The close binary system EG Cephei

New light curves and available times of minima of a β Lyr system EG Cep were analysed to deduce more information on the nature of the system. The main U‐shaped (O – C) variation was interpreted in terms of the mass transfer and mass loss in the system. The same variation was also considered as a part of a sinusoidal variation and thus interpreted in terms of a light‐time effect due to an unseen component in the system. New B and V light curves were analyzed with different fitting procedures, and there is general agreement that both stars must be very close to each other and to stability limits. A model that fits all the data well has a near main sequence primary and a secondary star that is overflowing matter towards it. This secondary is also reasonably close to main sequence conditions. The configuration thus appears to be a (relatively uncommon) ‘Case A’ type evolving Algol and raises interesting questions about such interactive evolution and potentially useful tests of theory. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A photometric study of the contact binary AZ Virginis

New light curves and photometric solutions of the contact binary AZ Vir are presented in this paper. The light curves appear to exhibit a typical O'Connell effect, with Maximum I being 0.021 mag (V) and 0.023 mag (B) brighter than Maximum II, respectively. From the observations, six times of minimum light were determined and from the present times of minimum light and those collected from the references, the light elements of the system were improved. The light curves were analyzed by means of the Wilson‐Devinney program. The results suggest that AZ Vir is a W‐subtype contact binary with a mass ratio of q = 0.623(2). The asymmetry of the light curves is explained by star spot models. (© 2007 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.     

A comprehensive photometric study of the marginal-contact binary BE Cephei

New photometry for the eclipsing binary BE Cephei was performed from 2008 to 2011. The light-curve synthesis indicates that it is a marginal-contact binary with a mass ratio of q = 2.340(±0.009) and a degree of contact of f = 6.9%(±2.3%). From the O − C curve, it is discovered that the orbital period changes show a sinusoidal curve superimposed on a downward parabola. The period and semi-amplitude of the cyclic variation are P_mod = 59.26(±0.52) yr and A = 0.^d0067(±0.^d0010), which may be possibly attributed to light-time effect via the presence of an unseen third body. The long-term period decreases at a rate of dP/dt = −4.84(±0.31) × 10⁻⁸ d yr⁻¹, which may result from mass transfer from the more massive component to the less massive one, accompanied by angular momentum loss. With the period decreasing, the degree of contact will increase. Finally, the marginal-contact binary BE Cep may be evolving into a deep-contact configuration.     

A new light‐time effect study of AR Aurigae

A period study of the young binary AR Aur based on the extensive series of published photoelectric/ccd minima times indicates the cyclic (O – C) variation for the system. This continuous oscillatory variation covers almost three cycles, about 6000 orbital periods, by the present observational data. It can be attributed to the light‐time effect due to a third body with a period of 23.68 ± 0.17 years in the system. The analysis yields a light‐time semi‐amplitude of 0.0084 ± 0.0002 day and an orbital eccentricity of 0.20 ± 0.04. Adopting the total mass of AR Aur, the mass of the third body assumed in the co‐planar orbit with the binary is M₃ = 0.54 ± 0.03 M_⊙ and the semimajor axis of its orbit is a₃ = 13.0 + 0.2 AU. (© 2003 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A period study and light-curve synthesis for the Algol-type semidetached binary XX Cephei

We obtained CCD photometric observations of the Algol-type semidetached binary XX Cephei (XX Cep) during 15 nights from 2002 September 17 to 2003 February 2, and also on 2005 January 21. Except for those data taken on the last night of the concentrated observing season, the 3881 measurements were obtained over an interval of only 106 nights. From these data, four new times of minimum light were calculated. The  (O− C)  diagram formed from all available timings, and thus the orbital period of the system, can be partly represented as a beat effect between two cyclical variations with different periods (      yr,      yr) and amplitudes  ( K ₁=0.015 d, K ₂=0.103 d)  , respectively. Both physical and non-physical interpretations of these cycles were investigated. The long-term sinusoidal variation is too long for magnetic cycling in solar-type single and close binary stars. In addition, we have studied the effect of a possible secular period variation. By analysing the residuals from our Wilson–Devinney (WD) binary model, we found small light variations with a period of 5.99 d with amplitudes growing toward longer wavelengths. We think that these oscillations may be produced by instabilities at the systemic L ₁ point (also occupied by the point of the cool star) and that these instabilities are, in turn, caused by non-uniform and sporadic convection. There is also a short-period oscillation of about 45 min in the WD light residuals that is attributed to accretion on to the mass-gaining primary component from a feeble gas stream originating on the cool donor star.     

Triple systems showing apsidal motion

Binary systems showing both apsidal motion and light travel time (LTT) effects which cause orbital period changes in close binaries were studied. 15 triple systems showing apsidal motion were found by searching the literature, and a table including the important parameters of these systems was constructed. Six of the systems given in this table were selected and observed photometrically. Existence of both apsidal motion and LTT effects in all selected systems was investigated by means of the analysis of their eclipse times. The mean observed internal structure constants,  log = k _2,obs  , and contributions to the apsidal motion from the theory of General Relativity and the third/fourth bodies were calculated. The masses of the third/fourth bodies and some characteristics of their orbits were also calculated.     

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.     

