The Masses and Pulsation Modes of Classical Cepheids

Abstract Recent general observations pertaining to the masses and pulsation modes of classical Cepheids are reviewed. Certain special ones of these variables that display unusual behavior such as long term amplitude variations, overtone pulsations, and double-mode behavior, including one Cepheid in the first and second overtones as well as those in the fundamental and first overtone, are discussed in some detail. I suggest that the amplitude varying supergiant Cepheid HR 7308, which seems to be pulsating in the second radial overtone, is alternating between states where there is enough helium to barely give kappa and gamma effect driving, and where the helium has settled too deep for this driving. Reestablishment of the helium may be due to rapid levitation of the CNONe elements which cause convection and which then dredge-up the helium again to suppress the convection and also to drive pulsations. The use of Fourier fitting to the light and velocity curves have revealed some features that are interesting and are discussed, such as the pulsation mode discrimination and the derivation of accurate Wesselink radii. The seven methods of determining the masses of these stars are presented with a short critique of each. Evolution and pulsation masses depend on uncertain observed luminosities, and these have been revised recently. Evolution masses also depend on the blue looping yellow giant evolution tracks that may need revision because of convective core overshooting and possible opacity, Z, or Y abundance increases. The most discrepant masses, however, are those that depend on period ratios – the “bump” and “beat” masses. The possibility that the Cepheid internal structure can be modified enough by doubling the material opacity seems unlikely. It is suggested, though, that perhaps the period ratio mass anomaly solution can be found in CNONe element enhancement by radiation absorption levitation that would give higher opacities by abundance effects instead of any revisions in the opacity calculations. Some details for this mass anomaly “solution” are presented.