Light‐curve inversions with truncated least‐squares principal components: Tests and application to HD 291095 = V1355 Orionis

We present a new inversion code that reconstructs the stellar surface spot configuration from the light curve of a rotating star. Our code employs a method that uses the truncated least‐squares estimation of the inverse problem's objects principal components. We use spot filling factors as the unknown objects. Various test cases that represent a rapidly‐rotating K subgiant are used for the forward problem. Tests are then performed to recover the artificial input map and include data errors and input‐parameter errors. We demonstrate the robustness of the solution to false input parameters like photospheric temperature, spot temperature, gravity, inclination, unspotted brightness and different spot distributions and we also demonstrate the insensitivity of the solution to spot latitude. Tests with spots peppered over the entire stellar surface or with phase gaps do not produce fake active longitudes. The code is then applied to ten years of V and I ‐band light curve data of the spotted sub‐giant HD291095. A total of 22 light curves is presented. We find that for most of the time its spots were grouped around two active longitudes separated on average by 180°. Switches of the dominant active region between these two longitudes likely occurred about every 3.15±0.23 years while the amplitude modulation of the brightness occurred with a possible period of 3.0±0.15 years. For the first time, we found evidence that the times of the activity flips coincide with times of minimum light as well as minimum photometric amplitude, i.e. maximum spottedness. From a comparison with simultaneous Doppler images we conclude that the activity flips likely take place near the rotational pole of the star. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Spot activity on HD 89546 (FG UMa) from long‐term photometry

We present the analysis of 20 years of time‐series BV photometry of the SB1 RS CVn binary HD 89546. The system's yearly mean V brightness, the B – V color index, the photometric period, and the light curve amplitude all show clear cyclic variability with an ≈9‐year time scale. We also find some evidence for brightness variability on a time scale longer than the 20‐year time span of our observations, perhaps indicating a longer cycle analogous to the solar Gleissberg cycle. We estimate the unspotted V magnitude of HD 89546 to be 7.^m154, which is ≈0.^m2 brighter than the observed maximum brightness. Spot modelling of the system shows that spot temperature variations affect the observed B – V color as well as the V brightness. Two active longitudes are observed, centered around 180° and 360° longitude on the G9 III primary, each covering a longitude range of 120°. Furthermore, two inactive longitude zones are seen spanning only 60° between the two active longitudes. The longitudinal distribution of the spots exhibits no strong cyclic variability but does show rapid jumps of 120° that look like the flip‐flop phenomenon. We estimate the differential rotation coefficient of the star as k = 0.086 by considering the range of observed photometric period variations and assumed latitudinal spot variations over 45° (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Time series photometric spot modelling – V. Phase coherence of spots on UZ Librae

We present spot models for nine years of continuous VI_c photometry of UZ Lib from 1993–2001. The relatively stable double‐humped light curve shape suggests extreme phase coherence. From the spot‐modelling analysis, we found that the major spots or spot groups are always located on the hemisphere facing the secondary star and exactly in the opposite hemisphere anti‐facing the secondary. Several single‐humped light curves and our suggested binary scenario rule out a pure ellipsoidal variability as the cause of the double‐humped light curve shape. We try to explain this preferred spot pattern with a magnetic‐field structure that connects the two components, as suggested earlier for RS CVn stars in general. A possible 4.8 years spot cycle is found from the long‐term brightness variations but needs confirmation. We rediscuss the basic astrophysical data of UZ Lib. The Hipparcos parallax is likely wrong, a possible reason could be that UZ Lib is e.g., a triple system.     

Cyclic light and period variations of the UV Leonis system

Solutions of the new standard V‐light curves for the EA type binary UV Leo are obtained using the PHOEBE code (0.31a version). Absolute parameters of the stellar components were then determined, enabling them to be positioned on the absolute magnitude‐color (l.e. M_V vs. B – V) isochrones diagram, based on which the age of the system is estimated to be >4×10⁹ yr. Also times of minima data (“O – C curve”) have been analyzed. Apart from an almost sinusoidal variation with a period of 29.63 yr, which modulates the orbital period, and was attributed to a third body orbiting around the system, other cyclic variation in the orbital period and also brightness, with time scales of 24.25 and 22.77 yr were found, respectively. We associate this with a magnetic activity cycle newly reported here for UV Leo (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Results of the photometry of the spotted dM1‐2e star EY Draconis

