Possible connection between period change and magnetic activity of the very short‐period binary VZ Piscium

New times of light minimum of the short‐period (P = 0^d.26) close binary system, VZ Psc, are presented. A period investigation of the binary star, by combining the three new eclipse times with the others collected from the literatures, shows that the variation of the period might be in an alternate way. Under the hypothesis that the variation of the orbital period is cyclic, a period of 25 years and an amplitude of 0.^d0030 for the cyclic change are determined. If this periodic variation is caused by the presence of a third body, the mass of the third body (m₃) should be no less than 0.081M_⊙. Since both components of VZ Psc are strong chromospherically active and the level of activity of the secondary component is higher than that of the primary one, the period may be more plausibly explained by cyclic magnetic activity of the less massive component. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

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)     

A Period Study of the Rs CVn-Type Binary ER Vulpeculae

Many available published times of light minima of the late-type binary system ER Vul have been compiled and analyzed using a new method proposed by Kalimeris et al. (1994). It was shown that the orbital period of the system oscillation with a period of about 30.6 years and an amplitude of 3.2×10^-6 days while it undergoes a constant period decrease of about dP /P=7.84× 10^-8 day / year. The prospective physical mechanisms that could have modulated the orbital period behaviour (periodic or non-periodic), have been studied. We found that a combination of a magnetic activity cycle mechanism and an enhanced stellar wind could explain satisfactorily the period change.     

Orbital Period Studies of RS CVn-type binaries III. BH Virginis

The changes in the orbital period of the short-period RS CVn-type binaryBH Vir are studied based on the analysis of the O-C curve formed by allphotoelectric times of light minimum. It was discovered that the orbitalperiod of BH Vir may show a periodic variation with a period of 9.12years. A weak evidence also indicating a small amplitude oscillation witha period of 52.7 years in the change of the orbital period. Two possiblemechanisms (light times effects due to two hypothetical additional bodiesand magnetic activity cycle) that could explained the period behavior arestudied. The periodic changes in the orbital period can be explained asdue either to magnetic activity cycles in the two components or to thelight-times effects of the additional bodies.     

A statistical study on Psc 4 and Psc 5 observed by geostationary satellites

Using magnetic data from the geostationary satellites of ATS 6 and SMS/GOES series, long-period geomagnetic pulsations, Psc 4 and Psc 5, associated with geomagnetic sudden commencements (SC's) were statistically analyzed. Local time and geomagnetic latitude dependence of the occurrence, and local time dependence of the period and the amplitude were examined for 218 SC's. For transverse Psc 5 pulsations which could be observed at all local times, the period was shorter and the amplitude was smaller near noon than in the morning and evening sides. Compressional Psc 5's, which were observed mainly from about 09.00 L.T. to midnight, had larger amplitude near noon. The period seemed to be longer near noon. As for Psc 4 pulsations the period tended to be shorter near noon. Psc 4's with the largest amplitude appeared near noon, but on the whole Psc 4's in the evening side had larger amplitude. The compressional Psc occurred more frequently near the geomagnetic equator (geomagnetic latitude $\text{φ}{}_{\mathrm{m}}\text{≌ 5°}\text{N}$) than at higher latitude ($\text{φ}{}_{\mathrm{m}}\text{≌ 9° ~ 12°}\text{N}$). We suggest that the transverse Psc 5 pulsations can be considered to be magnetic field-line resonant oscillations excited by impulsive waves, while the compressional Psc 5's may be oscillations localized near the geomagnetic equator.     

Light and colour curve observations and analysis of the short period eclipsing binary system UV Psc

In the present work we have presented and analysedB andV light curves and the (B-V)-colour curve of the short period (RS CVn type) binary system UV Psc, and derived absolute information from the available data.x ² minimization procedures were utilized to a large extent in fitting light and colour curves.The solutions show the binary to be at a distance of about 90 pc with two detached components which are close to the main sequence (G2 and K0). The inclination of the orbit is close to 90°Photometric irregularities present in the light curve are briefly considered in relation to current ideas on RS CVn systems, and the colour information indicates a locally hotter (rather than cooler) region is responsible for the irregularities.     

Photometry of the RS CVn type eclipsing binary UV piscium

The analysis of the UBV photoelectric study of the short period RS CVn eclipsing binary, UV Psc, has suggested that the primary is a transit with _e=27°,i=88 _. ^o 5, andk=0.75. The spectral type and luminosity of the hotter component is estimated to be G4-6V and that of the cooler component to be K0-2V. Absolute dimensions for the components of UV Psc were derived by combining the present analysis with that of the spectroscopic analysis given by Popper.The out-of-eclipse observations have showed large amount of scatter and an investigation of this showed that hotter component could be an intrinscic variable. No periodicity for this variation has been fixed due to lack of sufficient data.Paper presented at the Lembang-Bamberg IAU Colloquium No.80 on Double Stars: Physical Properties and Generic Relations, held at Bandung, Indonesia, 3–7 June, 1983.     

