A CCD photometric study of the late type contact binary EK Comae Berenices

We present CCD photometric observations of the W UMa type contact binary EK Comae Berenices using the 2 m telescope of IUCAA Girawali Observatory, India. The star was classified as a W UMa type binary of subtype-W by Samec et al. (1996). The new V band photometric observations of the star reveal that shape of the light curve has changed significantly from the one observed by Samec et al. (1996). A detailed analysis of the light curve obtained from the high-precision CCD photometric observations of the star indicates that EK Comae Berenices is not a W-type but an A-type totally eclipsing W UMa contact binary. The photometric mass ratio is determined to be 0.349 ± 0.005. A temperature difference of ΔT = 141 ± 10 K between the components and an orbital inclination of i[°] = 89.800 ± 0.075 were obtained for the binary system. Absolute values of masses, radii and luminosities are estimated by means of the standard mass-luminosity relation for zero age main-sequence stars. The star shows O’Connell effect, asymmetries in the light curve shape around the primary and secondary maximum. The observed O’Connell effect is explained by the presence of a hot spot on the primary component.     

A γ Doradus candidate in eclipsing binary BD And?

The BVR photometric light curves of the eclipsing binary BD And were obtained in 2008 and 2009. We estimated the mass ratio of the system as 0.97 and the photometric solutions were derived. The results show that BD And is a detached binary system, whose components have a little temperature difference of about 40 K. By analyzing photometric available light minimum times, we also derived an update ephemeris and found for the first time a possible periodic oscillation with an amplitude of 0.011 days and a period of 9.6 years. The results indicate that the periodic oscillation could be caused by a third component physically attached to the eclipsing binary. After removing the light variations due to the eclipses and proximity effects, the light-curve distortions are further explained by the pulsation of the primary component with a dominant period of ∼1 day. In accordance with the position of the primary component on the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram and its pulsation period, the primary component of BD And could be an excellent γ Doradus candidate. It is rarely phenomenon that a component of the eclipsing binary system is a γ Doradus variable.     

Light curve analysis of Hipparcos data for the massive O-type eclipsing binary UW CMa

Hipparcos photometric data for the massive O-type binary UW CMa were analysed within the framework of the Roche model. Photometric solutions were obtained for five mass ratios in the q = M₂/M₁ = 0.5–1.5 range. The system is found to be in a contact configuration. Independently of q, the best-fitting model solutions correspond to the orbital inclination i ～ 71° and the temperature of the secondary component T₂ ～ 33500 K, at the fixed temperature of the primary T₁ = 33750 K. Considering that the spectrum of the secondary is very weak, photometric solutions corresponding to the contact configuration favor the mass ratio q smaller than unity (in which case the luminosity of the secondary is smaller than that of the primary). The absolute parameters of the system are estimated for different values of the mass ratio.     

Spectroscopic and photometric study of the contact binary BO CVn

We present the results of the study of the contact binary system BO CVn. We have obtained physical parameters of the components based on combined analysis of new, multi-color light curves and spectroscopic mass ratio. This is the first time the latter has been determined for this object. We derived the contact configuration for the system with a very high filling factor of about 88%. We were able to reproduce the observed light curve, namely the flat bottom of the secondary minimum, only if a third light has been added into the list of free parameters. The resulting third light contribution is significant, about 20–24%, while the absolute parameters of components are: M₁ = 1.16, M₂ = 0.39, R₁ = 1.62 and R₂ = 1.00 (in solar units).The O-C diagram shows an upward parabola which, under the conservative mass transfer assumption, would correspond to a mass transfer rate of dM/dt = 6.3 × 10^?8M_⊙/yr, matter being transferred from the less massive component to the more massive one. No cyclic, short-period variations have been found in the O-C diagram (but longer-term variations remain a possibility).     

Kottamia 74-inch telescope discovery of the new eclipsing binary 2MASS J20004638 + 0547475.: First CCD photometry and light curve analysis

A CCD photometric study is presented for the eclipsing binary system 2MASS J20004638 + 0547475. Observations of the system were obtained in the V, R and I colours with the 2Kx2K CCD attached to 1.88 m Kottamia Optical Telescope. New times of light minimum and new ephemeris were obtained. The V, R and I light curves were analyzed using the PHOEBE 0.31 program to determine geometrical and physical parameters of the system. The results show that 2MASS J20004638 + 0547475, is A-Type WUMa and is an overcontact binary with high fill-out factor = 69%. The current evolutionary status of the system indicates that the primary component lies very close to the main sequence while the secondary is evolved. The asymmetric maxima were studied and a modeling of the hot spot parameters is given.     

Photometric study of neglected eclipsing binary GSC 3576-0170

The new multi-color BVRI photometric light curves of the short-period eclipsing binary GSC 3576-0170 were obtained on two consecutive nights (October 5 and 6, 2009). With the 2003 version of Wilson–Devinney program, the precise photometric solutions are derived for the first time. The result shows that GSC 3576-0170 is a semi-detached binary system with a large temperature difference of approximately 1490 K. The light-curve distortions are further explained by a hot spot on the secondary component through mass transfer via a stream hitting the facing surface of the secondary component. By analyzing all available light minimum times, we also derived an update ephemeris and found for the first time a possible periodic oscillation with an amplitude of 0.0038 days and a period of 4.3 years. The periodic oscillation could be explained either by the light-time effect due to a presumed third component or by magnetic activity cycle of the system.     

