepheids in very distant galaxies (see the review by Freedman et al. 1997) and by the group working on the Cepheid calibration of SNe Ia (see, e.g., Saha et al. 1997). In the meantime, an unprecedented observational effort has been undertaken from ground-based and space telescopes for properly estimating both the zero-point and the slope of such a relation (Pierce et al. 1994).

However, while a substantial improvement toward a sound calibration of the PL zero-point has been recently made by adopting the HIPPARCOS trigonometric parallaxes of Galactic Cepheids (Feast & Catchpole 1997, hereafter FC97; Oudmaijer, Groenewegen & Schrijver 1998), several recent empirical investigations suggest that the Cepheid PL relation presents a $`non`$ $`negligible`$ dependence on the metallicity. To quote some of the most recent results (see also Kochanek 1997 for a detailed review), Freedman & Madore (1990) examined Cepheids in three fields of M31 and found that the inferred distance moduli should be corrected according to a metallicity effect $`\psi =DM_{true}DM_{PL}`$ of 0.32$`\pm `$0.21 mag/dex, whereas Gould (1994) from the same data derived $`\psi `$=0.88$`\pm `$0.16 mag/dex. More recently, Beaulieu et al. (1997) and Sasselov et al. (1997) discussed the large photometric database of Magellanic Cepheids collected by the EROS project and found a factor $`\psi `$=0.44$`{}_{0.2}{}^{}{}_{}{}^{+0.1}`$ mag/dex. Finally, Kennicutt et al. (1998) obtained $`\psi `$ 0.24$`\pm `$0.16 mag/dex from a differential analysis of Cepheids in two fields of M101, a spiral galaxy in the Virgo cluster.

Even though the previous empirical estimates of the metallicity correction seem to depend on the Cepheid sample and on the method adopted for disentangling reddening from metallicity effects, they agree in suggesting that the true distance of metal-rich Cepheids is longer than inferred from the PL relation. However, it is worth noticing that not all empirical relations support such a metallicity effect. As a fact, Caldwell & Coulson (1986, hereafter CC86), by adopting optical photometric data of Magellanic Cepheids, conclude that a decrease in the metal content implies a decrease in the distance moduli as based on the PLC relation and an increase in the distance moduli based on the PL relation. Unfortunately, no firm indication can be derived from available theoretical predictions. Stothers (1988) found that a decrease in the metal content implies a decrease in the distance moduli based on both PLC and PL relations. Chiosi, Wood & Capitanio (1993) predicted that the dependence of the absolute magnitude on the total metal content $`\delta M_j`$/$`\delta Z`$ ranges from $``$ -22.2 to $``$ 1.7 (depending on the adopted photometric band), and more recently Saio & Gautschy (1997) derive that the PL relation should be only marginally affected by metallicity.

The metallicity factor is of fundamental importance as the PL uncertainty propagates into the extragalactic distance scale and into the evaluation of the Hubble constant $`H_0`$. Thus, one of the main aims in our investigation is to address the problem by using the extensive grid of Cepheid nonlinear models recently presented by Bono, Caputo & Marconi (1998) and Bono, Marconi & Stellingwerf (1998 hereinafter Paper I). The basic assumptions on the input physics and computing procedures, together with the adopted mass-luminosity relation, have been already described in Paper I. Note that the nonlinear approach presents manifold advantages in comparison with the linear one. First, a nonlinear regime which accounts for the coupling between pulsation and convection is needed to get theoretical predictions about both blue and red edges of the instability strip. On the contrary, in a linear-radiative-nonadiabatic approach only the blue edge can be predicted, whereas the red edge is either located according to a fixed temperature shift relative to the blue edge or by assuming an ad hoc efficiency of convective transport. This is a key point since the temperature width of the strip plays a relevant role for properly assessing the properties of the PLC and PL relations. Moreover, full amplitude, nonlinear models supply useful predictions on the pulsational amplitudes to be compared with observations. On this basis it has been recently shown (Bono & Marconi 1997) that updated evolutionary predictions, when related to pulsation, indicate a mild if not negligible efficiency of the core overshooting. Last, but not least, theoretical light curves can be directly compared with observations for constraining the physical parameters of variable stars (Wood, Arnold & Sebo 1997) and/or for testing the accuracy and the consistency of the physical assumptions.

Along this investigation, we start presenting in Section 2 a comparison of present predictions with published period-magnitude and period-color (PC) relations. In the same section the predicted edges of the instability strip in the period-magnitude plane are compared with the observed distribution of Galactic and Magellanic Cepheids. The analytical predicted PL, PC, and PLC relations are given in Section 3, while the comparison with Cepheids in the Galaxy and in the MCs is presented in Section 4. The last section deals with the summary of the main results.

