Young eccentric binary KL CMa revisited in the light of spectroscopy

The absolute dimensions of the components of the eccentric eclipsing binary KL CMa have been determined. The solution of light and radial velocity curves of high ($\mathrm{\Delta }\lambda =0.14$ Å) and intermediate ($\mathrm{\Delta }\lambda =1.1$ Å) resolution spectra yielded masses M₁ = 3.55 ± 0.27 M_⊙, M₂ = 2.95 ± 0.24 M_⊙ and radii R₁ = 2.37 ± 0.09 R_⊙, R₂ = 1.70 ± 0.1 R_⊙ for primary and secondary components, respectively. The system consists of two late B-type components at a distance of 220 ± 20 pc for an estimated reddening of $E(B-V)=0.127$.The present study provides an illustration of spectroscopy’s crucial role in the analysis of binary systems in eccentric orbits. The eccentricity of the orbit ($e=0.20$) of KL CMa is found to be bigger than the value given in the literature ($e=0.14$). The apsidal motion rate of the system has been updated to a new value of $\dot{w}=0°.0199\pm 0.0002{\text{cycle}}^{-1}$, which indicates an apsidal motion period of $U=87\pm 1$ yrs, two times slower than given in the literature. Using the absolute dimensions of the components yielded a relatively weak relativistic contribution of ${\dot{w}}_{\mathit{rel}}=0°.0013{\text{cycle}}^{-1}$. The observed internal-structure component ($\log k_{2\text{,}\mathit{obs}}=-2.22\pm 0.01$) is found to be in agreement with its theoretical value ($\log k_{2\text{,}\mathit{theo}}=-2.23$).Both components of the system are found very close to the zero-age main-sequence and theoretical isochrones indicate a young age ($\tau =50$ Myr) for the system. Analysis of the spectral lines yields a faster rotation ($V_{\mathit{rot}1\text{,}2}=100$ km s⁻¹) for the components than their synchronization velocities ($V_{\mathit{rot}\text{,}\mathit{syn}1}=68$ km s⁻¹, $V_{\mathit{rot}\text{,}\mathit{syn}1}=49$ km s⁻¹).     

Absolute parameters of the newly-identified contact binary star IS Canis Major

This paper presents the results of the first high-resolution spectroscopic observations of the Southern W UMa type system IS CMa. Spectroscopic observations of the system were made at Mt. John University Observatory using a HERCULES fibre-fed échelle spectrograph in September 2007. The first radial velocities of the component stars of the system were determined by using the spectral disentangling technique. The resulting orbital elements of IS CMa are: $a_1\sin i=0.0041\pm 0.0001$ AU, $a_2\sin i=0.0135\pm 0.0001$ AU, $M_1{\sin }^{3}i=1.48\pm 0.01{\mathrm{M}}_{\odot }$, and $M_2{\sin }^{3}i=0.44\pm 0.01{\mathrm{M}}_{\odot }$. The components were found to be in synchronous rotation taking into account the disentangled ${\mathrm{H}}_{\delta }$ line profiles of both components of the system. The Hipparcos light curve was solved by means of the Wilson–Devinney method supplemented with a Monte Carlo type algorithm. The radial velocity curve solutions including the proximity effects give the mass ratio of the system as 0.297 ± 0.001. The combination of the Hipparcos light and radial velocity curve solutions give the following absolute parameters of the components: $M_1=1.68\pm 0.04{\mathrm{M}}_{\odot }\text{,}{\mathrm{M}}_2=0.50\pm 0.02{\mathrm{M}}_{\odot }\text{,}{R}_1=2.00\pm 0.02{\mathrm{R}}_{\odot }\text{,}{R}_2=1.18\pm 0.03R_{\odot }\text{,}{L}_1=7.65\pm 0.60$ ${\mathrm{L}}_{\odot }$ and $L_2=1.99\pm 0.80{\mathrm{L}}_{\odot }$. The distance to IS CMa was calculated as $87\pm 5$ pc using the distance modulus with corrections for interstellar extinction. The position of the components of IS CMa in the HR diagram are also discussed: the system seems to have an age of 1.6 Gyr.     

New orbital solutions and absolute elements of the eclipsing binary TV Cet

We present new differential, four-color photoelectric photometry for the eclipsing binary TV Cet. UBVR light curves and radial velocities published previously are solved simultaneously using the Wilson–Devinney computer program. Our solutions indicate that TV Cet includes a third light contribution with 2.3% in U, 1.9% in B, 1.3% in V and 1.6% in R. The masses of the component stars are $1.34\pm 0.05$ and $1.23\pm 0.05M\odot$, while the radii are $1.47\pm 0.02$ and $1.21\pm 0.01R\odot$ for the primary and secondary components, respectively. Using new absolute properties and our previous results from period analysis, we calculated the observational and theoretical internal structure constants to be ${\overline{k}}_{2\text{,}\mathit{obs}}=-1.66$ and ${\overline{k}}_{2\text{,}\mathit{theo}}=-2.25$, respectively. Taking into account the third light contribution from the Wilson–Devinney solution and properties of the third body orbit from period analysis, the mass of the third body is obtained as $0.56M\odot$, corresponding to the inclination value $i_3=20°$. Evolutionary status of the component stars is also studied. We present the position of the stars in an H–R diagram for solar compositions.     

