CCD photometry of RR Lyrae stars in M5 as a test for the pulsational scenario

In this paper we present a new CCD based investigation of RR Lyrae pulsators in the Oo. I globular cluster M5. We confirm the variability of 11 Gerashchenko (1987) objects, adding the evidence for further 15 variables in the central region of the cluster. BV light curves for 15 RR Lyrae are presented. With the addition of further 11 light curves by Storm et al. [PASP, 103, 1264 (1991)] one is dealing with a sample of 26 well-studied cluster pulsators. The data for these stars have been combined with similar data for RR Lyrae in clusters M3, M15, and M68 to allow a comparison with the theoretical scenario recently presented by Bone & Stellingwerf [ApJS, 93, 233 (1994)]. On this basis, we discuss the distribution of stars in the period amplitude diagram, disclosing a substantial reduction of Sandage's period shift. We suggest that theoretical constraints concerning periods and amplitudes could allow information on masses and luminosity of the pulsators to be derived directly from the Bailey diagram. Static temperatures have been derived for all stars in the sample, and we discuss the dependence on the temperature of the observed pulsational properties. (C) 1996 American Astronomical Society.