## 2 Testing the theoretical scenario

### 2.1 Magnitudes

The adopted set of non linear, nonlocal and time-dependent convective models relies on four values of the stellar mass ($`M/M_{}`$=5.0, 7.0, 9.0, 11.0) and three chemical compositions ($`Y`$=0.25, $`Z`$=0.004; $`Y`$=0.25, $`Z`$=0.008; $`Y`$=0.28, $`Z`$=0.02). This set of parameters was chosen in order to properly cover Cepheids observed both in the MCs and in the Galaxy. Helium abundances were fixed following $`\mathrm{\Delta }Y`$/$`\mathrm{\Delta }Z`$$``$2.5 and a primordial helium content $`Y_P`$=0.23. However, given the small (and uncertain) difference in metallicity between LMC and SMC, we adopted $`Y`$=0.25 for both galaxies. Finally, according to the discussion given in Bono & Marconi (1997) and in Paper I, the mass-luminosity relation derived from ”canonical” evolutionary models, i.e. with vanishing efficiency of convective core overshooting, has been adopted.

The results of the calculations are summarized in Fig. 1 where, for each assumed mass and luminosity, we plot the pulsation period as a function of the effective temperature throughout the instability strip. Models which attain a stable nonlinear limit cycle in the fundamental (F) mode and/or in the first overtone (FO) are shown with filled and open symbols, respectively, while different chemical compositions are characterized by different symbols. We refer the reader to Paper I for the comparison between linear and nonlinear periods, as well as the comparison between our periods and other published predictions.

We find that the dependence of the period on the effective temperature appears quite regular, with $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$log$`P`$ $``$ 3.24$`\mathrm{\Delta }`$log$`T_e`$ over the whole range of explored masses and for both F and FO pulsators. Moreover, the figure clearly shows that an increase in the metal content<sup>2</sup><sup>2</sup>2In the following we will refer to ”metallicity” even though for the $`Z`$=0.02 models this means also an increase of the helium content. moves the instability strip toward cooler effective temperatures. As a consequence, for a given luminosity, an increase in metallicity causes an increase in the mean period of pulsators. Therefore, at fixed period, metal-rich pulsators are expected ”on average” fainter than metal-poor ones.

This metallicity effect is more evident in Fig. 2 which shows the mean bolometric magnitude $`<M_{bol}>`$ of fundamental pulsators as a function of the period. The solid curves plotted in the three panels over the models are the quadratic least squares fits at the labelled metallicity. The data show that the magnitudes of the solar models present a rather linear dependence on log$`P`$, whereas the models at $`Z`$=0.008 and $`Z`$=0.004 deviate more and more from linearity. This is evident from comparison with the solar relation, which is plotted as a dashed line in the upper two panels. Moreover, data in Fig. 2 confirm that, at constant mass and luminosity, metal-rich pulsators have longer periods than metal-poor ones, thus indicating that at fixed period the bolometric magnitude is expected to increase with increased metallicity.

In order to perform the comparison with observed photometric data, bolometric magnitudes have been transformed into the observative plane by adopting the grid of static atmosphere models provided by Castelli, Gratton & Kurucz (1997a,b). On this basis we derive the theoretical predictions presented in Fig. 3 where the mean visual magnitude $`<M_V>`$ of F and FO pulsators is plotted against period. In this figure one may first note that FO pulsators with 5$`M_{}`$ and 7$`M_{}`$ run parallel to the sequence of F pulsators. This result gives a satisfactory explanation of the first overtone pulsators actually observed by MACHO and EROS collaborations (Alcock et al. 1995; Beaulieu et al. 1997; Sasselov et al. 1997). The predicted splitting between the two different modes is mainly due to the topology of the Cepheid instability strip which, unlike RR Lyrae variables, present a very narrow region in which the pulsators attain a stable limit cycle in both fundamental and first overtone modes.

Furthermore, one should notice the evidence of an upper luminosity limit to the appearance of FO pulsators. This level is fixed by the luminosity $`L^{IP}`$ of the intersection point between the blue and red edge for first–overtone pulsation since, above this luminosity, the instability strip is populated by F pulsators only. The evidence that FO pulsators are predicted with masses smaller than 7$`M_{}`$ with $`Z`$=0.02 and smaller than 9$`M_{}`$ at the lower metallicities shows that $`L^{IP}`$ decreases as the metal content increases.

Figure 3 shows also some current empirical PL<sub>V</sub> relations for fundamental and first overtone Cepheids. The solid line refers to the relation recently derived by FC97 by adopting the slope for LMC Cepheids (Caldwell & Laney 1991, hereafter CL91) and the zero-point from $`HIPPARCOS`$ data, while the dotted line is the relation derived by Madore & Freedman (1991, hereinafter MF91) for LMC Cepheids. The dashed line is the relation obtained by the EROS collaboration (Sasselov et al. 1997) for a large sample of Magellanic Cepheids, but with the zero-point fixed according to FC97. Note that all the above relations are based on averaged intensities transformed into magnitudes, while the MF91 relation adopts averaged magnitudes.

