V475 Sct (Nova Scuti 2003) – Binary or Triple System?

UBV RI photometry and 4600–9000 Å spectroscopy of nova V475 Sct taken in the first 3 month after discovery is presented. The object can be classified as a Fe II type slow nova with t _2,V = 48 days, t _3,V = 53 days. The absolute magnitude of the nova at maximum, its colour excess and distance were determined. The observed 13.4 day periodicity of flares can be explained by the mass transfer bursts from the red to the white dwarf, probably caused by the periastron passage of a third body. Two sets of absorptions are seen in the P Cyg-type Hα line profile. They arise in the expanding shell of the nova.     

High-resolution optical and infrared spectroscopic observations of Cir X-1

We present new optical and infrared (IR) observations of Cir X-1 taken near apastron. Both sets of spectra show asymmetric emission lines. Archival optical observations show that an asymmetric H α emission line has been in evidence for the past 20 years, although the shape of the line has changed significantly. We present an eccentric ( e ∼0.7–0.9) low-mass binary model, where the system consists of a neutron star orbiting around a (sub)giant companion star of 3–5 M_⊙. We suggest that the broad components of the emission lines arise in a high-velocity, optically thick flow near the neutron star, while the narrow components of the optical and the IR lines arise near the companion star and a heated ejecta shell surrounding the binary respectively. In this model, the velocity of the narrow component reflects the space velocity of the binary; the implied radial velocity (+430 km s⁻¹ after correcting for Galactic rotation) is the highest velocity known for an X-ray binary.     

High-speed photometry of faint cataclysmic variables – II. RS Car, V365 Car, V436 Car, AP Cru, RR Cha, BI Ori, CM Phe and V522 Sgr

Short time-scale photometric properties of eight faint cataclysmic variable (CV) stars are presented. Nova Carinae 1895 (RS Car) has a photometric modulation at 1.977 h that could be either an orbital or a superhump period. Nova Carinae 1948 (V365 Car) shows flickering, but any orbital modulation has a period in excess of 6 h. The nova-like variable and X-ray source V436 Car has an orbital modulation at   P _orb= 4.207 h  , no detectable period near 2.67 h (which had previously given it a possible intermediate polar classification), and dwarf nova oscillations (DNOs) at ∼40 s. Nova Crucis 1936 (AP Cru) has a double-humped ellipsoidal modulation at   P _orb= 5.12 h  and a stable modulation at 1837 s characteristic of an intermediate polar. Nova Chamaeleontis 1953 (RR Cha) is an eclipsing system with   P _orb= 3.362 h  , but at times shows negative superhumps at 3.271 h and positive superhumps at 3.466 h. In addition it has a stable period at 1950 s, characteristic of an intermediate polar. BI Ori is a dwarf nova that we observed at quiescence and outburst without detecting any orbital modulation. CM Phe is a nova-like variable for which we confirm the value of   P _orb= 6.454 h  found by Hoard, Wachter & Kim-Quijano . We have identified the remnant of Nova Sagittarii 1931 (V522 Sgr) with a flickering source ∼2.2 mag fainter than the previously proposed candidate (which we find to be non-variable).     

Secular and orbital variability of Cir X-1 observed in optical spectra

We have observed variations in the optical emission lines from the X-ray binary Circinus X-1. These variations may be attributed both to orbital variations and to long term secular changes in line strength. We have detected double-peaked H α emission lines on two occasions, providing the first direct evidence for an accretion disc in the system. The separation of the peaks was different on the two occasions, suggesting that the disc might have a different size. The equivalent width of the emission lines dropped by more than a factor of three between 1999 and 2000; this continues the trend seen in earlier data, so that the H α equivalent width has now declined by a factor of 20 since 1976. The emission lines do not appear to show signature of orbital motion, except for the data taken near phase 0, which show a significant velocity shift.
We have observed an absorption component to the He  i lines on one occasion. We suggest that, unlike the P Cygni profiles seen in X-ray spectra, this absorption does not arise in the accelerating zone of a radiatively driven wind. Instead, the absorption arises in material previously ejected from the system. It was only seen on this one occasion because the strength of the emission line had dropped dramatically.     

Velocity Curve Analysis of Spectroscopic Binary Stars AI Phe, GM Dra, HD 93917 and V502 Oph by Nonlinear Regression

We introduce a new method to derive the orbital parameters of spectroscopic bi-nary stars by nonlinear least squares of (o-c). Using the measured radial velocity data of the four double lined spectroscopic binary systems, AI Phe, GM Dra, HD 93917 and V502 Oph, we derived both the orbital and combined spectroscopic elements of these systems. Our numerical results are in good agreement with the those obtained using the method of Lehmann-Filhe's.     

Velocity curve analysis of the spectroscopic binary stars PV Pup,HD 141929, EE Cet and V921 Her by nonlinear regression

We use the method introduced by Karami & Mohebi (2007), and Karami & Teimoorinia (2007) which enable us to derive the orbital parameters of the spectroscopic binary stars by the nonlinear least squares of observed vs. curve fitting (o-c). Using the measured experimental data for radial velocities of the four double-lined spectroscopic binary systems PV Pup, HD 141929, EE Cet and V921 Her, we find both the orbital and the combined spectroscopic elements of these systems. Our numerical results are in good agreement with those obtained using the method of Lehmann-Filhés.     

