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# BVI time series data of the Galactic Globular Cluster NGC 3201. I. RR Lyrae stars1footnote 11footnote 1Based on observations collected at the European Southern Observatory, La Silla, Chile.

## 1 Introduction

The stellar content of GGCs plays a crucial role in understanding the evolutionary properties of old, low-mass stars. Even though pioneering observational investigations on these fascinating objects appeared more than 50 years ago, complete and homogeneous Color-Magnitude Diagrams (CMDs) for both bright and very faint stars became available only recently in the literature. The accuracy of photometric data is a key ingredient for providing reliable estimates of observables to be compared with evolutionary predictions. A paramount observational effort has been devoted to Horizontal Branch (HB) stars and in particular to RR Lyrae variables, since these objects are fundamental primary distance indicators in the Galaxy and in Local Group galaxies. Moreover and even more importantly, the RR Lyrae distance scale is often used for estimating the Turn-Off (TO) luminosity, and in turn the age of GGCs (Vandenberg, Stetson, & Bolte 1996; Cassisi et al. 1998; Caputo 1999). This means that cluster data relying on the same photometric zero-point can supply more robust age determinations (Rosenberg et al. 1999,2000).

During the last few years, several thorough investigations were aimed at improving the accuracy of both evolutionary and pulsational predictions. New sets of full amplitude, nonlinear RR Lyrae models have been constructed which include a nonlocal, time-dependent treatment of convective transport, and in turn a self-consistent approach to the coupling between pulsation and convection (Bono & Stellingwerf 1994; Bono et al. 1997a; Feuchtinger 1999, and references therein). In contrast with linear and nonlinear radiative models this new approach provided homogeneous sets of theoretical observables -modal stability, pulsational amplitudes- for both fundamental and first overtone pulsators to be compared with actual properties of RR Lyrae stars. Moreover, the pulsation models, to account for the behavior of RR Lyrae stars in GGCs and in the Galactic field, were constructed by adopting stellar masses and luminosities predicted by evolutionary models over a wide metallicity range ($`0.0001Z0.04`$, Bono et al. 1997a,b,c). At the same time, evolutionary models experienced substantial improvements in the input physics, such as radiative opacities and equation of state (D’Antona, Caloi, & Mazzitelli 1997; Vandenberg & Irwin 1997; Cassisi et al. 1998) and the inclusion of atomic diffusion (Cassisi et al. 1999). The reader interested in a detailed discussion on the impact of these new physical ingredients on theoretical observables is referred to the comprehensive reviews by Vandenberg et al. (1996), Caputo (1999), and by Castellani (1999).

On the other hand, several recent observational investigations performed by adopting CCD cameras on relatively small telescopes disclosed that current samples of variable stars in GGCs are far from being complete. In fact, a large accumulation of evidence suggests that CCD observations of the innermost cluster regions allowed the identification of sizable samples of binary systems (Albrow et al. 2001; Kaluzny & Thompson 2001), exotic objects (Edmonds et al. 2002), oscillating blue stragglers (Kaluzny, Olech, & Stanek 2001, and references therein), as well as a substantial increase in the sample of cluster RR Lyrae variables (Walker & Nemec 1996; Walker 1998; Caputo et al. 1999; Olech et al. 2001). Finally, we mention that new data reduction techniques such as the image subtraction method (Alard 1999,2000) supply when compared with profile fitting methods not only a substantial increase in the number of variable stars detected in crowded regions (Olech et al. 1999) but also an improvement in the photometric accuracy of light curves.

Obviously, the accuracy of astrophysical parameters, such as stellar masses and luminosities based on the comparison between theory and observations, does depend not only on the accuracy of empirical data, but also on the size of individual samples. As a consequence, GGCs that present a relatively large number of RR Lyrae variables can provide tight constraints on the evolutionary and pulsational behavior of these objects. Keeping in mind this caveat, we collected new multiband time series CCD data of the GGC NGC 3201. The main reason why we selected this cluster is that it will supply a comprehensive analysis of a large sample of RR Lyrae ($`N_{RR}=77`$, Clement et al. 2001) in an Oosterhoff type I (Oo I) cluster. Moreover, up to now only photographic light curves of RR Lyrae in NGC 3201 have been available in the literature (Cacciari 1984, hereinafter C84).

This cluster is located close to the Galactic plane ($`l_{II}=`$277.228, $`b_{II}=`$8.641) and it is a valuable target for spectroscopic surveys due to its proximity (DM$`13.32`$ mag), and to its relatively low central concentration ($`\mathrm{log}\rho _0=2.69[L_{}/pc^3]`$, Trager et al. 1993). A further interesting feature of NGC 3201 is that it presents a retrograde orbit (van den Bergh 1993), thus suggesting that it is not a typical member of the halo GC population. The main drawbacks of NGC 3201 are that it is affected by field contamination, presents a relatively high reddening ($`<E(BV)>0.250.30`$), and is also affected by differential reddening. The most recent CCD photometric studies of this cluster have been provided by Alcaino, Liller, & Alvarado (1989, BVRI bands), Brewer et al. (1993, UBV bands), Covino & Ortolani (1997, BV data, hereinafter CO97). More recently Rosenberg et al. (2000) and von Braun & Mateo (2001, hereinafter vBM01) collected deep and accurate VI data.

This is the first paper of a series devoted to the evolutionary and pulsation properties of stellar population in NGC 3201. In §2 we present the observations and the strategy adopted to reduce the data together with the calibration of the photometric zero-point and the comparison with previous investigations available in the literature. A brief discussion of the most recent metallicity determinations of NGC 3201 is presented in §3. The pulsational parameters and the light curves of fundamental and first overtone (FO) RR Lyrae stars are discussed in §4, while the subsection 4.1 deals with variables showing amplitude modulation (Blazhko effect). In §5 we present a detailed analysis of individual reddening evaluations for RR Lyrae stars according to (B-V) and (V-I) colors (§5.1, and 5.2), as well as to the Fourier parameters of V band light curves (§5.3). In particular, in the first two subsections we discuss three new empirical relations connecting the intrinsic color of $`RR_{ab}`$ stars with luminosity amplitude, pulsation period, and metallicity. The comparison between these relations and similar relations available in the literature are also described in this section. The comparison of predicted pulsation properties, instability strip and pulsation amplitudes, with empirical data is detailed in §6. In this section, we briefly discuss the comparison of RR Lyrae in NGC 3201 with the sample of RR Lyrae in IC 4499 and in M 5. The main feature of the CMD are outlined in §7. In this section, we also present the (V,B-V) and the (V,V-I) CMDs dereddened by means of the reddening map derived using current sample of $`RR_{ab}`$ stars. The main results of this investigation are summarized in §8, together with the future developments of this project. Finally, in Appendix A, we list a series of comments on individual variables.

## 2 Observations and Data Reduction.

Multiband photometric data were collected with the 1.5m Danish telescope at ESO-La Silla equipped with a Loral CCD ($`2024\times 2024`$ pix) during an observing run from 21st through to 23rd February 1996. The field of view of the CCD is $`13\times 13`$ arcmin and NGC 3201 was approximately centered on this field. The exposure times were 180s for the B band, and 40s for both V and I bands respectively. We roughly collected 80 frames per band, and the stars were identified and measured by using Daophot and Allstar packages (Stetson 1987, 1995). The internal accuracy of our photometry is of the order of hundredths of magnitude at the typical magnitude of RR Lyrae stars. However, the sensitivity of the CCD drastically decreases in the 300 pixels ($``$ 1.9 arcmin) close to the edges. As a consequence, the S/N ratio of the stars located in this region is significantly lower and the light curves of RR Lyrae variables such as V7, V48, V51, and V71 present a larger scatter.