Finally, the dashed line plotted over FO pulsators is based on the empirical slope obtained by EROS for MC Cepheids, but with the FC97 zero-point shifted according to our predicted difference between fundamental and first overtone PL at $`Z`$=0.02. Even though more detailed observations are needed to assess the zero-point of these variables and, at the same time, pulsating models with lower masses are necessary for extending the theoretical predictions towards shorter periods, the agreement between present results and the empirical slope seems to support the suggestion by Sasselov et al. (1997) that first overtone Cepheids are safe distance indicators. The advantage deals with the narrow temperature range where they are pulsationally stable. On the other hand, they are characterized by small pulsation amplitudes and their identification requires a very good coverage of the light curve.

A glance at Fig. 3 clearly suggests that for periods shorter than log$`P`$1.5 the linear empirical PL<sub>V</sub> relations appear in reasonable agreement with the theoretical models at $`Z`$=0.004 and $`Z`$=0.008, i.e. for the typical average metallicities of MC Cepheids. Towards longer periods the empirical relations for fundamental pulsators tend to match the models close to the blue edge of the predicted instability strip.

Beyond such a comparison, we note that at each given luminosity the pulsation instability occurs over a finite range of effective temperatures. Therefore theoretical models supply firm constraints on the predicted range of periods.. This feature can be soundly compared with observational data, without the sacrifice of using $`mean`$ quantities as implicitly assumed in the PL relation. To this purpose the bottom panel of Fig. 4 shows the comparison in the log$`P`$$`<M_V>`$ plane between the predicted edges of the instability strip for fundamental pulsators with $`Z`$=0.008 (solid line), and the reddening–corrected $`<V>_0`$ magnitudes and periods of 47 SMC Cepheids collected by Laney & Stobie (1994, hereinafter LS94). The agreement between observations and the predicted edges of the instability strip is quite impressive, provided that a distance modulus $`DM_{SMC}`$=19.1, with an uncertainty of $`\pm `$0.1, is adopted.

The top panel of Fig. 4 shows the comparison between theoretical predictions with $`Z`$=0.008 and 45 LMC Cepheids ($`<V>_0`$ and periods from LS94). Once again the agreement between theory and observations is very good, if a distance modulus of $`DM_{LMC}`$=18.6 ($`\pm `$0.1) is adopted. However, it is noteworthy that the period of the brightest LMC variables tend to be somehow shorter than the predicted blue edge. This effect could be a failing of the theoretical scenario, but we suggest that such a minor disagreement might be due to the occurrence of luminous pulsators with metallicity lower than the commonly assumed value of $`Z`$=0.008. In fact, these bright Cepheids appear in good agreement with the blue edge of the $`Z`$=0.004 predicted strip (dashed lines), a suggestion which is supported from recent spectroscopic observations of 9 LMC Cepheids (Luck et al. 1998) showing that the metallicity ranges from $`Z`$ 0.006 to $`Z`$ 0.013. Moreover, it should be noticed that the occurrence of metal-poor Cepheids is favored in comparison with metal-rich ones (for the former the time spent inside the instability strip is longer), as well as that the pulsation amplitudes of the models with 11$`M_{}`$ are steadly decreasing going from the blue to the red edge of the instability strip. Thus, the probability to detect long-period Cepheids is higher close to blue edge than to the red edge. Finally, it should be mentioned the thorny problem of undetected binary companions which could seriously affect the mean magnitude of long-period Cepheids (Szabados 1997).

Figure 5 shows the comparison between models and predicted edges at $`Z`$=0.02 (solid line) with two different samples of Galactic Cepheids. The bottom panel show LS94 data, while the top panel refers to data by Gieren, Fouquè & Gomez (1997, hereinafter GFG97). One may note that the occurrence of luminous variables with metallicity significantly lower than the currently adopted mean value (dashed lines refer to $`Z`$=0.008) seems present also in our Galaxy. Indeed, recent spectroscopic observations by Fry & Carney (1997) for a sample of 25 Galactic Cepheids show metallicities in the range of $`Z`$=0.008 to $`Z`$=0.024. However, the longest period Cepheids in both samples are SV Vul ($`\mathrm{log}P=1.65`$), GY Sge ($`\mathrm{log}P=1.71`$) and S Vul ($`\mathrm{log}P=1.84`$), and only for SV Vul we have some estimate of metallicity (\[Fe/H\]$`0.06`$ by Fry & Carney 1997; \[Fe/H\]$`0.23`$ by Luck & Lambert 1985). These metallicities are actually not supporting our “sub-solar” hypothesis, rather confirming that the radius determinations overestimate the true radii of these stars (see GFG97). On the other hand, the absolute magnitudes listed by LS94, which are based on ZAMS fitting, appear much more in agreement with the theoretical predictions, also in view of the adopted Pleiades distance modulus (5.57 mag), which is a bit larger than the value suggested by Hipparcos data (5.33 mag).

