Long-Period Variables in the Large Magellanic Cloud: Results from MACHO and 2MASS

Abstract

We use the 8 year light-curve database from the MAssive Compact Halo Objects project together with infrared colors and magnitudes from the Two Micron All Sky Survey to identify a sample of 22,000 long-period variables in the Large Magellanic Cloud (referred to hereafter as LMC LPVs). A period-luminosity diagram of these stars reveals six well-defined sequences, in substantial agreement with previous analyses of samples from the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment. In our analysis we identify analogues to Galactic LPVs in the LMC LPV sample. We find that carbon-dominated asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars populate only two of the sequences, one of which includes the Mira variables. The high-luminosity end of the same two sequences are also the location of the only stars with J - K s > 2, indicating that they are enshrouded in dust. The unknown mechanism that drives the variability of stars in the longest period produces different morphology in the period-luminosity diagram as compared with the shortest period sequences, which are thought to be caused by pulsation. In particular, the longest period sequence extends to lower luminosity red giant branch stars, and the luminosity function does not peak among the AGB stars. We point out several features that will constrain new models of the period-luminosity sequences.