Oddly enough, the absolute calibration of current data has been a pleasant experience, since Stetson (2000222Data available at the following Web site http://cadcwww.hia.nrc.ca/standards.) collected a sizable sample of local standards across NGC 3201. On the basis of these new standards it has been possible to derive an accurate calibration, since V and I standards (145 stars) cover a region of $`4.5\times 4.5`$ arcmin around the center of the cluster, while the standards in B (33 stars) are distributed over a region of $`2.6\times 2.6`$ arcmin. Moreover, it is noteworthy that the (B-V) color of the standards range from 0.35 to 1.55, while the (V-I) colors range from 0.2 to 1.7. This means that current calibration properly covers both blue/extreme HB stars as well as stars close to the tip of the Red Giant Branch (RGB). Fig. 1 shows the calibration equations we derived according to the difference between current instrumental magnitudes and the Stetson’s standards. On the basis of this comparison we estimate that our calibration errors are of the order of 0.02 mag in V and B bands and of 0.03 mag in the I band. The uncertainty in the I band is larger than in the B,V bands. The difference might be due to the limited accuracy of the flat fields in the former band. As a matter of fact, the uniform illumination required for flat fields could not be properly accomplished in focal reducer instruments due to scattered light and sky concentration. Moreover, this effect can be wavelength dependent (Andersen, Freyhammer, & Storm 1995). In particular, we find that the I magnitudes in the two CCD regions located at $`x>1300`$ and $`y<600`$ pixels are less accurate, and indeed in these regions the scatter between current and Stetson’s magnitudes is larger.

As a further and independent test of the intrinsic accuracy of current calibration we compared our (V,V-I) CMD with the CMD recently provided by Rosenberg et al. (2000333Data available at the following Web site http://menhir.pd.astro.it.), and our (V, B-V) CMD with the CMD provided by CO97. The top panel of Fig. 2 shows that our data are in very good agreement with the Rosenberg et al. data, and indeed the main branches of the CMD nicely overlap. This evidence is further supported by the fact that both the magnitude ($`V_{TO}=18.2`$ mag) and the color ($`(VI)_{TO}=0.905`$) of the Turn Off estimated by Rosenberg et al. are, within current uncertainties, in remarkable agreement with our evaluations.

As far as the BV data is concerned, we found that the mean loci provided by CO97 seem slightly bluer than our diagram, and therefore we decided to check this discrepancy on a star by star basis. The bottom panel of Fig. 2 shows the difference in magnitude (open circles) and color (filled circles) between our and CO97’s HB and RGB stars. Data plotted in this panel clearly show a color off-set that ranges from $`0.02`$ mag for red objects to $`0.05`$ mag for blue objects. On the other hand, the difference in the V magnitude steadily increases from blue to red objects. We suggest that the difference in the V band could be due to the procedure they adopted to calibrate the bright end of the CMD. In fact, their Danish data set ($`V<16`$) was calibrated with the NTT data set, i.e. with photometric data with $`16<V<18`$ and $`0.5<(BV)<1`$. As a consequence, their color term in the V magnitude calibration was extrapolated and possibly underestimated. This working hypothesis is supported by the fact that the difference in this color range is vanishing. Moreover, our determination of the distance modulus agrees quite well with their evaluation (see §6).

## 3 Metal abundance

The metal content is a key parameter to assess on a quantitative basis the properties of stellar populations. The mean metallicity of NGC 3201 has been a matter of concern for a long time. In fact, metal abundances based on integrated properties (Zinn 1980; Zinn & West 1984, hereinafter ZW84), on low-dispersion spectra, and on the RGB slope in the (V,V-I) CMD (Da Costa, Frogel, & Cohen 1981) do suggest for this cluster a mean metallicity similar to M 3 and NGC 6752, i.e. $`[Fe/H]1.61`$. However, Smith & Manduca (1983) found -on the basis of the $`\mathrm{\Delta }S`$ method applied to nine RR Lyrae- that the mean metallicity is $`1.34\pm 0.15`$. They also found no significant variation in the metal content among the RR Lyrae in the sample. On the other hand, Carretta & Gratton (1997, hereinafter CG97), by re-analyzing high-dispersion CCD spectra (3 stars) and on the basis of updated atmosphere models (Kurucz 1992), found a mean metallicity of $`[Fe/H]=1.23\pm 0.09`$ that is higher than previous ones. A slightly lower metal abundance was estimated by Carney (1996) $`[Fe/H]=1.34`$ who also provided an $`\alpha `$-element overabundance of $`[\alpha /Fe]=0.26`$.

The discrepancy between different empirical estimates was not solved by the extensive and homogeneous spectroscopic investigation, based on the equivalent width of the CaII triplet, provided by Rutledge et al. (1997). In fact, they found that the metallicity of NGC 3201 ranges from $`[Fe/H]=1.24`$ to $`[Fe/H]=1.53`$ according to the metallicity scales of CG97 and ZW84 respectively. The empirical scenario was further complicated by the fact that a spread in the metal content has also been suggested (Da Costa et al. 1981). This hypothesis was somehow supported by accurate spectroscopic measurements by Gonzales & Wallerstein (1998, hereinafter GW98). They found that metallicity estimates for 17 cluster RG stars range from -1.17 to -1.68, and present variations that are roughly a factor of 4 larger than the typical uncertainty on individual \[Fe/H\] measurements. This notwithstanding, GW98 suggested that an intrinsic spread in the iron abundance among the RG stars of NGC 3201 is unlikely, and provided a mean metal content of -1.42. According to this metal content, to the $`\alpha `$-element enhancement estimated by GW98, $`[\alpha /Fe]0.40`$, and by adopting the Salaris, Chieffi, & Straniero (1993) relation, we estimate that the global metallicity444The global metallicity is a parameter which accounts for both iron and $`\alpha `$-element abundances (Carney 1996; Vandenberg 2000). for this cluster is \[M/H\]=-1.13. In the following we will adopt this mean global metallicity and a mean iron abundance of \[Fe/H\]=-1.42.

## 4 The RR Lyrae variables

On the basis of BV, and I-band data we identified 64 of the 96 variables listed by Sawyer-Hogg (1973; hereinafter SH73), and by Samus et al. (1996). We confirm the non variability for V33, V70, V74, V75, V81, and V82 quoted by SH73. Seven of the RR Lyrae we identified are located in a CCD region where the quality of the photometry is not accurate. Moreover, 2 out of the 8 new suspected variables identified by Lee (1977) and by Welch & Stetson (1993), namely 2710 and 1405, according to the photometric list by Lee (1977) have been confirmed as ”true” variables. According to current photometry the suspected variables -3516, 4702, 2517, 2403- do not show a strong evidence of variability, while for 1113 and 1103 we cannot reach any firm conclusion, since the quality of the photometry is poor.

We performed a detailed ad hoc search aimed at detecting new RR Lyrae variables, but we did not find new variables and/or new candidates. Therefore, according to previous findings the number of RR Lyrae and suspected RR Lyrae present in NGC 3201 decreases from 104 to 94. Note that SH73 did not detect any variability for V79, a star located close to the tip of the RGB, whereas we found over the three nights a clear variation in the luminosity (see Appendix A for more details).

Our data were collected over three consecutive nights, and therefore the light curves of RR Lyrae variables present a good phase coverage over the full pulsation cycle. The same outcome does not apply to RR Lyrae characterized by pulsation periods close to 0.5 days, since they present a poor phase coverage close to maximum/minimum luminosity. Fig. 3 shows the atlas of BVI light-curves for the entire sample. The old variables were called with the name listed by SH73, while for the new ones we adopted the numbering introduced by Lee (1977). Fig. 4 shows B and V light curves for the RR Lyrae with a poor phase coverage close to maximum/minimum luminosity. To estimate the mean magnitudes and the amplitudes of these nine objects, we adopted the empirical light curve template provided by Layden (1998). The solid lines in Fig. 4 display the B and V template curves. Note that Layden only provided V band templates, but Borissova et al. (2001) found that these light curves, after a proper scaling, can also be adopted to derive the luminosity amplitudes in the B band. Data plotted in Fig. 4 show a fair agreement between the template light curves and available empirical data. However, for four (V18, V20, V38, V50) out of the nine variables the B band data present a systematic difference with the template close to the phase of minimum luminosity. This means that both mean magnitudes, colors, and amplitudes of these variables should be cautiously treated, since they are affected by larger errors.

As far as the light curves are concerned, the photographic data set collected by C84 is still the most comprehensive and detailed investigation of RR Lyrae in NGC 3201. Fig. 5 shows the difference in the mean V (top panel), and B (bottom panel) magnitudes between current and C84 estimates. Data plotted in this figure clearly show a very good agreement in the V magnitude, whereas the B magnitudes by C84 are systematically brighter by approximately 0.05-0.075 mag when compared with current estimates. However, such a difference is mainly due to a difference in the zero-point of the photometric standards (Lee 1977) adopted by C84. In fact, a detailed comparison between current CCD magnitudes for a dozen of Lee’s photographic standards disclose the same shift in the B magnitude.