The previous comparison between theory and observations can be repeated by adopting infrared magnitudes instead of visual magnitudes. Figure 6 shows that the predicted distribution in the log$`P`$-$`<M_K>`$ plane confirms early suggestions (McGonegal et al. 1983; LS94) that the use of infrared magnitudes is a powerful method for reducing and, to some extent, for avoiding the spurious effects on the PL relation introduced both by the intrinsic width of the instability strip and by its dependence on the metal content. As a matter of fact, following the dependence of the bolometric correction on the effective temperature, the pulsators characterized by different metal contents scale almost linearly with the logarithmic period, i.e. a decrease of the effective temperature (increase of the period) implies a marked decrease of the $`K`$ magnitude. Therefore, both metal-poor and metal-rich theoretical PL<sub>K</sub> relations show a much more linear behavior, with only slightly different slopes and zero-points. Data in Fig. 6 also shows that the theoretical models appear in excellent agreement with the empirical relations provided by MF91, LS94, and GFG97. No comparison can be performed for FO pulsators since we still lack empirical relations in the $`K`$ band.

Concerning the comparison of the predicted edges of the instability strip with measured infrared magnitudes of Magellanic Cepheids, Fig. 7 shows again a remarkable agreement, for the MC distance moduli already adopted in Fig. 4 ($`DM_{SMC}`$=19.1$`\pm `$0.1 and $`DM_{LMC}`$=18.6$`\pm `$0.1). As for Galactic Cepheids, Fig. 8 confirms the agreement between theoretical predictions and observations, except for the three longest period variables already discussed in the comments on Fig. 5.

### 2.2 Colors

Observational PC relations are generally given as linear relations connecting the period and the average of the mean<sup>3</sup><sup>3</sup>3The three methods of deriving the ”mean” color over the pulsation cycle use either ($`m_jm_i`$), the average over the color curve taken in magnitude units; or $`<m_jm_i>`$, the mean intensity over the color curve transformed into magnitude; or $`<m_j>`$-$`<m_i>`$, the difference of the mean intensities transformed into magnitude, performed separately over the two bands. Generally, ($`m_jm_i`$) colors are redder than $`<m_j>`$-$`<m_i>`$ colors, with the difference depending on the shape of the light curves. Indeed, we find that the difference ($`BV`$)-\[$`<B><V>`$\] ranges from 0.018 mag at log$`P`$=1.0 to 0.08 mag at log$`P`$=1.7, whereas the difference ($`VK`$)-\[$`<V><K>`$\] is in the range of 0.014 mag, to 0.060 mag. colors of Cepheids at a fixed period

$`\overline{<CI>}`$ = $`A`$ \+ $`B`$log$`P`$

By adopting the atmospheric models provided by Castelli, Gratton & Kurucz (1997a,b), we derived the $`<B><V>`$ colors of F and FO pulsators with the three different metallicities. Figure 9 shows the predicted colors as a function of the period, in comparison with the empirical PC relations obtained by CC86 for Galactic and Magellanic Cepheids. The principal features of Fig. 9 are: i) in contrast with the period–luminosity diagram, the distribution of FO pulsators cannot be clearly identified as they present almost the same colors of F pulsators; ii) within the observational uncertainties, the empirical PC relations for Magellanic Cepheids are in good agreement with the $`Z`$=0.004 and $`Z`$=0.008 models; and iii) the empirical PC relation for Galactic Cepheids is systematically bluer than the $`Z`$=0.02 models (filled circles). As shown in the bottom panel of Fig. 10, the same conclusions are derived if the empirical PC relations by LS94 are adopted. However, one should consider the theoretical uncertainty at the edges of the instability strip ($`\pm `$ 150 K, including the contribution of microturbolence velocity and/or individual element distribution) and, more importantly, the strong dependence of theoretical colors on the adopted set of static atmosphere models. As a whole, we evaluate that the change of the color at the blue edge may grow up to $`\pm `$ 0.05 at $`Z`$=0.004 and $`\pm `$ 0.08 at $`Z`$=0.02, while at the red edge we obtain $`\pm `$ 0.08.

Following the arguments already discussed for the period-magnitude plane, we present in Fig. 11 the comparison between LS94 data and the predicted edges of the instability strip at the different metallicities. Taking into account both theoretical and observational uncertainties, as well as the already suggested small dispersion in the metallicity of Galactic and LMC Cepheids, the agreement between theoretical predictions and observations is reasonably good.