The new period of the intermediate polar V709 Cas

We present the results of 10 years of photometric CCD observations of the intermediate polar V709 Cas obtained by using different instruments during 2003–2013. We detected a new variability with a period of P_new = 0.^d016449979(5) which seems to be real. The spin variability is not clearly seen in all our data, so we are unable to study any evolution of the white dwarf rotation. From the best night (in 2010) we obtained a spin period of P_spin = 311.^s8(5). We analyzed the orbital variability using (O – C) analysis. We found no variations of the orbital period on a timescale of 10 years, but the linear fit to the (O – C) diagram shows that the value of the orbital period is P_orb = 0.^d2222123(6), which is close to the earlier published values. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

RV Piscium: a marginal contact binary system

The first complete charge-coupled device (CCD) light curves in B and V bands of the short-period binary system, RV Psc, are presented. It is found that the light curves of RV Psc are symmetric and belong to the EW type rather than the EA type as described in the 4th edition of the GCVS. Photometric solutions were derived by using the 2003 version of the Wilson–Devinney (W-D) method. It is shown that RV Psc is a marginal contact system (f=5.8%±6.6%) with a mass ratio of q=0.5978±0.0096. The temperature difference between both components is only 17 K. Analysis of the O-C curve suggests that the period of RV Psc shows a long-term continuous decrease at a rate of dP/dt=?5.89×10^?8 days/year. The long-time period decrease, the marginal-contact configuration, and the astrophysical parameters of the binary system, all suggest that it is a newly formed marginal contact binary from a case A mass transfer and will evolve into a normal overcontact binary.     

The cyclical variation of energy flux and photospheric magnetic field strength from coronal holes

We measured the average soft X-ray emission from coronal holes observed on images obtained during AS & E rocket flights from 1974 to 1981. The variation of this emission over the solar cycle was then compared with photospheric magnetic flux measurements within coronal holes over the same period. We found that coronal hole soft X-ray emission could be detected and that this emission appeared to increase with the rise of the sunspot cycle from activity minimum to maximum. Our quantitative results confirmed previous suggestions that the coronal brightness contrast between holes and large-scale structure decreased during this period of the cycle. Gas pressures at the hole base were estimated for assumed temperatures and found to vary from about 0.03 dyne cm^–2 in 1974 to 0.35 dyne cm^–2 in 1981. The increase in coronal hole X-ray emission was accompanied by a similar trend in the surface magnetic flux of near-equatorial holes between 1975 and 1980 (Harvey et al., 1982).     

Orbital period variation of the eclipsing binary system TT Herculis

New photoelectric UBV observations were obtained for the eclipsing binary TT Her at the Ankara University Observatory (AUO) and three new times of minima were calculated from these observations. The (O – C) diagram constructed for all available times of minima of TT Her exhibits a cyclic character superimposed on a quadratic variation. The quadratic character yields an orbital period decrease with a rate of dP /dt = –8.83 × 10^–8 day yr^–1 which can be attributed to the mass exchange/loss mechanism in the system. By assuming the presence of a gravitationally bound third body in the system, the analysis of the cyclic nature in the (O – C) diagram revealed a third body with a mass of 0.21M_⊙ orbiting around the eclipsing pair. The possibility of magnetic activity cycle effect as a cause for the observed cyclic variation in the (O – C) diagram was also discussed. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Determination of parameters of Long-Term variability of the X-ray pulsar LMC X-4

We have investigated the temporal variability of the X-ray flux measured from the high-mass X-ray binary LMCX-4 on time scales from several tens of days to tens of years, i.e., exceeding considerably the orbital period (~1.408 days). In particular, we have investigated the 30-day cycle of modulation of the X-ray emission from the source (superorbital or precessional variability) and refined the orbital period and its first derivative. We show that the precession period in the time interval 1991–2015 is near its equilibrium value P _sup = 30.370 days, while the observed historical changes in the phase of this variability can be interpreted in terms of the “red noise” model. We have obtained an analytical law from which the precession phase can be determined to within 5% in the entire time interval under consideration. Using archival data from several astrophysical observatories, we have found 43 X-ray eclipses in LMC X-4 that, together with the nine eclipses mentioned previously in the literature, have allowed the parameters of the model describing the evolution of the orbital period to be determined. As a result, the rate of change in the orbital period ? _orb/P _orb = (1.21 ± 0.07) × 10^?6 yr^?1 has been shown to be higher than has been expected previously.

     

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)     

A Possible Connection Between the Variation of Light Curve and theChange of the Orbital Period in the Contact Binary CK Bootis

The O–C curve of the contact binary CK Boo have been analyzed with Kalimeris et al. (1994) method. It is shown that the orbital period is changing in a quasi-sinusoidal form with a period of about ∼ 14 yr superposed on a secular period increase. The correlation of the variations of the light level at MinI, MaxI and II in the light curve implies that the luminosity of secondary component is variable. Comparing the change of the quasi-periodic component in the orbital period with that of the secondary's luminosity, we find that the luminosity of the secondary component and the orbital period may vary with the same cycle length ∼14 yr; the variation of the secondary's luminosity is in the same phase with that of the orbital period. This connection is different from those of the RS CVn-type close binaries (e.g. CG Cyg, V471 Tau, RT Lac). The mechanisms that may have produced this relation of the variations of the orbital period and the luminosity of the secondary are also discussed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Light variations of RT Lac during the last ten years

The RS CVn-type eclipsing binary star RT Lac has been observed inB andV colours, during 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, and 1988 observing seasons. The orbital period of the system was found to be decreasing with an amount of 62 s century^–1. The brightnesses both at minima and maxima are changing with time. It seems that the variations of the brightnesses at mid-primary and second quarter are similar, but at second first quarters are opposite to each other. We believe that these variations are mainly related with the spots (or spot groups) located on the surface of the component star which is in front during the primary minimum. We also estimate the period of the spot activity cycle to be approximately six years.     