### 4.1 Amplitude modulation

During the last few years several empirical (Kovacs 1995; Nagy 1998; Bragaglia et al. 2000; Smith et al. 1999) and theoretical (Shibahashi 2000; van Hoolst 2000) investigations have been focused on amplitude modulation among field RR Lyrae stars. In a series of papers Szeidl (1976, 1988, and references therein) showed that approximately one third of RR Lyrae show periodic or quasiperiodic variations in the luminosity amplitude. The time scale of the secondary modulation typically ranges from 11 days (AH Cam, Smith et al. 1994) to 530 days (RS Boo, Nagy 1998). The occurrence of this phenomenon, called Blazhko effect (Blazhko 1907), among RR Lyrae variables in GGCs (M 3, M 5, M 15, $`\omega `$ Cen) and in dwarf galaxies (Draco) was soundly confirmed by Smith (1981) who also found a similar frequency, i.e. 25-30%. In this context it is worth mentioning that Corwin & Carney (2001) recently provided very accurate BV CCD photometry for more than 200 RR Lyrae stars in M 3. The previous authors collected time series data over a time interval of 5 years, and therefore they unambiguously identified RR Lyrae variables that present amplitude modulations. The new data confirm the finding obtained by Smith, and indeed 47 out of 158 $`RR_{ab}`$ variables present the Blazhko effect, i.e. 30% of the sample. Moreover, a recent detailed Fourier analysis based on the MACHO database does suggest that some fundamental Blazhko RR Lyrae present both amplitude and phase modulation, as well as the occurrence of the Blazhko effect among first overtone RR Lyrae (Kurtz et al. 2000).

As a consequence, we decided to investigate the occurrence of such a phenomenon in our RR Lyrae sample. Fig. 6 shows the difference in the luminosity amplitude between current estimates and the luminosity amplitudes provided by C84. Data plotted in this figure disclose several interesting features: i) a fraction of 25-30% among fundamental variables presents amplitude modulations; ii) one (V48) out of the three $`RR_c`$ variables in our sample shows amplitude modulation. This variable is the first candidate Blazhko $`RR_c`$ star in a GGC. The plausibility of these findings rely on the fact that all the RR Lyrae with amplitude modulations in the B band also show the modulation in the V band. Note that as a conservative estimate of the systematic difference between current photometry and the photographic photometry performed by C84, we only selected variables that show a difference in the luminosity amplitude larger than 0.1 and 0.15 mag in the V and in the B respectively (dashed lines). The referee suggested to compare current mean magnitudes with the mean magnitudes provided by C84 to single out whether some of the candidate Blazhko RR Lyrae are blends in one of the two data sets. Interestingly enough, we found that the mean V magnitudes provided by C84 for variables V31 and V36 are $``$0.12 and $``$ 0.20 mag brighter than current ones (see Appendix A for more details). This means that they could be blends in the former photometry. Oddly enough, current mean V magnitude of variable V58 is 0.15 mag brighter than the mean magnitudes provided by C84. The reason for this discrepancy is not clear.

On the basis of this finding, we decided to extend our analysis by covering a longer baseline, and, in particular, to compare current B amplitudes with the B amplitudes estimated by SH73. Fig. 7 shows the difference between current and SH73 mean B magnitudes555Note that SH73 did not supply the mean B magnitudes, therefore to estimate the difference we adopted the mean between minimum and maximum.. Data plotted in this figure display that mean B magnitudes by SH73 are systematically brighter and the difference ranges from a few hundredths up to $``$ 0.4 mag. According to this evidence we will consider candidate Blazhko RR Lyrae stars the objects that present a difference between current and SH73 B amplitudes that is larger than 0.45 mag. The top panel of Fig. 8 shows that approximately 30% of RR Lyrae variables present amplitude modulations larger than 0.45 mag. The same outcome applies to V48 ($`RR_c`$ variable). It is noteworthy that data plotted in Fig. 8 seem to suggest that the difference in the B amplitude is mainly due to a difference in $`B_{min}`$ (middle panel) rather than in $`B_{max}`$ (bottom panel). The systematic difference in the two data sets do not allow us to constrain this effect on a more quantitative basis.

We also note that approximately 50% of RR Lyrae that show amplitude modulation in the SH73 sample have also been detected in the C84 sample, namely V6, V26, V34, V48, and V51. As a whole, the comparison of photometric data spanning a time interval of roughly 25 yr strongly support the evidence that a fraction of 25-30% of RR Lyrae in NGC 3201 present amplitude modulation (Blazhko effect). Unfortunately, current data do not allow us to assess on a quantitative basis the secondary period. A comprehensive analysis based on new data as well as on old photographic data will be presented in a forthcoming paper (Bono et al. 2002, in preparation).

In this context, we also mention that the comparison between predicted and empirical amplitudes among cluster variables should be handled with care. In fact, data plotted in Fig. 9 clearly show that in the Bailey diagram both distribution and intrinsic scatter are somehow affected by the number of RR Lyrae that show the Blazhko effect. Note that current variations in the luminosity amplitude are indeed a lower limit to the ”true” amplitude modulation. As a matter of fact, extensive data for field and cluster (M 3) RR Lyrae do suggest that the luminosity variation is, on average, of the order of half magnitude (see Fig. 3 in Szeidl 1988).

Table 1 lists from left to right for each variable in our sample: 1) the variable name, 2) the RR Lyrae type, 3) the period, 4) the reference for the period. Moreover, from column 5) to 7) we give the magnitude-weighted BVI mean magnitudes, while from column 8) to 10) the intensity-weighted BVI mean magnitudes. The last three columns -11 to 14- list the BVI luminosity amplitudes. The mean I magnitudes of RR Lyrae with noisy light curves, have not been included. However, a photometric scatter slightly larger than the typical value (0.01-0.02 mag) can also be found among BV light curves of variables located close to the edges of the CCD camera.

## 5 Reddening evaluations

### 5.1 RR Lyrae (B-V) colors

Accurate evaluations of the reddening across the central region of NGC 3201 are mandatory to supply robust estimates of intrinsic mean magnitudes and colors of RR Lyrae stars. However, precise reddening estimates are difficult and the problem for NGC 3201 is even more complicated, since this cluster presents patchy absorptions, i.e. differential reddening, across the main body of the cluster (Zinn 1980; Alcaino & Liller 1981; Da Costa et al. 1981); C84; CO97; Layden et al. 2002, hereinafter L02). As a matter of fact, current color excess estimates range from E(B-V)=0.21 to E(B-V)=0.29 according to mean RR Lyrae colors (C84). On the basis of spectroscopic data for a sizable sample of red giants GW98 found E(B-V) values ranging from 0.21 to 0.31. The same outcome applies to mean reddening values, and indeed current values present a spread ranging from $`0.21\pm 0.03`$ (C84), $`0.22\pm 0.03`$ (CO97) to 0.28 (Harris 1976).

A comprehensive analysis of the extinction map across NGC 3201 has been recently provided by vBM01 by adopting high-quality and deep V and I band data. In particular, they found a differential reddening of the order of 0.2 mag and a reasonable agreement on a large scale with the dust infrared maps provided by Schlegel, Finkbeiner, & Davis (1998, hereinafter SFD98). At the same time, they also confirmed the evidence originally brought out by Arce & Goodman (1999) that infrared emissions maps overestimate reddening in high extinction regions ($`E(BV)>0.15`$). However, the zero point of the reddening scale found by vBM01 (E(V-I)=0.15) is approximately 1.5 $`\sigma `$ smaller than mean values available in the literature. As a consequence, we decide to estimate the mean value of the color excess as well as of its variation across the cluster using the pulsation properties of our RR Lyrae sample.

