RR Lyrae Variables as Tracers of the Galactic Bulge Kinematic Structure

Abstract

RR Lyrae stars are recognized as some of the oldest stars in the Universe. In addition, they are some of the few old celestial objects for which distances can be reliably inferred. As such, these stars are excellent tracers of the oldest structures that exist in the inner Galaxy. Although the inner Galaxy is where the oldest structures in the Milky Way are thought to be hidden, it is also a region notoriously difficult to study due to high extinction and crowding. Here, I will summarize how RR Lyrae stars have been used to obtain a more complete picture of the inner Galaxy. In particular, recently, a large sample of RR Lyrae star motions through space have been obtained and compared to younger, more metal-rich stars in the bulge/bar. It is seen that the inner Galaxy RR Lyrae star kinematics are complicated by a mix of a variety of Galactic components. After isolating only those RR Lyrae stars that are confined to the bulge, a subsample of these stars have slower rotation and are less barred than the dominant bar/bulge. Curiously, there is no discernible metallicity [Fe/H] difference between these two subsamples. Old, metal-poor stars in the inner Galaxy need to be properly accounted for when discussing processes that gave rise to the formation of the inner Galaxy and the Galactic bar/bulge.

Keywords

• RR Lyrae stars
• galactic bulge
• galaxy evolution
• galaxy kinematics and dynamics
• galaxy structure
• stellar populations