We have observed EY Draconis with the 60‐cm telescope of Konkoly Observatory in Budapest for 64 nights. In the first observing season the star produced a stable light curve for more than 60 stellar rotations, however, the light curves observed in the next season and the spot modelling show clear evidence of the evolution of the spotted stellar surface. The changes of the maximum brightness level suggests the existence of a longer period of about 300 days, which seems to be confirmed by the ROTSE archival data. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Photometric, spectroscopic and polarimetric variability of the weak-emission T Tauri star HD 288313

Photometric observations over three seasons show HD 288313 to be a light variable with a 2.2636-d period. The observed V amplitudes lie in the range of 0.06–0.15 mag. The star showed appreciable changes in the brightness at maximum and minimum of the light curve from season to season. The (   b − y   ) colour did not show any significant variation during the photometric cycle. The light variation appears to be caused by the rotational modulation of stellar flux by cool starspots distributed asymmetrically across the stellar longitudes. The Hα line strength in HD 288313 varied drastically from completely filled-in emission to almost full absorption, that is typical of a normal star of similar spectral type. The Hα equivalent width is found to show a clear rotational modulation only occasionally. Most of the time, chromospheric active regions are distributed well across the stellar longitudes, thereby suppressing obvious rotational modulations. Broad-band linear polarization measurements show HD 288313 to be a short period, low-amplitude polarization variable. The polarization variation is, apparently, rotationally modulated. Dust grain scattering in a non-spherical circumstellar envelope of a star with inhomogeneities in the surface brightness distribution seems to be the mechanism operating in producing the observed polarization.     

Follow‐up spectroscopic observations of HD 107148 B: A new white dwarf companion of an exoplanet host star

We report on our follow‐up spectroscopy of HD 1071478 B, a recently detected faint co‐moving companion of the exoplanet host star HD 107148 A. The companion is separated from its primary star by about 35″ (or 1790 AU of projected separation) and its optical and near infrared photometry is consistent with a white dwarf, located at the distance of HD 107148 A. In order to confirm the white dwarf nature of the co‐moving companion, we obtained follow‐up spectroscopic observations of HD 107148 B with CAFOS at the CAHA 2.2 m telescope. According to our CAFOS spectroscopy HD 107148 B is a DA white dwarf with an effective temperature in the range between 5900 and 6400K. The properties of HD 107148 B can further be constrained with the derived effective temperature and the known visual and infrared photometry of the companion, using evolutionary models of DA white dwarfs. We obtain for HD 107148 B a mass of 0.56 ± 0.05 M_⊙, a luminosity of (2.0 ± 0.2) × 10^–4 L_⊙, log g [cm s^–2]) = 7.95 ± 0.09, and a cooling age of 2100 ± 270 Myr. With its white dwarf companion the exoplanet host star HD 107148 A forms an evolved stellar system, which hosts at least one exoplanet. So far, only few of these evolved systems are known, which represent only about 5 % of all known exoplanet host multiple stellar systems. HD 107148 B is the second confirmed white dwarf companion of an exoplanet host star with a projected separation to its primary star of more than 1000 AU. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A solar super‐flare as cause for the 14C variation in AD 774/5?

We present further considerations regarding the strong ¹⁴C variation in AD 774/5. For its cause, either a solar super‐flare or a short gamma‐ray burst were suggested. We show that all kinds of stellar or neutron star flares would be too weak for the observed energy input at Earth in AD 774/5. Even though Maehara et al. (2012) present two super‐flares with ∼10³⁵ erg of presumably solar‐type stars, we would like to caution: These two stars are poorly studied and may well be close binaries, and/or having a M‐type dwarf companion, and/or may be much younger and/or much more magnetic than the Sun – in any such case, they might not be true solar analog stars. From the frequency of large stellar flares averaged over all stellar activity phases (maybe obtained only during grand activity maxima), one can derive (a limit of) the probability for a large solar flare at a random time of normal activity: We find the probability for one flare within 3000 years to be possibly as low as 0.3 to 0.008 considering the full 1σ error range. Given the energy estimate in Miyake et al. (2012) for the AD 774/5 event, it would need to be ∼2000 stronger than the Carrington event as solar super‐flare. If the AD 774/5 event as solar flare would be beamed (to an angle of only ∼24°), 100 times lower energy would be needed. A new AD 774/5 energy estimate by Usoskin et al. (2013) with a different carbon cycle model, yielding 4 ot 6 time lower ¹⁴C production, predicts 4–6 times less energy. If both reductions are applied, the AD 774/5 event would need to be only ∼4 times stronger than the Carrington event in 1859 (if both had similar spectra). However, neither ¹⁴C nor ¹⁰Be peaks were found around AD 1859. Hence, the AD 774/5 event (as solar flare) either was not beamed that strongly, and/or it would have been much more than 4‐6 times stronger than Carrington, and/or the lower energy estimate (Usoskin et al. 2013) is not correct, and/or such solar flares cannot form (enough) ¹⁴C and ¹⁰Be. The 1956 solar energetic particle event was followed by a small decrease in directly observed cosmic rays. We conclude that large solar super‐flares remain very unlikely as the cause for the ¹⁴C increase in AD 774/5. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Cyclic variations of the period and luminosity of SV Camelopardalis