In their seminal investigations, Preston (1964) and Sturch (1966) calibrated an empirical relation for $`RR_{ab}`$ variables that supplies the color excess E(B-V) as a function of the (B-V) color at the phase of luminosity minimum, the period, and the metallicity. According to Walker (1990, hereinafter W90), who improved this empirical relation, we adopt: $`E(BV)=(BV)_{min}0.24P0.056[Fe/H]0.336`$ where $`(BV)_{min}`$ is the mean color over the pulsation phases $`0.5\varphi 0.8`$, \[Fe/H\] is the metal content in the ZW84 metallicity scale, and P the fundamental period (days). On the basis of $`(BV)_{min}`$ colors listed in column 3 of Table 2 and by adopting the cluster iron abundance given by ZW84, $`[Fe/H]=1.61`$, we found that the mean value of the reddening is $`<E(BV)>=0.34\pm 0.03`$ and the individual values (column 4 in Table 2) range from 0.29 (V36) to 0.40 (V13). Individual estimates do suggest that across the cluster region covered by RR Lyrae in our sample the reddening changes by approximately 0.1 mag. This finding supports the results obtained by GW98 on the basis of spectroscopic measurements of 17 cluster RGs. On the other hand, the mean value estimated over the entire sample as a weighted mean should be cautiously treated. In fact, empirical evidence does suggest that reddening evaluations based on the Sturch’s method are typically 0.03 mag larger than the determinations based on the slope of the RGB in the (V,V-I) CMD (Walker & Nemec 1996).

Therefore, we decided to provide new empirical evaluations of intrinsic (B-V) and (V-I) RR Lyrae colors by adopting two different routes. Since Schwarzschild (1940) it is well-known that RR Lyrae obey to a Period-Color (PC) relation. This evidence was further strengthened by empirical and theoretical investigations (Sandage et al. 1990a; Caputo & De Santis 1992; Fernley 1993). At the same time, theoretical predictions based on nonlinear, convective models suggest that the luminosity amplitude is strongly correlated with the effective temperature and presents a negligible dependence on stellar mass and metallicity (Bono et al. 1997a). To derive robust empirical PC relations and Amplitude-Color (AC) relations we selected two GGCs, namely M 5 and IC 4499. These clusters present a sizable sample of RR Lyrae, have a metallicity similar to NGC 3201, and are not affected by differential reddening. According to the ZW84 metallicity scale the metallicity of these clusters is \[Fe/H\]=-1.5 (M 5) and \[Fe/H\]=-1.4 (IC 4499). Pulsation properties for RR Lyrae in M 5 were taken from Brocato, Castellani, & Ripepi (1996), Caputo at al. (1999), Storm, Carney, & Beck (1991), and Reid (1996), while for RR Lyrae in IC 4499 from Walker & Nemec (1996).

However, the idea to derive intrinsic colors with either the PC or the AC relation was unsuccessful. In fact, the (B-V) and the (V-I) residuals clearly show a trend either with the luminosity amplitude or the mean color respectively. The reason why the empirical relations do not work is not clear. The failure of the PC relation in the optical bands might be due to the intrinsic width of the fundamental instability strip, as well as to the dependence on the metal abundance that causes an increase in the color scatter at fixed periods. The AC relation might be affected by the same drawback as well as by the scatter introduced by RR Lyrae affected by amplitude modulation. To overcome this thorny problem, we decided to derive, according to Caputo & De Santis (1992, hereinafter CDS92), an empirical relation connecting the intrinsic color of RR Lyrae to the luminosity amplitude in the B band, and to the metallicity. To cover a wide metallicity range we selected field RR Lyrae stars observed by Lub (1977) and by Carney et al. (1992). As far as the Lub’s sample is concerned we adopted the pulsation parameters collected by Sandage (1990b). Objects that present amplitude modulations have been neglected. We ended up with a sample of 78 RR Lyrae whose metallicity ranges from \[Fe/H\]=-2.2 to \[Fe/H\]=0. We found that these objects do obey to a well-defined Amplitude-Color-Metallicity (ACZ) relation:

$$(BV)_0=0.448(\pm 0.017)0.078(\pm 0.006)A_B+0.012(\pm 0.004)[Fe/H]\sigma =0.016$$

where the symbols have their usual meaning and units. Both the constant term and the coefficient of the luminosity amplitude are quite similar to the values found by CDS92 (see their relation 10). On the other hand, the coefficient of the metallicity term is almost a factor of two larger (0.012 vs 0.006) in the current relation than in the CDS92’s relation. The difference seems to be due to the increase in the sample size, and to the inclusion of metal-rich RR Lyrae (Carney et al. 1992).

To check whether the current relation could be further improved, we correlated the intrinsic mean (B-V) color to period, luminosity amplitude, and metallicity. The linear regression over the same RR Lyrae sample supplies the following Period-Amplitude-Color-Metallicity (PACZ) relation:

$$(BV)_0=0.507(\pm 0.014)0.052(\pm 0.007)A_B+0.223(\pm 0.039)\mathrm{log}P+0.036(\pm 0.005)[Fe/H]\sigma =0.014$$

Note that such a relation relies on the assumption that the current sample of RR Lyrae stars is representative of the entire population. To validate the accuracy of these relations based on field RR Lyrae, we applied it to RR Lyrae in M 3, since this cluster is only marginally affected by reddening ($`E(BV)0.01`$, Dutra & Bica 2000, hereinafter DB00). We selected, among the RR Lyrae variables (207) observed by Corwin & Carney (2001) in M 3, the fundamental ones that are not affected by blends and present accurate estimates of both periods and B amplitudes. We ended up with a sample of 127 RR Lyrae. By assuming a metal content for M 3 of \[Fe/H\]=-1.46 (Kraft et al. 1995) and by applying the ACZ relation to this sub-sample, we found a mean cluster reddening of $`<E(BV)>=0.008\pm 0.027`$, while by adopting the PACZ relation we found $`<E(BV)>=0.007\pm 0.024`$. To avoid any spurious effect, if any, introduced by RR Lyrae that present the Blazhko effect, we only selected ”canonical” RR Lyrae (81). On the basis of the new sample, the ACZ and the PACZ relation give $`<E(BV)>=0.012\pm 0.027`$ and $`<E(BV)>=0.011\pm 0.024`$ respectively. The difference in the mean cluster reddenings based on the two different samples is negligible due to the marginal dependency of mean colors on amplitude modulations (see crosses in Fig. 10). The previous estimates are, within the errors, in very good agreement with the values given in the literature. The difference between ACZ and PACZ relation is negligible. However, color estimates based on the latter one present a slightly smaller intrinsic scatter.

As a further independent test we applied the previous relation to fundamental RR Lyrae not affected by amplitude modulation in several GGCs. We found that the mean reddenings as well as the dispersions are, within the uncertainties, in very good agreement (see data listed in column 5 of Table 3) with similar estimates available in the literature and based on stellar colors or on far-infrared dust emission (SFD98; DB00). On the basis of this evidence we estimated the individual reddenings, and in turn the intrinsic (B-V) colors of RR Lyrae in our sample (see data listed in columns 5 and 6 of Table 2). We found that the mean reddening is $`<E(BV)>=0.30\pm 0.03`$ if we assume \[Fe/H\]=-1.42, while the single values range from 0.22 (V36) to 0.35 (V45). Note that individual reddening estimates based on (B-V) colors are typically affected by an uncertainty of the order of 0.03 mag. The error budget includes the uncertainty affecting the photometric calibration ($`\sigma _{B,V}0.02`$ mag), the intrinsic scatter of the PACZ relation ($`\pm 0.01`$ mag), as well as the error on the assumption that the reddening toward M 3 is E(B-V)=0.01. We did not account for the uncertainty in the mean metallicity, and indeed the mean reddening ranges from $`<E(BV)>=0.29\pm 0.03`$ to $`<E(BV)>=0.31\pm 0.03`$ if we assume \[Fe/H\]=-1.23 (CG97) or \[Fe/H\]=-1.61 (ZW84). Current mean reddening values, if we account for the entire error budget, support the mean reddening value obtained by adopting the SFD98 map. In fact, the mean reddening provided by this map over the same cluster region covered by our RR Lyrae sample is $`<E(BV)>0.26\pm 0.02`$. This finding supports the absolute zero point of the SFD98 map.

