The period-luminosity relation for the Large Magellanic Cloud Cepheids derived from Spitzer archival data

Using Spitzer archival data from the SAGE (Surveying the Agents of a Galaxy's Evolution) program, we derive the Cepheid period-luminosity (P-L) relation at 3.6, 4.5, 5.8, and 8.0 mu m for Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) Cepheids. These P-L relations can be used, for example, in future extragalactic distance scale studies carried out with the James Webb Space Telescope. We also derive Cepheid period-color (P-C) relations in these bands and find that the slopes of the P-C relations are relatively flat. We test the nonlinearity of these P-L relations with the F-statistical test and find that the 3.6, 4.5, and 5.8 mu m P-L relations are consistent with linearity. However, the 8.0 mu m P-L relation presents possible but inconclusive evidence of nonlinearity.