Infrared luminosities of local-volume galaxies

Based on data from the Two-Micrometer All-Sky Survey (2MASS), we analyzed the infrared properties of 451 Local-Volume galaxies at distances D ≤ 10 Mpc. We determined the K-band luminosity function of the galaxies in the range of absolute magnitudes from ?25^m to ?11^m. The local luminosity density within 8 Mpc is 6.8 × 10⁸L_⊙ Mpc^?3, a factor of 1.5 ± 0.1 higher than the global mean K-band luminosity density. We determined the ratios of the virial mass to the K-band luminosity for nearby groups and clusters of galaxies. In the luminosity range from 5 × 10¹⁰ to 2 × 10¹³L_⊙, the dependence log(M/L_K) ∝ (0.27 ± 0.03) log L_K with a dispersion of ～0.1 comparable to the measurement errors of the masses and luminosities of the systems of galaxies holds for the groups and clusters of galaxies. The ensemble-averaged ratio, 〈M/L_K〉 ? (20–25) M_⊙/L_⊙, was found to be much smaller than the expected global ratio, (80–90)M_⊙/L_⊙, in the standard model with Ω_m = 0.27. This discrepancy can be eliminated if the bulk of the dark matter in the Universe is not associated with galaxies and their systems.     

Period and light-curve study of the contact eclipsing binary V523 Cas

CCD photometry of the eclipsing W Uma binary system V523 Cas in U, B, V and R_C filters was carried out during eight nights in 2012. The physical and geometrical parameters of this system are obtained. A possible pulsation period of one of the components is obtained by analyzing the residuals of the ephemeris light curve. Our observations contain 16 times of minimum light. We combined these with all available published times of minimum. By fitting a quadratic curve to the O-C values, a new ephemeris of the system is calculated. By attributing the period change to mass transfer, we find a mass transfer rate of $4\times {10}^{-12}$$\frac{M_{\odot }}{yr}$. Also, Period (80.58 yr) and the minimum mass (0.3 M_⊙) of a possible third body is estimated. In addition, the possible existence of a fourth body with a mass of order 0.15 M_⊙ is discussed. These third and fourth bodies could be low-mass main-sequence stars (red dwarfs).     

Orbital period analysis of eclipsing post-novae T Aurigae: Evidence of magnetic braking and an unseen companion

Four new CCD times of light minimum of T Aurigae are presented. The orbital period variation is analyzed by means of the standard O–C technique. The new times of light minimum indicate that a ～24 yr sine-like period variation superimposed on a secular orbital period decrease is obviously seen in the O–C diagram. However, the orbital period should increase because of mass transfer between components. In order to solve this apparent paradox, three possibilities including magnetic braking mechanism, which plays an important role in angular moment loss of binary, are proposed. The mass loss rate $\dot{M}={10}^{-10.4}{M}_{\odot }{\text{yr}}^{-1}$ is derived by assuming that the Alfvén radius of secondary is the same as that of the sun (i.e. $R_A?15R_{\odot }$). Using the observational relationship of ${\dot{M}}_{\mathit{mb}}-P_{\mathit{orb}}(h)$ (McDermott and Taam, 1989, Rappaport et al., 1983), the Alfvén radius of secondary is estimated as $R_A?1.9R_{\odot }$, which only requires a weak magnetic field in secondary. Since the brightness variations of T Aurigae caused by Applegate’s mechanism need large energy beyond the total radiant energy in the time interval of 24 yr, the third body light travel-time effect is the most likely explanation for the 24-yr variation. The third body may be a brown-dwarf star in case of the high orbital inclination.     

GRBs as standard candles: There is no “circularity problem” (and there never was)

Beginning with the 2002 discovery of the “Amati Relation” of GRB spectra, there has been much interest in the possibility that this and other correlations of GRB phenomenology might be used to make GRBs into standard candles. One recurring apparent difficulty with this program has been that some of the primary observational quantities to be fit as “data” – to wit, the isotropic-equivalent prompt energy E_iso and the collimation-corrected “total” prompt energy E_γ – depend for their construction on the very cosmological models that they are supposed to help constrain. This is the so-called “circularity problem” of standard candle GRBs. This paper is intended to point out that the circularity problem is not in fact a problem at all, except to the extent that it amounts to a self-inflicted wound. It arises essentially because of an unfortunate choice of data variables – “source-frame” variables such as E_iso, which are unnecessarily encumbered by cosmological considerations. If, instead, the empirical correlations of GRB phenomenology which are formulated in source-variables are mapped to the primitive observational variables (such as fluence) and compared to the observations in that space, then all taint of circularity disappears. I also indicate here a set of procedures for encoding high-dimensional empirical correlations (such as between E_iso, $E_{\mathit{pk}}^{(\mathit{src})}\text{,}{t}_{\mathit{jet}}^{(\mathit{src})}$, and $T_{45}^{(\mathit{src})}$) in a “Gaussian Tube” smeared model that includes both the correlation and its intrinsic scatter, and how that source-variable model may easily be mapped to the space of primitive observables, to be convolved with the measurement errors and fashioned into a likelihood. I discuss the projections of such Gaussian tubes into sub-spaces, which may be used to incorporate data from GRB events that may lack some element of the data (for example, GRBs without ascertained jet-break times). In this way, a large set of inhomogeneously observed GRBs may be assimilated into a single analysis, so long as each possesses at least two correlated data attributes.