### 5.2 RR Lyrae (V-I) colors

We collected photometric data in three different bands, and therefore we can constrain the occurrence of systematic errors, if any, in the reddening evaluations based on (B-V) colors. To estimate the intrinsic (V-I) colors we selected among field RR Lyrae stars the objects, as for (B-V) colors, for which accurate estimates of (V-I) color, metallicity, and reddening are available. We ended up with a sample of 18 $`RR_{ab}`$ stars (see Table 4). However, we realized that this sample is affected by a selection bias. In fact, all of them were originally chosen to perform the Baade-Wesselink analysis, and therefore they present large luminosity amplitudes and are typically located close to the blue edge. As a consequence, we decided to include two GGCs that host a sizable sample of RR Lyrae and accurate V and I photometry, namely IC 4499 (Walker & Nemec 1996, $`N_{RR}=35`$) and NGC 6362 (Walker 2001, private communication, $`N_{RR}=14`$). On the basis of these data, we found that they do obey to the following Period-Amplitude-Color (PAC) relation:

$$(VI)_0=0.65(\pm 0.02)0.07(\pm 0.01)A_V+0.36(\pm 0.06)\mathrm{log}P\sigma =0.02$$

where the symbols have their usual meaning. This relation when compared with the previous one, presents a key difference: the coefficient of the metallicity term is vanishing, and therefore the linear regression was performed by neglecting this parameter. This effect is due to the fact that the (V-I) colors present a mild dependence on metallicity. However, we cannot firmly assess whether this is an intrinsic behavior of RR Lyrae stars. In fact, RR Lyrae listed in Table 4 together with RR Lyrae in IC 4499 and NGC 6362 cover a wide metallicity range but only one object is more metal-poor than \[Fe/H\]=-1.7.

To estimate the accuracy of this relation it was applied to cluster RR Lyrae for which homogeneous estimates of mean (B-V) and (V-I) colors are available. Column 6 of Table 3 gives the mean reddening values and the standard deviations. As a whole, we found that reddening estimates based on (V-I) intrinsic colors are in good agreement with those based on (B-V) colors, and indeed the $`<E(VI)>`$ values are, within the errors, approximately equal to $`1.22\times <E(BV)>`$ (Cardelli et al. 1989; Bessell 1979). However, the mean reddening of NGC 1851 based on (V-I) colors is smaller than the reddening based on (B-V) colors. It has been recently claimed (Kovacs & Walker 2001, hereinafter KW01) that the zero-point of the I-band photometry of this cluster could be affected by a systematic error. This notwithstanding the agreement between the two independent reddening estimates strengthens the plausibility and the accuracy of previous PACZ and PAC relations. Any further analysis concerning the difference between the two reddening scales is premature. In fact, the accuracy of the absolute zero-point of the PAC relations was not checked with a template cluster such as M 3, since current I band data could still be affected by uncertainties in the absolute zero-point calibration (Ferraro et al. 1997).

However, individual reddening estimates, based on the PAC relation listed in Table 5, are in very good agreement with the evaluations based on the PACZ relation, and indeed the bulk of them attain values roughly equal to $`1.22\times <E(BV)>`$. Moreover, we find that the mean reddening is $`<E(VI)>=0.36\pm 0.05`$, while the single values range from 0.28 (V36) to 0.45 (V45). Note that the reddenings based on (V-I) colors are affected by an uncertainty of the order of 0.04 mag. The error budget includes the error on the photometric calibration ($`\sigma _I0.03`$) and on the intrinsic scatter of the PAC relation ($`\sigma _I0.02`$). This notwithstanding current results strongly support the finding obtained by vBM01 on the basis of TO star colors. In fact, we find that across the cluster, the E(V-I) values undergo differential changes up to $`0.17`$ mag. This differential variation agree quite well with the reddening estimates by vBM01, and indeed across the same cluster region (see their Fig. 4) their reddening estimates (E(V-I)) range from 0.18 to 0.35 respectively. On the other hand, our estimates do suggest a zero-point larger than evaluated by vBM01. As a matter of fact, we find that the mean reddening in the cluster region covered by our observations is $`<E(VI)>=0.36\pm 0.05`$, while the mean reddening based on the vBM01 map supplies $`<E(VI)>=0.25\pm 0.07`$. The reasons for this difference are not clear. A plausible reason could be the effect of hetero-chromatic extinction between TO and HB stars (Roberts & Grebel 1995; Anthony-Twarog & Twarog 2000). Note that the current reddening estimate agrees, within the errors, with the mean reddening obtained using the SFD98 map, and indeed we find $`<E(VI)>=1.22\times <E(BV)>=0.32\pm 0.02`$.

To constrain once again the intrinsic accuracy of current reddening estimates, we decided to perform a new test. According to a well-established result, the minimum-light color of $`RR_{ab}`$ stars present a mild dependence on metallicity (Lub 1979). This evidence has been further strengthened by Mateo et al. (1995, hereinafter M95) who found that the mean minimum-light (V-I) colors of a dozen of well-observed field RR Lyrae is roughly equal to $`0.58\pm 0.03`$ mag. We estimated once again the individual reddenings, see column 5 in Table 5, and, interestingly enough, the new estimates are in good agreement with reddening evaluations based on the PAC relation. As a matter of fact, we found $`<E(VI)>=0.36\pm 0.05`$, while individual reddenings range from 0.24 (V36) to 0.46 (V4).

### 5.3 Fourier coefficients

During the last few years several investigations have been devoted to the Fourier analysis of empirical light curves of RR Lyrae variables (Kovacs & Kanbur 1998). The underlying idea of these studies is to derive empirical relations based on Fourier coefficients that can be safely adopted to estimate physical parameters, such as absolute magnitude, intrinsic color, and metallicity of variable stars (Simon & Clement 1993; Jurcsik & Kovacs 1996; KW01). Therefore we followed this approach to supply an independent estimate of individual RR Lyrae reddenings. We performed at first the fit of the V-band light curves by means of sine Fourier series by adopting 15 components and estimated the typical Fourier coefficients. Columns 2 to 6 of Table 6 list the first Fourier amplitude, as well as amplitude ratios ($`R_{21}`$,$`R_{31}`$) and phase differences ($`\varphi _{21}`$,$`\varphi _{31}`$). Then we estimated the intrinsic mean $`(BV)_0`$ and $`(VI)_0`$ colors according to the empirical relations derived by KW01 and based on period as well as on $`A_1`$, and $`A_3`$ Fourier amplitudes (see their relations 6 and 9). The individual reddening evaluations based on these relations are given in columns 5 and 6 of Table 6. The new estimates soundly confirm previous findings, and indeed E(B-V) values range from 0.24 (V36) to 0.35 (V13,V56), while the E(V-I) values range from 0.30 (V22,V36) to 0.44 (V56). Moreover, the mean values we find are: $`<E(BV)>=0.31\pm 0.03`$, and $`<E(VI)>=0.36\pm 0.04`$ respectively.

Although, different methods based on mean (B-V) and (V-I) colors do supply similar reddening estimates we decided to compare individual values to investigate whether they present any systematic drift with intrinsic color. Fig. 10 shows the difference between current reddening evaluations based on the PACZ relation and the estimates based on the W90 relation (top), on the KW01 relation (middle), as well as on the ACZ relation (bottom). Data plotted in the top panel clearly show the systematic difference of $`0.03`$ between the two methods (see §5.1). On the other hand, data plotted in the middle and in the bottom panel clearly indicate that the difference between the PACZ, the KW01, and the ACZ relations is negligible. However, data plotted in the middle panel seem to suggest that the scatter of individual measurements increases toward the blue edge of the instability strip. The relations derived by KW01 do rely on well-observed cluster RR Lyrae and therefore this finding strengthens the accuracy of current relations and supplies and independent support to the KW01 relations.

Fig. 11 shows the difference between current reddening determinations based on the PAC relation and the estimates based on the M95 (top) and on the KW01 (bottom) relation. A glance at the data plotted in the top panel seems to suggest that the M95 relation slightly underestimates reddening evaluations when compared with reddenings based on the PAC relation. According to current data sample it is not clear whether this discrepancy increases when moving toward the blue edge. On the other hand, data plotted in the bottom panel disclose that reddenings based on the PAC relation and on the KW01 relation are in very good agreement, within the uncertainties. The evidence that close to the blue edge the scatter of individual measurements between current and KW01 relations increases also applies to the E(V-I) values. The variable V45 (open circle) presents a peculiar color excess, see Appendix A for more details.

## 6 Comparison between theory and observations

To supply accurate estimate of the mean RR Lyrae magnitudes and colors in our sample we performed a weighted mean between the E(B-V) determinations obtained by adopting both the PACZ and the KW01 relation. The same approach was adopted to evaluate the mean E(V-I), but according to the PAC and to the KW01 relation. Table 7, lists from left to right the identification, the dereddened V magnitude, (B-V), and (V-I) colors, together with the color excesses, namely E(B-V) and E(V-I). The reddenings of $`RR_{ab}`$ stars whose light curve was fitted with the Layden’s template are only based on the PACZ and the PAC relation. Magnitude and colors of $`RR_c`$ stars were dereddened by smoothing with a spline the reddening map derived using $`RR_{ab}`$ color excesses.

