2017MNRAS.468.4419G

Anomalous Cepheids are a rather rare family of pulsating variables preferably found in dwarf galaxies. Attempts to model these variable stars via single-star evolution scenarios still leave space for improvements to better grasp their origin. Focusing on the Large Magellanic Cloud with its rich population of anomalous Cepheids to compare against, we probe the role binary stars might play to understand the nature of anomalous Cepheids. The evolution of donors and accretors undergoing Case-B mass transfer along the first red giant branch as well as merger-like models was calculated. First results show that in binary scenarios, a larger range of star masses and metallicities up to Z <= 0.008, higher than deemed possible hitherto, enter and pass through the instability strip. If binary stars play a role in anomalous Cepheid populations, mass donors, mass accretors or even mergers are potential candidates to counteract constraints imposed by the single-star approach.