The shapes of light curves of Mira-type variables

Using a sample of 454 mira light curves from the ASAS survey we study the shape of the light variations in this kind of variable stars. Opposite to earlier studies, we choose a general approach to identify any deviation from a sinusoidal light change. We find that about 30% of the studied light curves show a significant deviation from the sinusoidal reference shape. Among these stars two characteristic light curve shapes of comparable frequency could be identified. Some hint for a connection between atmospheric chemistry and light curve shape was found, but beside that no or only very weak relations between light curve shape and other stellar parameters seem to exist.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in A