We can now perform the same analysis for the $`<V><K>`$ color. The top panel of Fig. 10 shows the comparison between theoretical models at the different metallicities and the empirical PC relations by LS94. Once again we find a reasonable agreement for Magellanic Cepheids, whereas our $`Z`$=0.02 models appear bluer than observed Galactic Cepheids. As for the comparison between LS94 data and theoretical edges (see Fig. 12), some interesting points are worth of notice: i) even though the $`<V><K>`$ color is less affected by line blanketing and metallicity, the observed dispersion is larger than in the log$`P`$-($`<B><V>`$) plane, and ii) given the strong dependence of infrared colors on the effective temperature, the theoretical uncertainty of colors at the blue edge is here $`\pm `$0.10 with $`Z`$=0.004 and $`\pm `$0.12 with $`Z`$=0.02. The red edge is even more affected, with $`\pm `$0.16 at $`Z`$=0.004 and $`\pm `$0.19 at $`Z`$=0.02. As a conclusion, the intrinsic scatter of observations and the uncertainties of theoretical colors seem to prevent a sound comparison, almost supporting the suggestion by LS94 that model colors in the optical bands are much more reliable than the infrared ones.

## 3 Analytical PL, PC, and PLC relations

### 3.1 Period-Luminosity

According to the procedure largely adopted in the current literature, in this section we discuss the theoretical results concerning the average value $`<\overline{M_j}>`$ predicted for Cepheids with a given period. Figure 13 shows our theoretical log$`P`$$`<\overline{M_V}>`$ relation, as obtained for each adopted metallicity by a quadratic least squares fit of theoretical pulsators. Over the whole range of fundamental periods we find:

$$Z=0.004\overline{<M_V>}=0.75(\pm 0.06)4.21(\pm 0.05)\mathrm{log}P+0.66(\pm 0.02)(\mathrm{log}P)^2$$
$`(1a)`$   
$$Z=0.008\overline{<M_V>}=0.84(\pm 0.03)3.97(\pm 0.02)\mathrm{log}P+0.63(\pm 0.02)(\mathrm{log}P)^2$$
$`(1b)`$   
$$Z=0.02\overline{<M_V>}=1.37(\pm 0.06)2.84(\pm 0.06)\mathrm{log}P+0.33(\pm 0.02)(\mathrm{log}P)^2$$
$`(1c)`$   
with a standard deviation $`\sigma _V`$ 0.27 mag. As far as FO models are concerned, we find that the PL$`_{<\overline{M_V}>}`$ relation is well approximated by a unique linear relation:

$$\overline{<M_V>}=2.01(\pm 0.14)2.93(\pm 0.14)\mathrm{log}P$$
$`(1d)`$   
with $`\sigma _V`$0.13 mag.

Wishing to constrain the theoretical results into a linear approximation, we show in Fig. 14 the least squares solutions for fundamental models with masses 5$`M_{}`$–9$`M_{}`$ and 9$`M_{}`$–11$`M_{}`$. For periods shorter than log$`P`$ 1.4 we obtain

$$Z=0.004\overline{<M_V>}=1.20(\pm 0.03)3.04(\pm 0.05)\mathrm{log}P$$
$`(1e)`$   
$$Z=0.008\overline{<M_V>}=1.32(\pm 0.04)2.79(\pm 0.06)\mathrm{log}P$$
$`(1f)`$   
$$Z=0.02\overline{<M_V>}=1.62(\pm 0.03)2.22(\pm 0.04)\mathrm{log}P$$
$`(1g)`$   
with with $`\sigma _V`$0.13 mag, while for periods longer than log$`P`$ 1.4 we get

$$Z=0.004\overline{<M_V>}=2.42(\pm 0.02)2.10(\pm 0.04)\mathrm{log}P$$
$`(1h)`$   
$$Z=0.008\overline{<M_V>}=2.47(\pm 0.04)1.92(\pm 0.06)\mathrm{log}P$$
$`(1i)`$   
$$Z=0.02\overline{<M_V>}=2.60(\pm 0.04)1.56(\pm 0.05)\mathrm{log}P$$
$`(1l)`$   
with with $`\sigma _V`$0.11 mag. As a general, either by quadratic or linear least-squares solutions, both the slope and the zero-point of theoretical PL$`_{<\overline{M_V}>}`$ relation are dependent on the metallicity.

As for near-infrared magnitudes, we find that the theoretical results (see Fig. 15) can be approximated from linear relations. For fundamental pulsators we derive

$$Z=0.004\overline{<M_K>}=2.66(\pm 0.08)3.27(\pm 0.09)\mathrm{log}P$$
$`(2a)`$   
$$Z=0.008\overline{<M_K>}=2.68(\pm 0.08)3.19(\pm 0.09)\mathrm{log}P$$
$`(2b)`$   
$$Z=0.02\overline{<M_K>}=2.73(\pm 0.07)3.03(\pm 0.07)\mathrm{log}P$$
$`(2c)`$   
with $`\sigma _K`$=0.12 mag, while for FO models we get

$$\overline{<M_K>}=3.12(\pm 0.05)3.44(\pm 0.05)\mathrm{log}P$$
$`(2d)`$   
with $`\sigma _K`$=0.05 mag.

