Intriguing triple-mode RR Lyrae star with period doubling

Abstract

We report the discovery of an intriguing triple-mode RR Lyrae star found in the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) Galactic bulge collection, OGLE-BLG-RRLYR- 24137. In the OGLE catalogue, the star was identified as RRd star - double-mode pulsator, pulsating simultaneously in the fundamental and in the first overtone modes. We find that third mode is excited and firmly detect its period doubling. Period ratios are not far from that expected for triple-mode - fundamental, first and third overtone - pulsation. Unfortunately, we cannot reproduce period ratios of the three modes with a consistent set of pulsation models. Therefore the other interpretation, that additional mode is non-radial, is also likely.