The eclipsing binary star V380 Gem: First V and Rc light curve analysis and estimation of its absolute elements

We obtained complete V and R_c light curves of the eclipsing binary V380 Gem in 2012. With our data we were able to determine six new times of minimum light and refine the orbital period of the system to 0.3366088 days. The 2003 version of the Wilson–Devinney code was used to analyze the light curves in the V and R_c bands simultaneously. It is shown that V380 Gem may be classified as an W-type W Ursae Majoris system with a high mass ratio q = 1.45, a degree of contact f = 10.6% the same temperature for both the components (ΔT = 10 K) and an orbital inclination of i  = 81.5°. Our observations show symmetric light curves in all passbands with brightness in both maxima at the same level. The absolute dimensions of V380 Gem are estimated and its dynamical evolution is inferred.     

BV photometry of quadrupole system ET Bootis

In this study, we present the first Johnson BV photometry of the eclipsing binary star ET Bootis, which is member of a physically connected visual pair. Analysis of times of light minima enables us to calculate accurate ephemeris of the system via O–C analysis and observed an increase in period which we believe is a result of the light-time effect in the outer visual orbit. Secondly, we determined the total brightness and color of the system in light maxima and minima. Photometric solution of the system indicates that the contribution of the visual pair to the total light is about 40% in Johnson V band. Furthermore, photometric analysis shows that the primary star in the eclipsing binary has F8 spectral type while it confirms the G5 spectral type for the visual pair. Masses of the components in eclipsing binary are M₁ = 1.109 ± 0.014 M_⊙ and M₂ = 1.153 ± 0.011 M_⊙. Absolute radii of the components are R₁ = 1.444 ± 0.007 R_⊙ and R₂ = 1.153 ± 0.007 R_⊙. Physical properties of the components leads 176 ± 7 pc distance for the system and suggests an age of 6.5 billion years.     

The detached eclipsing binary TX Her revisited

This paper presents new CCD Bessell BVRI light curves and photometric analysis of the Algol-type binary star TX Her. The CCD observations were carried out at Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Observatory in 2010. New BVRI light curves from this study and radial velocity curves from Popper (1970) were solved simultaneously using modern light and radial velocity curves synthesis methods. The general results show that TX Her is a well-detached eclipsing binary, however, both component stars fill at least half of their Roche lobes. A significant third light contribution to the total light of the system could not be determined. Using O–C residuals formed by the updated minima times, an orbital period study of the system was performed. It was confirmed that the tilted sinusoidal O–C variation corresponds to an apparent period variation caused by the light travel time effect due to an unseen third body. The following absolute parameters of the components were derived: M₁ = 1.62 ± 0.04 M_⊙, M₂ = 1.45 ± 0.03 M_⊙, R₁ = 1.69 ± 0.03 R_⊙, R₂ = 1.43 ± 0.03 R_⊙, L₁ = 8.21 ± 0.90 L_⊙ and L₂ = 3.64 ± 0.60 L_⊙. The distance to TX Her was calculated as 155 ± 10 pc, taking into account interstellar extinction. The position of the components of TX Her in the HR diagram are also discussed. The components are young stars with an age of ～500 Myr.     

VRI photometry and light curve analysis of short period W UMa-Type 1SWASP J222514.69 + 361643.0

We present the first light curve analysis and modeling for the short period close binary 1SWASP J222514.69 + 361643.0. The results show that the system is in over contact with factor ƒ = 53%. The primary component is the massive and hotter one. The system is A-subtype W UMa eclipsing binary with spectral types K2 and K3, respectively.     

CCD photometric analysis of the W UMa-type binary V376 Andromeda

This study presents the absolute parameters of the contact binary system V376 And. CCD photometric observations were made at the Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Observatory in 2004. The instrumental magnitudes of all observed stars were converted into standard magnitudes. New BV light curves of the system were analysed using the Wilson–Devinney method supplemented with a Monte Carlo type algorithm. Since there are large asymmetries between maxima (i.e., O’Connell effect) in these light curves, two different models (one with a cool spot and one with a hot spot) were applied to the photometric data. The best fit, which was obtained with a large hot spot on the secondary component, gives V376 And as an A sub-type contact binary in poor thermal contact and a small value of the filling factor (f ≈ 0.07). Combining the solutions of our light curves and Rucinski et al. (2001)’s radial velocity curves, the following absolute parameters of the components were determined: M₁ = 2.44 ± 0.04 M_⊙, M₂ = 0.74 ± 0.03 M_⊙, R₁ = 2.60 ± 0.03 R_⊙, R₂ = 1.51 ± 0.02 R_⊙, L₁ = 40 ± 4 L_⊙ and L₂ = 5 ± 1 L_⊙. We also discuss the evolution of the system, which appears to have an age of 1.6 Gyr. The distance to V376 And was calculated as 230 ± 20 pc from this analysis, taking into account interstellar extinction.     