Revision of the photometric parameters of BS Cassiopeiae

Seven charge-coupled device(CCD)photometric times of light minimum of the overcontact binary BS Cas which were obtained from 2007 August to November and one CCD light curve in the R band which was observed on 2007 September 24 and October 15,are presented.It is found that the light curve of BS Cas has characteristics like a typical EW-type light variation.The light curve obtained by us is symmetric and shows total eclipses,which is very useful for determining photometric parameters with high precision.Photometric solutions were derived by using the 2003 version of the Wilson-Devinney code.It shows that BS Cas is a W-subtype overcontact binary(f = 27.5% ± 0.4%)with a mass ratio of q = 2.7188 ± 0.0040.The temperature difference between the two components is 190 K.Analysis of the O-C curve suggests that the period of AE Phe shows a long-term continuous decrease at a rate of dP/dt=-2.45 × 10-7 dyr-1.The long-time period decrease can be explained by mass transfer from the primary to the secondary.     

A long-term photometric study of the pre-main-sequence star V 350 Cep

Results from photographic and CCD photometric observations of the pre-main sequence star V 350 Cep are presented. A continued gradual rise of brightness resembling the light curves of the FUOR type stars is observed. A search in the WFPDB was made to find old photographic observations of V 350 Cep.     

The unique eclipsing system KH 15D: New photometric data

We present results of photometric observations of the young eclipsing system KH 15D made during two observational seasons, 2002–2004. A comparison of our data with the earlier results of Hamilton et al. and Herbst et al. reveals the existence of a multiyear photometric trend in the brightness: over a period of 5 years the brightness of the system in the I_c band decreased by almost 1 stellar magnitude. It is also shown that the systematic variations in the eclipse parameters reported by Herbst et al. continue to the present. The shape of the light curve has not changed significantly and, as before, it is characterized by a slight brightening in the central portion of the eclipses. These results are discussed in the context of current models for KH 15D.Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 48, No. 1, pp. 5–14 (February 2005).     

First light curve and period study of LO Andromedae

New BV light curves and times of minimum light for the short period W UMa system LO And were analyzed to derive the preliminary physical parameters of the system. The light curves were obtained at Ankara University Observatory during 5 nights in 2003. A new ephemeris is determined for the times of primary minimum. The analysis of the light curves is made using the Wilson‐Devinney 2003 code. The present solution reveals that LO And has a photometric mass ratio q = 0.371 and is an A‐type contact binary. The period of the system is still increasing, which can be attributed to light‐time effect and mass transfer between the components. With the assumption of coplanar orbit of the third body the revealed mass is M₃ = 0.21M_⊙. If the period change dP/dt = 0.0212 sec/yr is caused only by the mass transfer between components (from the lighter component to the heavier) the calculated mass transfer rate is dm/dt = 1.682×10⁻⁷M_⊙/yr. The absolute radii and masses estimated for the components, based on our photometric solution and the absolute parameters of the systems which have nearly same period are R₁ = 1.30R_⊙, R₂ = 0.85R_⊙, M₁ = 1.31M_⊙, M₂ = 0.49M_⊙ respectively for the primary and secondary components. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

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.     

A 2007 photometric study and UV spectral analysis of the Wolf‐Rayet binary V444 Cyg

Photometric and spectroscopic characteristics of the WN5+O6 binary system, V444 Cyg, were studied. The Wilson‐Devinney (WD) analysis, using new BV observations carried out at the Ankara University Observatory, revealed the masses, radii, and temperatures of the components of the system as M_WR = 10.64 M_⊙, M_O = 24.68 M_⊙, R_WR = 7.19 R_⊙, R_O = 6.85 R_⊙, T_WR = 31 000 K, and T_O = 40000 K, respectively. It was found that both components had a full spherical geometry, whereas the circumstellar envelope of the WR component had an asymmetric structure. The O – C analysis of the system revealed a period lengthening of 0.139 ± 0.018 syr^–1, implying a mass loss rate of (6.76 ± 0.39) ×10^–6 M_⊙ yr^–1 for the WR component. Moreover, 106 IUE‐NEWSIPS spectra were obtained from NASA's IUE archive for line identification and determination of line profile variability with phase, wind velocities and variability in continuum fluxes. The integrated continuum flux level (between 1200–2000 Å) showed a mild and regular increase from orbital phase 0.00 up to 0.50 and then a decrease in the same way back to phase 0.00. This is evaluated as the O component making a constant and regular contribution to the system's UV light as the dominant source. The C IV line, originating in the circumstellar envelope, had the highest velocity while N IV line, originating in deeper layers of the envelope, had the lowest velocity. The average radial velocity calculated by using the C IV line (wind velocity) was found as 2326 km s^–1 (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

The semi-detached binary system IU Per and its intrinsic oscillation

We present a long-term time-resolved photometry of the short-period eclipsing binary IU Per. It confirms the intrinsic δ Scuti-like pulsation of the system reported by Kim et al.. With the obtained data, an orbital period study and an eclipsing light curve synthesis based on the Wilson-Devinney method were carried out. The photometric so- lution reveals a semi-detached configuration with the less-massive component filling its own Roche-lobe. By subtracting the eclipsing light changes from the data, we obtained the pure pulsating light curve of the mass-accreting primary component. A Fourier anal- ysis reveals four pulsation modes with confidence larger than 99%. A mode identification based on the results of the photometric solution was made. It suggests that the star may be in radial pulsation with a fundamental period of about 0.0628 d. A brief discussion concerning the evolutionary status and the pulsation nature is finally given.