Spot activity in the RS CVn binary HR 1099

UBV photometry of HR 1099 obtained during the 1979-80 and 1980-81 observing seasons is presented. An analysis of the available data shows that the brightness at the light curve maximum increases as the wave amplitude increases, while the brightness at the light minimum remains almost the same. In terms of the starspot model it implies that there is always a hemisphere of the active component that is nearly ’saturated’ with spots and that spots occupy a larger fraction of the stellar surface when the wave amplitude is smaller. The continuous migration attributed to the photometric wave by various authors is far from certain. The amplitude of the wave has a sharp rise followed by slow decay with a period around 5–6 yr. It is found that the two-spot model proposed by Dorren and Guinan (1982) is inadequate to describe all the observed photometric peculiarities of HR 1099.     

The distortion wave on the light curve of the RS CVn binary UV piscium

The eclipsing binary UV Piscium was observed with the standardUBV filters during 1976-77, 1977-78 and 1978-79 observing seasons with the 1.22-m reflecting telescope of the Japal-Rangapur Observatory. A wave-like distortion on the light curve noticed by Carr (1969), Oliver (1974), Sadik (1979) and Zeiliket al. (1982a) is confirmed by the present observations. Combining our observations with those of Carr, Oliver and Sadik, it is found that the distortion wave is moving towards decreasing orbital phase with a period of about 1200 days. The source of the observed distortion wave is found to be the hotter component.     

Spot modelling and elements of the RS CVn eclipsing binary WY Cancri

Results of analysis of photoelectric observations of the RS CVn eclipsing binary WY Cancri in the standard passbands ofUBV during 1973-74, 1976-79 and inUBVRI during 1984-86 are reported. A preliminary analysis of the eclipses suggested the primary eclipse to be transit. A study of the percentage contribution of the distortion wave amplitudes in all the colours with respect to the luminosities of both components, showed the hotter component to be the source of the distortion wave. The clean (wave removed) light curves of different epochs have not merged, suggesting residual effects of spot activity. The reason for this is attributed to the presence of either (1) polar spots or (2) small spots uniformly distributed all over the surface of the hotter component. This additional variation is found to have a periodicity of about 50 years or more. The distortion waves in yellow colour are modelled according to Budding’s (1977) method. For getting the best fit of the observations and theory, it was found necessary to assume three or four spots on the surface of the hot component. Out of these four spot groups, three are found to have direct motion with migration periods of 1.01, 1.01 and 2.51 years while the fourth one has a retrograde motion with a migration period of 3.01 years. From these periods and the latitudes of the spots derived from the model a co-rotating latitude of 4ℴ is obtained. The temperatures of these spots are found to be lower than that of the photosphere by about 700ℴK to 800ℴK. Assuming the light curve of 1985-86, which is the brightest of all the observed seasons, to be least affected by the spots, the light curves of the other seasons are all brought up to the quadrature level of this season by applying suitable corrections. The merged curves in theUBVRI colours are analysed for the elements by the Wilson-Devinney method. This analysis yielded the following absolute elements:

Orbital elements of the RS CVn eclipsing binary,SV Camelopardalis

The extensiveUBV observations of SV Camelopardalis by Patkos (1982) have been analysed to derive the orbital elements of the system. The data were corrected for the effect of third body (Sarma, Sarma & Abhyankar 1985) and for the ‘RS CVn’ distortion wave (Sarma, Vivekanandarao & Sarma 1988). The cleaned data were used to obtain a preliminary solution by a modified version of Wellmann method (Sarma & Abhyankar 1979) from which we concluded that the primary eclipse is a transit. The final orbital elements of SV Cam were obtained by the modified version (Sarma 1988; Sarmaet al. 1987) of WINK program by Wood (1972). The colour and median brightness variation are discussed. From the spectroscopic mass functionf(m) = 0.118 M_⊙ (Hiltner 1953), the absolute dimensions of the components are found to be 0.826 M_bd & 0.592 M_⊙ and 1.236 R_⊙ & 0.778 R_⊙ for the primary and secondary components, respectively. The age of the binary system is estimated to be 6.0 ± 1.0 × 10⁸ years     