According to previous individual evaluations, $`<V_0(RR)>=(_{i=1}^{nr}[V(RR)3.1\times E(BV)])/nr`$, we estimated the apparent Zero Age Horizontal Branch (ZAHB) luminosity by adopting the relation originally suggested by Carney et al. (1992) and revised by Cassisi & Salaris (1997, hereinafter CS97), i.e. $`V(ZAHB)=<V(RR)>+0.04[M/H]+0.15`$. The comparison between predicted ZAHB luminosities for \[M/H\]=-1.13 (CS97) and empirical V magnitudes dereddened by adopting previous E(B-V) evaluations supplies a distance modulus for NGC 3201 of DM=$`13.30\pm 0.08`$ (nr=40). Interestingly enough, if we adopt the visual ZAHB magnitudes dereddened by adopting the E(V-I) determinations, $`<V_0(RR)>=(_{i=1}^{nr}[V(RR)2.54\times E(VI)])/nr`$, we find DM=$`13.35\pm 0.09`$ (nr=35). Fig. 12 shows the comparison in the $`V_0(BV)_0`$ and in the $`V_0(VI)_0`$ CMD between predicted ZAHB magnitudes (solid line) and observed HB stars. The dashed line marks the exhaustion of central He burning. Predicted luminosities and effective temperature were transformed into the observational plane by adopting the bolometric corrections and the color-temperature relations by Castelli, Gratton, & Kurucz (1997).

Magnitudes and colors of HB stars plotted in Fig. 12 were dereddened by adopting the same procedure adopted for $`RR_c`$ variables, and therefore they are the subsample of cluster HB stars located in the cluster region covered by current RR Lyrae sample. Data plotted in this figure clearly show that theoretical predictions for central He burning structures are, within current uncertainties on reddening and distance estimates in good agreement with observations. Stars located below the ZAHB with $`0.4(BV)0.5`$ and $`0.55(VI)0.65`$ colors should be field stars, and indeed a similar plume shows up just above the sub giant branch (see Fig. 15). A few RR Lyrae are also located below the ZAHB, but they present a limited phase coverage or they are affected by amplitude modulation. Note that in the latter case current B and V amplitudes could be underestimated, and in turn the individual reddening corrections (see §5.1 and 5.2). The region of hot HB stars presents a larger spread in the (V,V-I) than in the (V,B-V) diagram. This is due to the fact that magnitudes and colors based on E(V-I) determinations present larger errors than those based on E(B-V) ones (see the error bars in Fig. 12).

Accurate distance moduli of globular clusters can be provided by adopting the method suggested by Caputo (1997). The match in the $`M_V\mathrm{log}P`$ plane between predicted FO blue edge and the observed blue limit of $`RR_c`$ variables does supply an independent and robust estimate of the distance modulus (Caputo et al. 2000, and references therein). Unfortunately, the application of this method to NGC 3201 is hampered by the small number of $`RR_c`$ variables (5), as well as by the fact that we lack individual reddening estimates for these objects. However, to supply an independent check on the accuracy of current distance estimates Fig. 13 shows the comparison in the (V,B-V) and in the (V,V-I) plane the comparison between predicted instability edges for $`RR_{ab}`$ (solid lines) and $`RR_c`$ (dashed lines) pulsators (Bono et al. 2001, and references therein) and observed RR Lyrae stars in NGC 3201. Predicted edges were plotted by assuming a distance of DM=13.32 and rely on full amplitude, nonlinear, convective models constructed by adopting the same stellar mass ($`M/M_{}=0.70`$) and chemical composition (Y=0.24, Z=0.0004) and a wide range of stellar luminosities. Luminosities and effective temperatures were transformed into the observational plane by adopting the transformations by Castelli et al. (1997).

Note that the distribution of variable stars inside the instability strip is in good agreement with theoretical predictions. In fact, the red (cooler) edge properly marks the transition between $`RR_c`$ and $`RR_{ab}`$ variables. On the other hand, the RR Lyrae in the (V,V-I) plane appear slightly redder thus supporting the evidence that we are slightly underestimating the reddening in this plane. Intrinsic colors of $`RR_c`$ variables should be cautiously treated, since their reddenings are based on the $`RR_{ab}`$ reddening map and therefore affected by uncertainties of the order of E(V-I)$`0.04`$. The metallicity adopted for the instability edges (\[Fe/H\]=-1.65) is more metal-poor than adopted for HB models (\[Fe/H\]=-1.42, i.e. \[M/H\]=-1.13). The comparison between empirical data and predicted edges for Z=0.001 shows the same agreement. The main difference is that a good fraction of $`RR_{ab}`$ variables moves into the ”OR” region. Unfortunately, the sample of $`RR_c`$ variables is too small to draw any firm conclusion concerning the topology of the instability strip and the mean metallicity.

The luminosity amplitudes are robust observables to constrain the physical parameters governing the pulsation properties of radial variables. In fact, they are not affected by empirical uncertainties in the distance modulus, and marginally affected by errors in reddening evaluations. Fig. 14 displays the comparison in the Bailey diagram between current sample of RR Lyrae variables with RR Lyrae in M 5 (open circles) and in IC 4499 (open squares). We selected these two clusters because they have almost the same metallicity, and host a sizable sample of RR Lyrae. Data plotted in this figure indicate that RR Lyrae in these three clusters do show similar distributions in the Bailey diagram. In particular $`RR_{ab}`$ variables do cover the same period range and attain similar luminosity amplitudes when moving from the blue to the red edge of the instability strip. The number of $`RR_c`$ variables in NGC 3201 is too small to draw any conclusion concerning the occurrence of a systematic difference in the period distribution.

Data plotted in Fig. 14 clearly support the finding originally brought out by Smith (1981): irregular variability is more frequent among fundamental pulsators with periods shorter than 0.65 days. As a matter of fact, the spread in the luminosity amplitudes becomes substantially smaller for $`\mathrm{log}P0.2`$. Together with empirical data Fig. 14 shows the comparison with predicted B,V, and I-band amplitudes. Theoretical observables are based on the same models we adopted in Fig. 13. Predicted amplitudes for $`\mathrm{log}L/L_{}=1.61`$ and 1.72 bracket empirical data and suggest a luminosity for RR Lyrae in NGC 3201 of the order of $`\mathrm{log}L/L_{}=1.65`$. This pulsational estimate agrees, within current uncertainties on chemical composition, with the luminosities predicted by HB models when moving from \[Fe/H\]=-1.25 to \[Fe/H\]=-1.65, i.e. $`1.63\mathrm{log}L/L_{}1.68`$. Finally, we note that empirical amplitudes for $`RR_{ab}`$ stars do show, at fixed period, a large scatter inside the instability strip. However, the RR Lyrae in NGC 3201 that show amplitude modulation are located at the bottom of this distribution. This finding supports the evidence that the observed scatter could be due to RR Lyrae that undergo amplitude modulations.

## 7 The Color-Magnitude diagram

The top panels of Fig. 15 show the (V,B-V) and (V,V-I) diagrams. The effect of the differential reddening is quite evident in the (V,V-I) diagram, and indeed in this plane the stars along the RGB split over two distinct sequences. This notwithstanding the CMDs show a well-defined Main Sequence (MS) at least down to V$``$20.5, well-populated post-MS phases together with a sequence of Blue Stragglers approaching hot HB stars. Data plotted in this figure are the average of more than 70 measurements in each band. We only plotted stars with photometric errors in the three bands smaller than 0.02. The bottom panels of Fig. 15 display the extinction corrected $`V_0`$ magnitudes vs $`(BV)_0`$ and $`(VI)_0`$ obtained by adopting the reddening maps based on $`RR_{ab}`$ stars. The number of stars in the bottom panels is smaller than in the top ones, since we only plotted stars located inside current reddening maps. The resolution of these maps is of the order of 1 arcmin. The plausibility of the reddening correction is supported by the narrowing of the main evolutionary phases.