As a whole, all the above analytical relations show that both the zero-point and the slope of the predicted PL relations are significantly dependent on metallicity. At the same time, they confirm that for log$`P`$ 0.5 the metal-rich Cepheids are fainter than metal–poor ones, at a given period. The amplitude of this effect decreases in the short period range and with increased wavelength. Specifically, we obtain that the change in luminosity ranges from $`\delta M_V`$ 0.6$`\delta `$log$`Z`$ and $`\delta M_K`$ 0.2$`\delta `$log$`Z`$ at log$`P`$1.0 to $`\delta M_V`$ 1.1$`\delta `$log$`Z`$ and $`\delta M_K`$ 0.6$`\delta `$log$`Z`$ at log$`P`$2.0

### 3.2 Period-Color

The PC relations are often adopted for estimating the individual reddening of Cepheids (Pel 1985; Feast 1991) or the color shift of Cepheid samples characterized by different metallicities (LS94). Moreover, PC relations and color-temperature transformations are often coupled for evaluating the mean temperature of the variables (Pel 1980; Fry & Carney 1998).

The linear relations we derive for optical colors of fundamental pulsators are

$$Z=0.004\overline{<B><V>}=0.37(\pm 0.04)+0.30(\pm 0.05)\mathrm{log}P$$
$`(3a)`$   
$$Z=0.008\overline{<B><V>}=0.36(\pm 0.05)+0.38(\pm 0.05)\mathrm{log}P$$
$`(3b)`$   
$$Z=0.02\overline{<B><V>}=0.36(\pm 0.02)+0.52(\pm 0.02)\mathrm{log}P$$
$`(2c)`$   
with $`\sigma _{BV}`$=0.10 mag, while for FO models we get

$$\overline{<B><V>}=0.42(\pm 0.06)+0.19(\pm 0.07)\mathrm{log}P$$
$`(3a)`$   
with $`\sigma _{BV}`$=0.07 mag.

As for near-infrared colors, we derive for fundamental pulsators

$$Z=0.004\overline{<V><K>}=1.19(\pm 0.07)+0.55(\pm 0.09)\mathrm{log}P$$
$`(4a)`$   
$$Z=0.008\overline{<V><K>}=1.10(\pm 0.08)+0.70(\pm 0.09)\mathrm{log}P$$
$`(4b)`$   
$$Z=0.02\overline{<V><K>}=0.95(\pm 0.04)+1.00(\pm 0.04)\mathrm{log}P$$
$`(4c)`$   
with $`\sigma _{VK}`$=0.19 mag, while for FO models we get

$$\overline{<V><K>}=1.11(\pm 0.09)+0.51(\pm 0.09)\mathrm{log}P$$
$`(4d)`$   
with $`\sigma _{VK}`$=0.09 mag.

### 3.3 Period-Luminosity-Color

Let us remind that all the PC and PL relations are ”statistical” solution. Our predicted PL relations have been derived under the hypothesis that the instability strip is uniformly populated; therefore, any particular Cepheid distribution within the instability strip would obviously affects the result. Moreover, the finite width of the instability strip causes, mainly in the $`V`$-band, an intrinsic scatter in any period–magnitude or period–color relation.

Obviously, this does not happen if also the mean color of each pulsator is taken into account since, as stated at the beginning of this paper, only a PLC relation can soundly account for the Cepheid pulsational properties (see also Feast 1995). Notwithstanding such straightforward arguments, the existence and estimate of the color coefficient has been a thorny observational problem. Here we wish only to recall that earlier estimates of the $`\gamma `$ coefficient for the $`<B><V>`$, based on LMC Cepheids, ranged from 5 (Brodie & Madore 1980), to 2.7 (Martin, Warren & Feast 1979), to almost zero (Clube & Dawe 1986). Only ten years ago the question was definitively settled by Laney & Stobie (1986) who demonstrated that the color term is a real property caused by the intrinsic width of the strip and not by differential reddening.

In order to supply theoretical PLC relations, we performed the least square solutions through our models at fixed metallicity, by assuming as independent variables log$`P`$ and the color. Table 1 gives the derived values for $`\alpha `$, $`\beta `$, and $`\gamma `$ coefficients for fundamental pulsators, together with the standard deviations $`\sigma `$. Owing to the small number of FO pulsators, the analytical PLC relations have been derived irrespectively of the different chemical compositions. We obtain

$$<M_V>=2.73(\pm 0.08)3.26(\pm 0.10)\mathrm{log}P+1.72(\pm 0.31)(<B><V>)$$
$`(5a)`$   
$$<M_K>=3.70(\pm 0.01)3.71(\pm 0.01)\mathrm{log}P+0.52(\pm 0.01)(<V><K>)$$
$`(5b)`$   
with $`\sigma _V`$=0.08 mag and $`\sigma _K`$=0.01 mag.