New standardized V ‐band light curves (LCs) for the eclipsing binary SV Cam have been modeled using the PHOEBE program (v. 0.31a). Absolute parameters of the stellar components were then determined, enabling them to be positioned on the mass‐radius diagram. Analysis of eclipse minima timing data (O – C diagrams) indicated two cyclic periods of 48.0 and 23.3 yr. These cyclic variations of the orbital period are interpreted in terms of motion of a third body around the system and magnetic activity cycle modulating the orbital period of SV Cam via the Applegate (1992) mechanism. The use of the Applegate model for SV Cam has been checked by examining the long term brightness variation and calculating some important parameters of this system. The results of these calculations favor the modulation of the orbital period by the Applegate mechanism. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Low‐mass visual binaries in the solar neighbourhood: The case of HD 141272

We search for stellar and substellar companions of young nearby stars to investigate stellar multiplicity and formation of stellar and substellar companions. We detect common proper‐motion companions of stars via multi‐epoch imaging. Their companionship is finally confirmed with photometry and spectroscopy. Here we report the discovery of a new co‐moving (13 σ) stellar companion ∼17.8 arcsec (350AU in projected separation) north of the nearby star HD141272 (21 pc).With EMMI/NTT optical spectroscopy we determined the spectral type of the companion to be M3±0.5V. The derived spectral type as well as the near infrared photometry of the companion are both fully consistent with a M_⊙ dwarf located at the distance of HD141272 (21 pc). Furthermore the photometry data rules out the pre‐main sequence status, since the system is consistent with the ZAMS of the Pleiades. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Spot modelling of the flare M4.5 dwarf YZ CMi

We report on a photometric study of the flareM4.5 dwarf YZ CMi as based on photoelectric observations from the seasons 1972/73, 1979/80 and 1996/97. We suggest spot activity to explain the light and colour curves. Spots are generally 500K cooler than the surrounding photosphere and there are basically two solutions available for the observations: high latitude spot changing slightly basic properties such as radius and latitude or active near‐equatorial (belt‐like) centers represented by three spots. However, the activity centers changed in longitudes (∼180°). The typical spot coverage (inclination i = 60°) is 10‐15% and 5% for the season 1996/97 or ∼25% for the stellar inclination i = 75°. As a by‐product, V curve and (V‐I) and (V‐K) indexes turn out to be most promising in modelling of M‐type stars as far as present calibrations are concerned. (© 2003 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Light and period study of the ecipsing binary system TW Andromedae

Photoelectric light curve (LC) solutions of the close binary system TW And were obtained using the PHOEBE program (version 0.31a). Absolute parameters of the stellar components were then determined, enabling us to discuss the structure and evolutionary status of TW And. The configuration of the system based on the LCs solutions indicates that the secondary component is slightly detached from its critical Roche surface. In addition, times of minima data (“O –C curve”) were analyzed. Apart from an almost parabolic variation of the general trend of the O –C data, indicative of a secular increase in the orbital period with a rate 0.032 s yr^–1, which was attributed to a mass transfer with a rate of Δm₂ = –1.10 × 10^–10 M_⊙ yr^–1. Additionally, a sinusoidal variation with a period of 52.75 ± 1.80 yr, modulating the orbital period, was found, which we attribute to a third body orbiting the system. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Surface velocity network with anti-solar differential rotation on the activeK-giant σ Geminorum