Two-colour photoelectric investigation of SZ Pisces

The RS CVn-type eclipsing binary SZ Psc was observed in two coloursB andV, in 1981. The rate of change of the period was calculated using two different least-squares procedures. The amplitudes of the light variations at outside eclipses are 0 _. ^m 181 and 0 _. ^m 213 inB andV colours, respectively. The light curves of the system have been solved using a new approximation. The radius of the cooler component is only 82% of its Roche-radius and the system is detached one.     

Correlation between Expansion Rate of the Coronal Magnetic Field and Solar Wind Speed in a Solar Activity Cycle

Thirteen synoptic maps of expansion rate of the coronal magnetic field (CMF; RBR) calculated by the so-called ‘potential model’ are constructed for 13 Carrington rotations from the maximum phase of solar activity cycle 22 through the maximum phase of cycle 23. Similar 13 synoptic maps of solar wind speed (SWS) estimated by interplanetary scintillation observations are constructed for the same 13 Carrington rotations as the ones for the RBR. The correlation diagrams between the RBR and the SWS are plotted with the data of these 13 synoptic maps. It is found that the correlation is negative and high in this time period. It is further found that the linear correlation is improved if the data are classified into two groups by the magnitude of radial component of photospheric magnetic field, |B^pho_r|; group 1, 0.0 G ≦ |B_r^pho| < 17.8 G and group 2, 17.8 G ≦ |B_r^pho|. There exists a strong negative correlation between the RBR and the SWS for the group 1 in contrast with a weak negative correlation for the group 2. Group 1 has a double peak in the density distribution of data points in the correlation diagram; a sharp peak for high-speed solar wind and a low peak for low-speed solar wind. These two peaks are located just on the axis of maximum variance of data points in the correlation diagram. This result suggests that the solar wind consists of two major components and both the high-speed and the low-speed winds emanating from weak photospheric magnetic regions are accelerated by the same mechanism in the course of solar activity cycle. It is also pointed out that the SWS can be estimated by the RBR of group 1 with an empirical formula obtained in this paper during the entire solar activity cycle.     

1990 photometry of a small amplitude W UMa system LS Delphini

DifferentialUBV observations, carried out in 1990 observing season, of a small amplitude (0 _. ^m 15 inV andB) W UMa system LS Del = HD 199497 are presented. Wavelength-dependent light variations from cycle to cycle indicate that the system is in a very active phase, probably due to magnetic flare activity or mass transfer in the system. An analysis of the minima times indicate a probable secular increase of the photometric period which requires a mass transfer from less massive to more massive component. If this is true then the reverse-algol model by Liuet al. (1988) for this system would not be valid.     

The CCD photometric study of the newly identified RS CVn binary star DV Piscium

This paper presents new CCD BVRI light curves of the newly discovered RS CVn eclipsing binary star DV Psc. From the asymmetric light curves outside the eclipse, we find there are two depressions in the phase ranges 0.3–0.45 and 0.6–0.9, respectively. By analyzing the light curves using the Wilson–Devinney program, the four photometric solutions of the system are obtained and the starspot parameters are also derived. It turns out that the case of two spots being on the primary is most successful in reproducing the light curve distortion of DV Psc. Moreover, analysis the longitudes of spots suggests that there are two active longitude belts (one is about 90°, the other is about 270°). At the same time, on 22 November 2008, the first flare-like event was detected on DV Psc at phase 0.35 whose duration was about 13.5 min. These findings reveal that DV Psc has a high degree of magnetic activity.     

Dynamical determination of the quadrupole mass moment of a white dwarf

In this paper we dynamically determine the quadrupole mass moment Q of the magnetic white dwarf WD 0137-349 by looking for deviations from the third Kepler law induced by Q in the orbital period of the recently discovered brown dwarf moving around it in a close 2-hr orbit. It turns out that a purely Newtonian model for the orbit of WD 0137-349B, assumed circular and equatorial, is adequate, given the present-day accuracy in knowing the orbital parameters of such a binary system. Our result is Q=(−1.5±0.9)×10⁴⁷ kg m² for i=35 deg. It is able to accommodate the 3-sigma significant discrepancy of (1.0±0.3)×10⁻⁸ s⁻² between the inverse square of the phenomenologically determined orbital period and the inverse square of the calculated Keplerian one. The impact of i, for which an interval Δ i of possible values close to 35 deg is considered, is investigated as well.