As shown in Fig. 16, the predicted PLC relation based on $`<B><V>`$ should provide a very precise evaluation (to within $``$ 0.05 mag) of the absolute magnitude $`<M_V>`$ of a Cepheid with known period and color, once the dependence on metallicity is properly taken into account. Note also that the predicted PLC relations suggest that metal-rich Cepheids are now brighter than metal-poor ones, at constant period and $`<B><V>`$ color, in agreement with earlier observational (CC86) and theoretical (Stothers 1988) suggestions.

As for the comparison between the coefficients in Table 1 and recent empirical estimates, we find a good agreement for what concerns the value of $`\beta `$ (see CC86, CL91), whereas the comparison on the zero-point ($`\alpha `$) and color coefficient ($`\gamma `$) is hampered by the method adopted for treating observational errors. In fact, CL91 find two different solutions for 42 SMC Cepheids ($`\gamma =`$2.34$`\pm `$0.19 and 3.35$`\pm `$0.43, against the predicted value of 2.79$`\pm `$0.07 at $`Z`$=0.004) and for 27 LMC Cepheids ($`\gamma =`$2.19$`\pm `$0.23 and 2.75$`\pm `$0.29, against the predicted value of 2.83$`\pm `$0.06 at $`Z`$=0.008). Finally, for Galactic Cepheids, the available empirical estimates for $`\gamma `$ range from 2.52 (Sandage & Tammann 1969) to 2.13 (Caldwell & Coulson 1987), somehow lower than the predicted value 3.27$`\pm `$0.18 at $`Z`$=0.02.

Moving to infrared colors, Fig. 17 shows that the predicted PLC relation based on $`<V><K>`$ colors has a reversed metallicity effect, with the metal-rich variables fainter than the metal-poor ones at fixed period and color. However, the amplitude of the metallicity effect is largely reduced, confirming once again that infrared magnitudes and colors should considerably help to establish accurate distance scales also in absence of precise metallicity estimates.

## 4 Galactic and Magellanic Cloud Cepheids

A first comparison between present theoretical PL relations at solar chemical composition and observations is presented in Fig.s 18 and 19 for the two samples analyzed by LS94 (bottom) and GFG97 (top). ¿From Fig. 18 it is clear that long–period Cepheids appear more and more brighter in comparison with the predicted relation with $`Z`$=0.02 (eq. (1c), solid line). This evidence, which causes the difference in the slope between theoretical and empirical relations, could be understood if we admit that the long–period (brighter) Cepheids are metal-poor variables with $`Z`$ 0.008 (dotted line). On the other hand, the uncertainty related to the absolute magnitude of Galactic Cepheids has been already discussed in Sec. 2.1. If infrared magnitudes are taken into account, see Fig. 19, then the narrower width of the strip and the milder dependence on metallicity yield a fair agreement between theoretical predictions (eq. (2c), solid line) and observed Cepheids (and empirical $`PL_K`$ relations).

A further not marginal support to the reliability of the present theoretical scenario is presented in Fig. 20 where the predicted infrared PLC relation is compared with Galactic Cepheids. Since the PLC relation provides a $`unique`$ solution for the magnitude of a Cepheid with known period and color, and given the marginal dependence on metallicity of the infrared relation, the agreement between theory and observed data turns out to be almost perfect.

The full application of our predictions to Cepheids in our Galaxy and external galaxies is beyond the purpose of the present paper. However, it seems worth underlining some problems connected with the determination of the distance modulus based on fiducial PL and PLC relations. Table 2 summarizes the SMC and LMC true distance moduli, with the related uncertainty, as derived from LS94 data (either magnitudes and colors are given by the authors corrected for reddening) by adopting our predicted PL and PLC relations with the labeled metallicity. Even though all the results agree to within the errors, we note the evidence of significative trends. In particular, the mean values reported in Table 2 increase from optical to infrared relations, while the standard deviations tend to decrease. We wish to recall that the derived distance moduli are significantly affected by both the finite width of the instability strip (which shrinks when moving to infrared) and the metallicity effects (which decrease with increasing wavelength).