We demonstrate the power of the local correlation tracking technique on stellar data for the first time. We recover the spot migration pattern of the long-period RS CVn-type binary σ Gem from a set of six Doppler images from 3.6 consecutive rotation cycles. The resulting surface flow map suggests a weak anti-solar differential rotation with α ≈ –0.0022 ± 0.0016, and a coherent poleward spot migration with an average velocity of 220 ± 10ms-1. This result agrees with our recent findings from another study and could also be confirmed theoretically. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Long‐term photometry of the ultra‐fast rotator LO Peg

LO Peg is a young main‐sequence star of spectral type K3. With its equatorial rotation velocity of 65 km s^–1 it is amongst the ultra‐fast rotators. Its high equatorial rotation velocity and rapidly changing surface activity features make it an important object in terms of both stellar activity and the evolution of stellar rotation and angular momentum. Since its discovery as a variable star, it has mostly been subject to spectral surface mapping studies such as Doppler Imaging, while there have been very few photometric studies on it. This paper aims to present the first long‐term photometric observations and its results covering the years between 2003 and 2009. The UBVR Johnson wide band photometric data showed that the surface activity structures of LO Peg vary in timescales changing between days and months, and parallel to this, the mean, maximum and minimum brightness and amplitudes change dramatically between years and sometimes even within the same observation season. Long‐term changes in system brightness and colours, both characteristic features of active stars, were also seen in this ultra‐fast young star. The active longitudes, which has a life time of ∼1.3 years and an activity cycle period of ∼4.8 years for LO Peg were estimated (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Measurements of mean longitudinal magnetic fields in the Of?p stars HD 108 and HD 191612

Using polarimetric spectra obtained with the SOFIN spectrograph installed at the Nordic Optical Telescope, we detect a longitudinal magnetic field 〈B_z〉 = –168±35 G in the Of?p star HD 108. This result is in agreement with the longitudinal magnetic field measurement of the order of –150 G recently reported by the MiMeS team. The measurement of the longitudinal magnetic field in the Of?p star HD 191612 results in 〈B_z〉 = +450±153 G. The only previously published magnetic field measurement for this star showed a negative longitudinal magnetic field 〈B_z〉 = –220±38 G, indicating a change of polarity over ∼100 days. Further, we report the detection of distinct Zeeman features in the narrow Ca II and Na I doublet lines for both Of?p stars, hinting at the possible presence of material around these stars. The origin of these features is not yet clear and more work is needed to investigate how magnetic fields interact with stellar wind dynamics (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Seven years photometry of the W UMa‐type eclipsing binary V2612 Oph

We present the first long‐term Johnson UBVR observations and comprehensive photometric analysis of the W UMa‐type eclipsing binary V2612 Oph. Observations in the time interval between 2003 and 2009 enabled us to reveal the seasonal and long‐term variations of the light curve. Hence, we found that the mean brightness level of the light curve shows a variation with a period of 6.7 years. Maximum and minimum brightness levels of the light curve exhibit a variation from year to year which we attribute to a solar‐like activity. The O – C variation of eclipse timings of the system shows a decreasing parabolic trend and reveals a period decrease at a rate of P = 6.27×10^‐7 day yr^‐1 with an additional low‐amplitude sinusoidal variation that has a similar period as the long‐term brightness variations. Our light curve analysis shows that the system is a W‐subtype W UMa eclipsing binary. We calculated masses and radii of the primary and secondary components as M₁ = 1.28 M_⊙, M₂ = 0.37 M_⊙ and R₁ = 1.31 R_⊙, R₂ = 0.75 R_⊙, respectively. The derived absolute photometric parameters allow us to calculate a distance of 140 pc, which confirms that the system is a foreground star in the sky field of the Galactic open cluster NGC 6633. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Abundance analysis of the γ Doradus–δ Scuti hybrid metallic line (Am) star HD 8801

