A Study on the Evolutionary Period Changes of Short-period Type II Cepheids

Abstract

We investigate the period changes of 13 short-period Type II Cepheids using the O-C method over a century-long data baseline. The O-C diagrams for these stars exhibit a parabolic trend, indicating both increasing and decreasing period changes over time. These observed period changes are consistent with recent theoretical models based on horizontal branch evolutionary models for short-period BL Her stars. The pulsation stability test proposed by Lombard and Koen confirms that the period changes are signficant, indicating evolutionary shifts. We identify seven BL Her stars with decreasing periods, expanding the existing sample size of short-period Type II Cepheids. This contributes to a deeper understanding of stellar evolution and the processes governing low-mass stars.