A study of the distortion wave in the RS CVn eclipsing binary SV Camelopardalis

The light outside the eclipses of the totally eclipsing RS CVn binary SV Camelopardalis (SV Cam) is Fourier analysed and the amplitudes of the distortion waves have been derived. The distribution of the percentage contributions of these amplitudes inV, B andU colours with respect to the luminosities of the binary components indicates that the hotter component is the source of the distortion waves. These distortion waves, attributed to star spots, are modelled according to Budding (1977) and spot parameters like longitude, latitude, temperature and size are obtained. From this study it is noticed that while symmetric waves with two minima could be fitted satisfactorily, asymmetric waves with more than two minima could not be fitted well. From the longitudes of the minima of the best fitted curves, migration periods of four spot groups are determined. Assuming synchronism between rotation and orbital periods, the rotation periods of the four spot groups are derived from their migration periods. The period of rotation of one of the spot groups having direct motion is found to be 0^d.5934209 while the periods of the other three spot groups having retrograde motion are 0^d.5926588, 0^d.592607 and 0^d.5924688. As the latitudes of these spots are known from modelling parameters, the latitude having a rotation period equal to that of the orbital period (co-rotating latitude) is found to be about 30°     

HD 115781 and HD 116204—two RS CVn binaries

HD 115781 and HD 116204 (BL CVn and BM CVn) are shown to be RS CVn binaries with periods near 20 days. HD 115781 is double-lined; the primary type is about K1III, while the secondary is probably a late-type subgiant. The masses of the two components are equal within observational error. There is substantial photometric variability with a period half the orbital period; it is attributed to ellipsoidal variation. HD 116204 is also of type K1III. It shows exceptionally strong Ca II H and K emission, together with an emission-line spectrum typical of RS CVn stars in theIUE ultraviolet region, but Hα is an absorption line. The secondary star in the HD 116204 system has not been detected. The primary shows photometric variations, presumably due to starspots, with a period 5 per cent longer than the orbital period.     

Spectroscopic evidence for the binary nature of AM CVn

We analysed archival spectroscopic data of AM CVn taken with the William Herschel Telescope in 1996. In the literature two orbital periods for AM CVn are proposed. A clear S-wave in the He  i 4471, 4387 and 4143 Å lines is revealed when the spectra are folded on the 1029-s period. No signature of this S-wave is seen when folded on 1051 s. Doppler tomography of the line profiles shows a clear signature of the hotspot. Using this we can constrain the value of K ₂ to lie between 210 and 280 km s⁻¹. Our work confirms the binary nature of AM CVn beyond any doubt, establishes 1028.73 s as the true orbital period and supports the interpretation of AM CVn as a permanent superhump system.     

Infrared radiation oF RS CVn systems

We give the results of our J, H, K photometry on 41 RS CVn systems and the data on 40 RS CVn systems identified with IRAS point sources. For those systems in which the components have individual spectral types, we discuss their infrared color excess. We found only very few systems showed infrared excesses. (UX Ari, Z Her and HR 1099 in the near infrared and SZ Psz at 12μm).

For systems having fluxes at 12 and 25μm and K magnitudes, we plotted a color-color diagram and found the majority of points to be lying close to the black body line. These observations are in conflict with Biermann and Hall's statement [1] that infrared excess is a general characteristic of RS CVn systems.     

The population of AM CVn stars from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey

The AM Canum Venaticorum (AM CVn) stars are rare interacting white dwarf binaries, whose formation and evolution are still poorly known. The Sloan Digital Sky Survey provides, for the first time, a sample of six AM CVn stars (out of a total population of 18) that are sufficiently homogeneous that we can start to study the population in some detail.
We use the Sloan sample to 'calibrate' theoretical population synthesis models for the space density of AM CVn stars. We consider optimistic and pessimistic models for different theoretical formation channels, which yield predictions for the local space density that are more than two orders of magnitude apart. When calibrated with the observations, all models give a local space density  ρ₀= 1–3 × 10⁻⁶ pc⁻³  , which is lower than expected.
We discuss the implications for the formation of AM CVn stars, and conclude that at least one of the dominant formation channels (the double-degenerate channel) has to be suppressed relative to the optimistic models. In the framework of the current models this suggests that the mass transfer between white dwarfs usually cannot be stabilized. We furthermore discuss evolutionary effects that have so far not been considered in population synthesis models, but which could be of influence for the observed population. We finish by remarking that, with our lower space density, the expected number of Galactic AM CVn stars resolvable by gravitational-wave detectors like the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna ( LISA ) should be lowered from current estimates, to about 1000 for a mission duration of 1 yr.     