The CMD of NGC 3201 presents several similarities with the CMD of M 3, and indeed the fiducial lines derived by Ferraro et al. (1997) for this cluster overlap to dereddened data for NGC 3201 (see bottom left panel of Fig. 15). The main discrepancy between the two cluster data sets is among extreme HB stars. This mismatch could be due to the calibration of the photometric zero-point (see Ferraro et al. 1997 for further details). At the same time, we also note that the (B-V) color of our standard stars do not cover extreme HB stars. This notwithstanding, data plotted in this figure show a very good agreement between the RGB mean loci of M 3 and individual RGB stars in NGC 3201. This evidence supports the zero-point of current reddening scale as well as individual reddenings, since M 3 is only marginally affected by reddening (E(B-V)$`0.01`$). A further interesting similarity between M 3 and NGC 3201 is a sizable sample of Blue Stragglers (CO97). The properties of these stars will be addressed in forthcoming paper. The same outcome applies to the dereddened (V,V-I) CMD, and indeed data plotted in the bottom right panel show a very good agreement between the mean ridge line provided by Johnson & Bolte (1998) and current photometry. Note that the agreement applies not only to TO and RGB regions but also to hot and cool HB stars.

A thorough discussion concerning the evolutionary properties of this cluster will be addressed in a forthcoming paper. In this context, we briefly discuss the RGB bump. This interesting evolutionary feature appears as a peak in the differential Luminosity Function (LF) and as a change in the slope of the cumulative LF. From an evolutionary point of view, the presence of such a bump is due to the fact that during the RGB evolution the H-burning shell crosses the chemical discontinuity left over by the convective envelope soon after the first dredge-up at the base of the RGB. We located the RGB bump in NGC 3201 using both the differential and the cumulative LFs and we find $`V_{bump}=14.55\pm 0.05`$ mag. The comparison between theory and observations concerning the location of the bump along the RGB is a crucial test to assess the accuracy of current evolutionary models. Dating back to Fusi Pecci et al. (1990) it became clear that the $`\mathrm{\Delta }V_{HB}^{bump}`$, i.e. the difference in magnitude between the RGB bump and the HB stars located inside the RR Lyrae instability strip, is the key parameter to compare theory and observations.

To estimate this parameter we adopted current RR Lyrae sample and we find a mean magnitude of $`<V_{RR}>=14.75\pm 0.07`$. This magnitude was scaled to the ZAHB luminosity according to the correction suggested by CS97 and eventually we find $`V_{ZAHB}=14.85\pm 0.07`$ mag. Therefore, the $`\mathrm{\Delta }V_{HB}^{bump}`$ for NGC 3201 is equal to $`0.30\pm 0.09`$ mag. Fig. 16 shows the comparison between this value and theoretical predictions (CS97). Note that for NGC 3201 we adopted the mean global metallicity based on the spectroscopic measurements of iron and $`\alpha `$-elements given by GW98, and the relation between global metallicity, iron abundance, and $`\alpha `$-element enhancements provided by Salaris et al. (1993). For the aim of the comparison, the same figure also shows empirical estimates of $`\mathrm{\Delta }V_{HB}^{bump}`$ for a selected sample of GGCs for which accurate spectroscopic measurements of iron and $`\alpha `$-element enhancement are available (see labeled names). Theoretical predictions rely on evolutionary models at fixed initial He content (Y=0.23, Zoccali et al. 2000) that cover a wide range of progenitor masses ($`M/M_{}=0.81.0`$), and global metallicities ($`2.3[M/H]0.5`$). Data plotted in this figure show that theory and observations are in fine agreement. The empirical value of $`\mathrm{\Delta }V_{HB}^{bump}`$ for NGC 3201 seems slightly smaller than predicted by theoretical models. This finding taken at face value could suggest that the mean global metallicity of this cluster is slightly more metal-poor than currently estimated.

## 8 Summary and conclusions

We present BVI time series data of NGC 3201 collected over three consecutive nights that cover a cluster region of approximately 13 arcmin2 around the center. Current data allowed us to identify 72 out of the 104 variables or suspected variables originally detected by SH73, Lee (1977), and by Welch & Stetson (1993). According to current data we confirm the non variability for ten of them and strongly support the evidence brought out by GW98 that V79 is a red variable located close to the tip of the RGB. The light curves of RR Lyrae in our sample (53) present a very good phase coverage. The only exception to this rule are 9 RR Lyrae with periods close to 0.5 days that present a poor phase coverage close to the phases of maximum/minimum luminosity.

The comparison between current data and photographic data collected by SH73 and C84 support the evidence that approximately the 30% of $`RR_{ab}`$ variables present amplitude modulation (Blazhko effect). This result supports the findings originally brought out by Szeidl (1976) and Smith (1981) for field and cluster RR Lyrae stars. At the same time, we confirm that $`RR_{ab}`$ that show the Blazhko effect present periods shorter than 0.65 days (Smith 1981). We also find that one (V48) out of the three $`RR_c`$ variables is strongly suspected to be affected by amplitude modulation. If new data confirm this evidence, this object would be the first cluster $`RR_c`$ variable that shows such a phenomenon.

To overcome the thorny problem of differential reddening across the cluster we derived new empirical relations connecting the intrinsic (B-V) and (V-I) colors of RR Lyrae stars with pulsation parameters. By adopting a large sample of field RR Lyrae (78) for which are available B amplitude, (B-V) color, metallicity, and present low reddening or accurate reddening estimate we find that they do obey to an ACZ and to a PACZ relation. The key features of these relations are the following: i) they depend on stellar parameters that are not affected by reddening. ii) They supply accurate estimates of intrinsic (B-V) colors across the fundamental instability region and cover a wide metallicity range. This means that they can be used to estimate the reddening of halo and bulge RR Lyrae stars. iii) They have been derived by neglecting the RR Lyrae that present or are suspected to be affected by amplitude modulation. To validate the zero-point of the reddening scale we applied the new relations to the large sample of RR Lyrae stars (207) in M 3 recently collected by Corwin & Carney (2001). We selected this RR Lyrae sample, since the reddening toward this cluster is vanishing (E(B-V)$`0.01`$). We find that both the ACZ and the PACZ relations account for the mean cluster reddening, but the intrinsic scatter of the latter one is somehow smaller. Moreover and even more importantly, we find that the difference in the mean cluster reddening based on an RR Lyrae sample that includes or neglects Blazhko RR Lyrae is marginal. This finding suggests that previous relations can be safely adopted to estimate the reddening of well-sampled Blazhko RR Lyrae.

We adopted the same approach to derive a relation that allow us to derive individual reddening on the basis of the (V-I) colors. We selected a sample of 18 field plus 49 cluster (IC 4499, NGC 6362) $`RR_{ab}`$ variables for which are available V amplitude, (V-I) color, metallicity, and accurate reddening estimates. Interestingly enough, we find that they do obey to a PAC relation, i.e. the metallicity term is vanishing. This means that this relation can be used to estimate the reddening on the basis of period and mean (V-I) color. Unfortunately, we could not validate the zero-point of this relation, since I-band data are not available for RR Lyrae in M 3, and we are not aware of GGCs with a large sample of RR Lyrae, a vanishing reddening, and accurate (V-I) colors. However, the comparison between the mean reddenings based on the PAC and on the PACZ relation for clusters for which are available BVI data shows a good agreement, within the uncertainties.

We applied the PACZ relation to fundamental RR Lyrae in our sample and by assuming a mean cluster metallicity of \[Fe/H\]=-1.42 we find $`<E(BV)>=0.30\pm 0.03`$, while the individual reddening estimates range from 0.22 (V36) to 0.35 (V45). The intrinsic scatter we find ($`\mathrm{\Delta }E(BV)0.15`$) is slightly larger than estimated by GW98 on the basis of 17 RGB stars. However, it is worth noting, that current estimate agrees with the mean value obtained by adopting the dust infrared map by SFD98. As a matter of fact, on the same cluster region we find a mean reddening of $`<E(BV)>=0.26\pm 0.02`$. Note that the angular resolution of the SFD98 map is approximately 6 arcmin, while our map has a resolution of the order of 1 arcmin.

The same outcomes apply to the PAC relation, and indeed we find a mean cluster reddening of $`<E(VI)>=0.36\pm 0.05`$, while the individual reddening estimates range from 0.28 (V36) to 0.45 (V45). The spread between individual evaluations support the results by vBM01 who found that the differential reddening across the cluster changes by approximately 0.2 mag. On the other hand, current mean cluster reddening is larger than the mean reddening obtained using the reddening map by vBM01 on the same cluster region ($`<E(VI)>=0.25\pm 0.07`$). Although, our evaluation based on (V-I) colors is internally consistent with the mean reddening based on the (B-V) colors, $`<E(VI)>=1.22\times <E(BV)>=0.37\pm 0.04`$, and in turn with the SFD98 map.

