RR LYRAE VARIABLE STARS: PULSATIONAL CONSTRAINTS RELEVANT TO THE OOSTERHOFF CONTROVERSY

Abstract

A solution to the old Oosterhoff controversy is proposed on the basis of a new theoretical pulsational scenario concerning RR Lyrae cluster variables (Bono and coworkers). We show that the observed constancy of the lowest pulsation period in both Oosterhoff type I (OoI) and Oosterhoff type II (OoII) prototypes (M3, M15) can be easily reproduced only by assuming the canonical evolutionary horizontal-branch luminosity levels of these Galactic globular clusters and therefore by rejecting the Sandage period shift effect (SPSE).

postscript file of 7 pages and 2 figures; one non postcript figure is available upon request; for any problem please write to marcella@astr1pi.difi.unipi.it