Low frequency oscillation, typical for γ Doradus g‐mode type stellar core sensitive pulsation, as well as higher frequency δ Scuti type pulsation typical for p ‐modes, sensitive to the envelope, make HD 8801 a remarkable hybrid pulsator with the potential to probe a stellar structure over a wide range of radius. In addition HD 8801 is a rare pulsating metallic line (Am) star. We determined the astro‐physical fundamental parameters to locate HD 8801 in the H‐R diagram. We analyzed the element abundances, paying close attention to the errors involved, and confirm the nature of HD 8801 as a metallic line (Am) star. We also determined an upper limit on the magnetic field strength. Our abundance analysis is based on classical techniques, but uses for the final step a model atmosphere calculated with the abundances determined by us. We also discuss spectropolarimetric observations obtained for HD 8801. This object is remarkable in several respects. It is a nonmagnetic metallic line (Am) star, pulsating simultaneously in p‐ and g‐modes, but also shows oscillations with periods in between these two domains, whose excitation requires explanation. Overall, the pulsational incidence in unevolved classical Am stars is believed to be quite low; HD 8801 does not conform to this picture. Finally, about 75 % of Am stars are located in short‐period binaries, but there is no evidence that HD 8801 has a companion. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

On the rotation period of Capella

We present differential Hα and Hβ photometry of the very bright RS CVn‐binary α Aurigae (Capella)obtained with theVienna automatic photoelectric telescope in the years 1996 through 2000. Low‐level photometric variations of up to 0^m_.04 are detected in Hα. A multifrequency analysis suggests two real periods of 106 ± 3 days and 8.64 ± 0.09 days, that we interpret to be the rotation periods of the cool and the hot component of the Capella binary, respectively. These periods confirm that the hotter component of Capella rotates asynchronously, while the cooler component appears to be synchronized with the binary motion. The combined Hα data possibly contains an additional period of 80.4 days that we, however, believe is either spurious and was introduced due to seasonal amplitude variations or stems from a time‐variable circumbinary mass flow. The rotational periods result in stellar radii of 14.3 ± 4.6 R_⊙ and 8.5 ± 0.5 R_⊙ for the cool and hot component, respectively, and are in good agreement with previously published radii based on radiometric and interferometric techniques. The long‐period eclipsing binary Aurigae served as our check star, and we detected complex light variations outside of eclipse of up to 0^m_.15 in H α and 0^m_.20 in Hβ. Our frequency analysis suggests the existence of at least three significant periods of 132, 89, and 73 days. One of our comparison stars (HD 33167, F5V) was discovered to be a very‐low amplitude variable with a period of 2.6360 ± 0.0055 days.     

Long‐term orbital period behaviors of the neglected Algol type binaries: CC Herculis and XZ Aquilae

Orbital period variations of two neglected Algol type binaries, CC Her and XZ Aql, are studied based on all available times of minima. In the case of CC Her, it is found that the O –C curve displays a tilted sinusoidal variation with an eccentricity of 0.54 ± 0.03 and a period of 52.4 ± 0.4 yr, which can be explained by the light‐time effect due to the presence of an unseen component. The course of the orbital period change in XZ Aql appears less reliable but its O –C curve can be represented by a periodic variation with a period of 36.7 ± 0.6 yr superimposed on an upward parabola. The parabolic variation indicates a secular period increase with a rate of dP /dt = 7.1 s per century. The corresponding conservative mass transfer from less massive component to the more massive one is about 3.26 × 10^–7 M_⊙ yr^–1. It is interesting to see that the O –C variation of CC Her displays no evidence (as upward parabola) on the mass transfer characteristic for Algols. The periodic change of the orbital period of XZ Aql, like CC Her, may be caused by the presence of the thirdbody. The lower limits of the masses of the hypothetical unseen components for CC Her and XZ Aql are found to be 2.69 M_⊙ and 0.47 M_⊙, respectively. The third body of CC Her should be detectable not only spectroscopically but also photoelectrically, if it exists. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A photometric study of BO Canum Venaticorum

Photometric BV light curves of BO CVn obtained in 1992 and new times of minima are presented. The primary minimum shows a transit, whereas the secondary minimum, shows an occultation. The system may be classified as an A‐type W UMa system. A complete study of minima allows one to detect a possibly increasing period by about 0.037 s/yr. This indicates that the conservative mass transfer rate from the less massive component to the more massive one is 1.57 10^—10M_⊙ /yr. Because of the variable period, the new ephemeris is determined for future observations. Using the Wilson‐Devinney code a simultaneous solution of the B and V light curves is also performed. The analysis shows that the system is in a contact configuration with q = 0.205 ± 0.001 and fillout factor (f) = 0.18, T₁ = 7240 K (fixed), T₂ = 7150± 10 K. The high orbital inclination i = 87°.54 ± 0.26 was con firmed by photometric observations of the secondary minimum.