We performed a detailed comparison with similar relations available in the literature and we found that current relations are in very good agreement with the reddening estimates based on the relations derived by KW01. In fact, the KW01 relations supply mean cluster reddenings of ($`<E(BV)>=0.31\pm 0.03`$) and of ($`<E(VI)>=0.36\pm 0.04`$). These relations have been calibrated using cluster RR Lyrae for which are available BV and I band data and rely on Fourier amplitudes and periods. The main advantage of current relations is that they can also be applied to RR Lyrae with limited phase coverage. However, the ACZ and the PACZ relations require the knowledge of the metallicity, while the KW01 relations and the PAC relation only rely on periods and luminosity amplitudes.

To supply a detailed comparison between theory and observations we dereddened the magnitudes of the stars located inside current reddening maps. The comparison between predicted ZAHB luminosities for He burning structures located inside the instability strip and observed RR Lyrae stars provides a distance modulus of $`13.30\pm 0.08`$ if we adopt the V magnitudes dereddened using the E(B-V) map. Interestingly enough, we find that the distance modulus is $`13.35\pm 0.09`$ if the V magnitudes are dereddened using the E(V-I) map, and therefore the weighted true distance modulus is $`13.32\pm 0.06`$. This estimate is in good agreement with values available in the literature and based on different distance indicators (see CO97 for a detailed discussion). Although, the uncertainty affecting current distance determination is smaller than similar estimates. The main difference is due to the fact that we are adopting individual reddenings and not a mean cluster reddening. However, previous errors do not account for current uncertainties on predicted ZAHB luminosities ($`0.1`$ mag, see e.g., Cassisi et al. 1999, Bono, Castellani, & Marconi 2000) as well as on mean cluster metallicity. An uncertainty of 0.2 dex in the mean metallicity implies an uncertainty on the distance modulus given by predicted ZAHB luminosities of the order of 0.05 mag. It goes without saying that the K-band Period-Luminosity-Metallicity relation of RR Lyrae should overcome these problems, since it presents a mild dependence on cluster metallicity as well as on individual reddenings (Bono et al. 2001).

Current RR Lyrae sample covers a cluster region that is approximately one third of the cluster tidal radius ($`r_t=28.5`$ arcmin, Harris 1996666http://physun.mcmaster.ca/ harris.). New multiband time series data collected with a wide field imager would be extremely useful to extend current reddening maps and to increase their angular resolution. This is mandatory to improve the intrinsic accuracy of the CMD, and in turn the empirical evaluations of cluster parameters. Finally, we also mention that new CCD data are also necessary to estimate the secondary period of RR Lyrae affected by amplitude modulation, and therefore to constrain on a quantitative basis the occurrence and the intimate nature of the Blazhko effect.

It is a pleasure to thank S. Covino for sending us BV data of cluster stars and G. Clementini for BVI data of field RR Lyrae variables. We also thank S. Cassisi and M. Marconi for providing us evolutionary and pulsational predictions in advance of publication. We wish also to acknowledge an anonymous referee for his/her detailed suggestions and helpful comments that improved both the content and the readability of this paper. We are grateful to G. Kovacs for sending us his code for the Fourier analysis, F. Caputo for a critical reading of an early draft of this manuscript, C. Cacciari and L. Pulone for useful discussions on photometric calibrations, and M. Dolci for enlightening suggestions concerning IDL routines. This work was supported by MURST/COFIN 2000 under the project: ”Stellar Observables of Cosmological Relevance”

## Appendix A Comments on individual variables

V6- Our data do not cover the phases around minimum light. Therefore current amplitude estimates, that are larger than estimated by C84, are uncertain. However, the light curve published by L02 supports the hypothesis that this object presents an amplitude modulation (Blazhko effect), since our V magnitude close to the maximum light is roughly 0.2 mag brighter than measured by L02. The difference seems real, since current calibration does agree with the calibration provided by L02.

V19- The difference in the luminosity amplitudes between current and C84 estimates (about 0.3 mag) suggests that this variable is a Blazhko candidate. However, the light curve given by C84 does not show a well-defined maximum, and therefore the amplitude is slightly uncertain.

V23- The light curve of this object is presented here for the first time. Both the period (recomputed) and the amplitudes agree quite well with the estimates provided by L02.

V26- It is a good Blazhko candidate, since the difference in the B amplitude between current and C84 estimate is of the order of 0.35 mag. The position of this object in the Bailey plane is also peculiar and supports previous hypothesis.

V31- The difference between current and C84 B amplitude is quite large and roughly equal to 0.6 mag. However, the amplitude provided by C84 is affected by a large uncertainty, and therefore the change could not be real. The comparison between current mean V magnitude and the mean magnitude provided by C84 shows that the latter one is 0.12 mag brighter. This evidence suggest that it might be a blend in the C84 photometry.

V36- The period of this object was estimated and the new value is 0.482143 days, while the old one was 0.4757433 (C84). However, current and C84 amplitudes do agree within the errors. Moreover, the comparison between current mean V magnitude and the mean magnitude provided by C84 shows that the latter one is 0.2 mag brighter. This evidence suggests that it might be a blend in the C84 photometry (see her Table IV).

V37- This variable is the reddest object ($`(BV)_00.40`$ mag) in our sample and presents a very low luminosity amplitude ($`A_B=0.35`$). According to its position in the CM diagram it could be located close to the red edge, but its period is 0.577 days, while several $`RR_{ab}`$ stars present periods longer than 0.62 days. However, the reddening correction for this variable increases from E(B-V)=0.24 to E(B-V)=0.27 if we adopt the B amplitude estimated by C84 ($`A_B=0.97`$ mag). This change might account for previous peculiarities, since V37 becomes slightly bluer and roughly 0.1 mag brighter. This object is a candidate Blazhko RR Lyrae.

V41- The light curve of this object is presented here for the first time. The new period 0.6650 days is quite similar to the estimate provided by SH73 (0.66 days).

V45- This variable is the object for which the dereddened colors derived through the KW01 relations present the largest discrepancy with current estimates. The difference could be due to our Fourier amplitudes. In fact, the Fourier series do not properly fit the light curve around the minimum. Unfortunately, this variable is not included in the C84 sample, and therefore we cannot assess whether it presents any peculiarity in the luminosity amplitude.

V47- We estimated the period of this variable and we found that the new value P=0.5164 days is quite similar to the period derived by C84, i.e. P=0.5212 days. We also found an alternative period of 0.3414 days, but the shape of the light curve (see Fig. 17) is typical of a $`RR_{ab}`$ star. However, current amplitude ($`A_B=0.50`$) is too small for a $`RR_{ab}`$ with this period. This peculiarity suggests that this object might be a Blazhko RR Lyrae and supports the former classification by SH73 and C84.

V48- It is one of the two first overtone variables in common with C84 and the difference in the B amplitude is larger than 0.3 mag. However, current and C84 light curves are affected by a large scatter. This empirical evidence, once confirmed, would imply that V48 is the first cluster $`RR_c`$ that shows the Blazhko effect.

V51- The difference between current and C84 B amplitude is quite large, but its light curve presents a large scatter, probably because it is located close to the edge of the frame. The evidence that this variable is affected by Blazhko effect is not firm.

V58- The difference between current and C84 B amplitude is roughly 0.4 mag, and the phase coverage along the light curves is good. This variable is a good candidate to be Blazhko RR Lyrae. Note that this object is somehow peculiar, and indeed current mean V magnitude is 0.15 mag brighter than the mean magnitude provided by C84.

V50, V76, V80, V90, V92, V1405, V2710- The light curves of these objects are presented here for the first time. Their periods are: 0.5338, 0.52577, 0.588, 0.6024, 0.54047, 0.3346, 0.548 days.

V79- The B magnitude roughly changes from 13.7 to 13.6, while the V magnitude changes from 12.19 to 12.11 (see Fig. 18). We note that the variability of this object was also suggested by GW98. The location of this variable in the CMD suggests that it could be a semiregular variable. Unfortunately, the time interval covered by our observations does not allow us to estimate the pulsation period.