VZ CVn: a close binary system with γ Doradus-like variations

We present new photometric two-colour observations of the double-lined close binary star VZ CVn. Combining two data sets obtained in 1971–72 and in 2006, the physical parameters of both components were derived. After removing the light variations due to the eclipses and proximity effects, a periodic variation in the more massive component with a dominant period of 1.068 76 d could be detected in the first photometric data set. In accordance with its position on the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram and both its pulsation period and pulsation constant of 0.62 d, the primary component of VZ CVn should be an excellent γ Doradus candidate. The less massive secondary component seems to have smaller radius with respect to its mass. Both components appear to have lower luminosities with respect to their masses; hence, their radiative properties seem to be different. The evolutionary status of the components is also discussed.     

New 1982 — 1990 photometry of λ Andromedae and its 11-year cycle

We present photoelectric photometry of λ And never before published, obtained between February 1982 and December 1990 at 29 different observatories. Then we combine it with all other photometry available to us (previously published, contained in the I.A.U. Commission 27 Archives, and obtained with the Vanderbilt 16-inch automatic telescope but not yet published), to yield a 14.8-year data base. Analysis reveals a long-term cycle in mean brightness, with a full range of 0^m.15 and a period of 11.4 ± 0.4 years. Because most of our new photometry was concentrated in the 1983-84 observing season, we analyze that one well-defined light curve with a two-spot model. Spot A keeps a 0^m.04 amplitude throughout four rotation cycles whereas the amplitude of spot B diminishes from 0^m.09 down almost to 0^m.03. The spot rotation periods were 55^d.9 ± 0^d.6 and 520^d.8 ± 1^d.0, respectively.     

CF octantis,an RS CVn-type variable with a prominent activity cycle

Photoelectric photometry has been obtained for CF Octantis on 39 nights. The object is a member of the RS CVn class and has a highly active chromosphere. A 20.15 ±0.06 d period has been found from theB andV magnitudes, which is interpreted as the rotational modulation of the light from a non-uniformly spotted star. The amplitude of this spot wave is observed to vary slowly between ΔV about 0^m.l and 0^m.3, which may be evidence for an activity cycle of 9 ±3 years.     

BV photometry of UX Arietis

DifferentialBV photometry of UX Ari obtained on 58 nights during 1984-85, 1985-86, 1986-87, and 1987-88 observing season is presented. We find that (B-V) is phase dependent with the system being reddest at the light maximum and we interpret this as due to the variable fractional contribution by the G5 V component to the total light at shorter wavelengths. An analysis of the available data indicates that at larger amplitudes of the photometric wave the brightness at maximum increases and that at minimum decreases and both converge to δV ≃ −1.0 mag at very low amplitudes. It implies that the low wave amplitudes are essentially due to more homogeneity in the surface distribution of spots rather than due to low levels of spot activity. The variation in wave amplitude is found to be near-sinusoidal with a period around 13–14 years     

Resumption of mass accretion in RS Oph

The latest outburst of the recurrent nova RS Oph occurred in 2006 February. Photometric data presented here show evidence of the resumption of optical flickering, indicating re-establishment of accretion by day 241 of the outburst. Magnitude variations of up to 0.32 mag in V band and 0.14 mag in B band on time-scales of 600–7000 s are detected. Over the two-week observational period, we also detect a 0.5 mag decline in the mean brightness, from   V ≈ 11.4  to 11.9, and record   B ≈ 12.9 mag  . Limits on the mass accretion rate of     are calculated, which span the range of accretion rates modelled for direct wind accretion and Roche lobe overflow mechanisms. The current accretion rates make it difficult for thermonuclear runaway models to explain the observed recurrence interval, and this implies average accretion rates are typically higher than seen immediately post-outburst.     

The recovery of the old nova RS Car (1895)

Low-resolution spectra, taken at La Silla (ESO), identify the old nova RS Car (1895) as a ∼18 mag star located 7 arcsec southwest from the previous published position. This suggests a much brighter absolute magnitude of the old nova, M _v ∼5.4, than previously suspected. The spectrum reveals a continuum energy distribution typical of optically thick accretion discs and quite a high excitation state of the gas. The possible detection of the AlO λ 4843 emission band is discussed.