Let us suppose to be unaware of LMC metallicity and to derive the LMC distance modulus from the relations given in this paper for different chemical compositions. The resulting values are plotted in Fig. 21 (dots) together with, just for reference, the distance modulus given by the FC97 relation ($`DM_{LMC}`$=18.70, dashed line)<sup>4</sup><sup>4</sup>4Oudmajer et al. 1998 have recently revised this value suggesting 18.53$`\pm `$0.08. However, in the present context the FC97 estimate is taken as a reference value and the aftermaths of the metallicity effect on distance determinations are not affected.. The figure shows quite clearly the dependence of the distance determination in different photometric bands on metallicity. In particular, the estimate from the infrared PLC relation is rather constant ($`\delta DM`$/$`\delta `$log$`Z`$ -0.08), whereas the value from the optical PLC relation increases for increasing metal content ($`\delta DM`$/$`\delta `$log$`Z`$ +0.40). On the other hand, the PL relation yields a distance modulus which decreases at the larger metallicities ($`\delta DM`$/$`\delta `$log$`Z`$ -0.75 and -0.33 in the $`V`$ and in the $`K`$ band, respectively).

## 5 Summary

Along this paper we have driven the attention on the evidence that convective pulsating models predict a significative dependence of the PL relation on metals, mainly for optical magnitudes. We show that as the metallicity increases the instability strip moves toward redder colors, causing that metal-rich pulsators have on average longer periods than metal-poor ones with the same mass and luminosity. This yields that at fixed period and for uniformly populated instability strip the mean bolometric magnitude increases at larger metallicities.

Due to the dependence of the bolometric correction on the effective temperature, this effect is further enhanced when visual magnitudes are taken into account. At fixed period metal–rich Cepheids with log$`P`$ 0.5 are expected fainter than metal–poor ones. Owing to the non linear behavior of the predicted optical PL<sub>V</sub> relation, the metallicity effect increases in the long period range, with the difference in magnitude varying from $`\delta M_V`$ 0.6$`\delta `$log$`Z`$ at log$`P`$=1.0 to $`\delta M_V`$ 1.1$`\delta `$log$`Z`$ at log$`P`$=2.0.

At the longer wavelengths, our models confirm observational evidence concerning the linearity and the mild dependence on metallicity of the infrared PL<sub>K</sub>–relation. Indeed, we derive $`\delta M_K`$ 0.2$`\delta `$log$`Z`$, at log$`P`$=1.0 and $`\delta M_K`$ 0.6$`\delta `$log$`Z`$, at log$`P`$=2.0.

As a whole, the predicted dependence on metallicity of both the zero–point and slope is a warning against the adoption of a universal PL relation for Galactic and extra–galactic Cepheids. Moreover, even though the metallicity is properly taken into account, the intrinsic scatter in the PL relations due to the finite temperature width of the instability strip prevents accurate distance determinations, mainly in the optical range.

The uncertainty in distance evaluations associated with the finite width of the instability strip, and with particular distributions of Cepheids within the instability strip, is strongly limited in distance estimates based on PLC relations. Our predictions suggest that the absolute magnitude of Cepheids with known metallicity, period, and color can be inferred with an accuracy of the order of $`\pm `$ 0.05 mag. Moreover, also in this case we find that the amplitude of the metallicity effect is greatly reduced by adopting infrared magnitudes and colors.

In order to make clear the dependence of distance determinations on the metallicity, we evaluate the LMC distance modulus by assuming to be unaware of its metallicity and by using the predicted PL and PLC relations at the different chemical abundances. We show that only the estimate based on the infrared PLC relation is bona fide independent of the adopted metallicity ($`\delta DM`$/$`\delta `$log$`Z`$ -0.08), whereas from the optical PLC relation we get $`\delta DM`$/$`\delta `$log$`Z`$ +0.40. On the other hand, the distance modulus based on PL relations decreases with increasing metallicity according to $`\delta DM`$/$`\delta `$log$`Z`$ -0.75 and -0.33 for the $`V`$ and the $`K`$ photometric band, respectively.

As a final point, let us mention that the assumption of a canonical relation between mass and luminosity plays only a marginal role on the pulsational scenario discussed in the present investigation. This is shown in Fig. 22 and Fig. 23 where we compare the predicted PL<sub>V</sub> and PL<sub>K</sub> relations inferred from canonical stellar evolution with the pulsating models based on evolutionary computations which account for a mild convective core overshooting (Chiosi et al. 1992, 1993). We notice that the overshooting models would give rather similar relations, at least with log$`P`$ 1.8, thus suggesting that the adopted canonical luminosities (vanishing overshooting) play a minor role in determining the pulsational behavior of Cepheids. However, the results in Fig. 22 somehow disagree with the clear separation between fundamental and first overtone pulsators observed by the microlensing surveys, thus providing some support to the assumption of canonical luminosities (see Fig. 13). Note that, since canonical models with mass loss are simulating overshooting models without mass loss, such a suggestion gives also constraints on the amount of mass loss preceding He–burning evolution.

Acknowledgements. We want to thank A. Weiss for discussion and useful comments. Thanks also to the anonymous referee who helped us to improve the final version of the paper. This work was partially supported by CNAA, through a postdoc research grant to M. Marconi, ASI and CRA.