First analysis of eight Algol-type systems: V537 And,GS Boo,AM CrB,V1298 Her,EL Lyn,FW Per,RU Tri,and WW Tri

Analyzing available photometry from the Super WASP and other databases, we performed the very first light curve analysis of eight eclipsing binary systems V537 And, GS Boo, AM CrB, V1298 Her, EL Lyn, FW Per, RU Tri, and WW Tri. All of these systems were found to be detached ones of Algol-type, having the orbital periods of the order of days. 722 new times of minima for these binaries were derived and presented, trying to identify the period variations caused by the third bodies in these systems.     

Physical parameters of the O6.5V+B1V eclipsing binary system LS 1135

The 'All Sky Automated Survey' (ASAS) photometric observations of LS 1135, an O-type single-lined binary (SB1) system with an orbital period of 2.7 d, show that the system is also eclipsing performing a numerical model of this binary based on the Wilson–Devinney method. We obtained an orbital inclination     . With this value of the inclination, we deduced masses   M ₁∼ 30 ± 1 M_⊙  and   M ₂∼ 9 ± 1 M_⊙  , and radii   R ₁∼ 12 ± 1 R_⊙  and   R ₂∼ 5 ± 1 R_⊙  for primary and secondary components, respectively. Both the components are well inside their respective Roche lobes. Fixing the T _eff of the primary to the value corresponding to its spectral type (O6.5V), the T _eff obtained for the secondary component corresponds approximately to a spectral type of B1V. The mass ratio   M ₂/ M ₁∼ 0.3  is among the lowest known values for spectroscopic binaries with O-type components.     

Period changes in the pulsating extreme helium stars V652 Her and BX Cir

A new statement of the eigenvalue problem of studying small perturbations in arbitrary integrable self-gravitating systems is presented. An example of such a system, a 2D stellar disc, is considered in detail. The theory, based on the general equation for disc eigenmodes, reveals mechanisms for the formation and growth of global galactic structures. This new point of view specifies the limits of the unified theory of bar-like and spiral modes that was based on the assumption that global galactic structures could be understood in terms of low-frequency disc modes.     

Superhumps in V348 Pup

The eclipsing nova-like cataclysmic variable star V348 Pup exhibits a persistent luminosity modulation with a period 6 per cent longer than its 2.44-h orbital period ( P _orb). This has been interpreted as a 'positive superhump' resulting from a slowly precessing non-axisymmetric accretion disc gravitationally interacting with the secondary. We find a clear modulation of mid-eclipse times on the superhump period, which agrees well with the predictions of a simple precessing eccentric disc model. Our modelling shows that the disc light centre is on the far side of the disc from the donor star when the superhump reaches maximum light. This phasing suggests a link between superhumps in V348 Pup and late superhumps in SU UMa systems. Modelling of the full light curve and maximum entropy eclipse mapping both show that the disc emission is concentrated closer to the white dwarf at superhump maximum than at superhump minimum. We detect additional signals consistent with the beat periods between the implied disc precession period and both and     

A photometric study of a weak-contact binary: V873 Per

We present a photometric study of a weak-contact binary V873 Per. New observations in BVR filter bands showed asymmetric light curves to be a negative type of the O’Connell effect, which can be described by magnetic activity of a cool spot on the more massive component. Our photometric solutions showed that V873 Per is a W-type with a mass ratio of q = 2.504(±0.0029), confirming the results of Samec et al. (2009). The derived contact degree was found to be f = 18.10%(±1.36%). Moreover, our analysis found the cyclic variation with the period of about 4 yr that could be due to existence of the third companion in the system or the mechanism of magnetic activity cycle in the binary. While available data indicated that the long-term orbital period tends to be stable rather than decreasing.     

New photometric investigation of the low-mass-ratio contact binary star V1853 Orionis

Four-color charge-coupled device(CCD) light curves in the B, V, Rc and I c bands of the totaleclipsing binary system V1853 Orionis(V1853 Ori) are presented. By comparing our light curves with those published by previous investigators, it is determined that the O'Connell effect on the light curves has disappeared. By analyzing those multi-color light curves with the Wilson-Devinney code(W-D code),it is discovered that V1853 Ori is an A-type intermediate-contact binary with a degree of contact factor of f = 33.3%(3.7%) and a mass ratio of q = 0.1896(0.0013). Combining our 10 newly determined times of light minima together with others published in the literature, the period changes of the system are investigated. We found that the general trend of the observed minus calculated(O-C) curve shows a downward parabolic variation that corresponds to a long-term decrease in the orbital period with a rate of d P/dt =-1.96(0.46)×10^-7 d yr^-1. The long-term period decrease could be explained by mass transfer from the more-massive component to the less-massive one. By combining our photometric solutions with data from Gaia DR_2, absolute parameters were derived as M_1 = 1.20 M⊙, M_2 = 0.23 M⊙, R_1 = 1.36 R⊙and R_2 = 0.66 R⊙. The long-term period decrease and intermediate-contact configuration suggest that V1853 Ori will evolve into a high fill-out overcontact binary.