Absolute properties of the overcontact binary HH Boo

We obtained multi-colour light curves of the overcontact binary system HH Boo and analysed the orbital period variation of the system. Our analysis tentatively indicates either mass transfer from the secondary to the primary or mass loss from the system at a rate of -5.04 × 10⁻⁷ M_⊙ per year. Through a combined analysis of the published radial velocity curve and light curves, we determined an inclination (i) of 69°.71 ± 0°.16 and a semi-major axis (a) of 2.246 ± 0.064 R_⊙ for HH Boo. The masses of the primary and secondary components were found to be 0.92 ± 0.08 M_⊙ and 0.58 ± 0.06 M_⊙, respectively. The radius determined for the primary was 0.98 ± 0.03 R_⊙, while that determined for the secondary was 0.80 ± 0.02 R_⊙. We demonstrated that HH Boo is most likely a member of the A-type subclass of W UMa binaries.     

A comprehensive photometric study of the Algol-type eclipsing binary: BG Pegasi

This study presents new photometric observations of classical Algol type binary BG Peg with a δ Scuti component. The light curve modeling was provided with the physical parameters of the component stars in the BG Peg system for the first time. After modeling light curves in B and V filters, the eclipse and proximity effects were removed from the light curve to analyze intrinsic variations caused by the hotter component of the system. Frequency analysis of the residuals light represents the multi-mode pulsation of the more massive component of the BG Peg system at periods of 0.039 and 0.047 days. Two frequencies could be associated with non-radial (l = 2) modes. The total amplitude of the pulsational variability in the V light curve was found to be about 0.045 mag. The long-term orbital period variation of the system was also investigated for the first time. The O–C analysis indicates periodic variation superimposed on a downward parabola. The secular period variation means that the orbital period of the system is decreasing at a rate of ?5.5 seconds per century, probably due to the magnetic activity of the cooler component. The tilted sinusoidal O–C variation may be caused by the gravitational effect of an unseen component around the system.     

The source of the helium visible lines in η Carinae

We assume that the helium-I lines emitted by the massive binary system η Carinae are formed in the acceleration zone of the less-massive secondary star. We calculate the Doppler shift of the lines as a function of orbital phase and of several parameters of the binary system. We find that a good fit is obtained if the helium lines are formed in the region where the secondary wind speed is v_zone = 430 km s⁻¹. The acceptable binary eccentricity is in the range 0.90 ≲ e ≲ 0.95, and the inclination angle (the angle between a line perpendicular to the orbital plane and the line of sight) is in the range 40° ≲ i ≲ 55°. Lower values of e require higher values of i, and vice versa. The binary system is oriented such that the secondary star is in our direction (closer to us) during periastron passage. The orbital motion can account in part to the Doppler shift of the peak in X-ray emission.     

A photometric study of the W UMa-type binary DF Canum Venaticorum

We present new photometric observations for the eclipsing binary DF CVn, and determined five light minimum times. By using the Wilson–Devinney code, two sets of photometric solutions were deduced from our observations in 2009. The asymmetric light curves obtained on 2009 March 5 were modeled by a dark spot on the more massive component. The results indicate that DF CVn is a W-type weak-contact binary, with a mass ratio of q ～ 0.28 and an overcontact degree of f ～ 20%. From the O ? C curve of minimum times, it is found that there exists a cyclic variation, whose period and semi-amplitude are P₃ = 17.2(±0.9) year and A = 0.^d0070(±0.^d0008), respectively. This kind of cyclic oscillation may possibly result from the light-time effect due to the presence of an unseen third body. This kind of additional body may extract angular momentum from the central system. The low-amplitude changes of the light curves on a short-time scale (e.g., half a month) may be attributed to the dark spot activity, which may result in angular momentum loss via magnetic breaking. With angular momentum loss, the weak-contact binary DF CVn will evolve into a deep-contact configuration.     

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.     

CCD Photometry of the W UMa type star QX Andromeda

We present new B- and V-band photometry of the W UMa-type binary system QX And, which is a member of the open cluster NGC 752. Revised orbital period and new ephemerides were given for the binary system based on the data of times of light minima. The result of a period analysis reveals that the system is undergoing a continuous orbital period increase during the past decades. The rate of period increasing turns out to be about 2.7 × 10^?7 d yr^?1. With the Wilson–Devinney code, a photometric solution is computed. It yields a contact configuration for the system with a filling factor of 0.361. Combining the results from the photometric solution along with that from the radial-velocity observations, we have determined the absolute parameters for the two components of the system. The masses, radii and luminosity of the primary and secondary stars are calculated as 1.43 ± 0.04 M_⊙, 1.45 ± 0.09 R_⊙, 2.87 ± 0.40 L_⊙ and 0.44 ± 0.02 M_⊙, 0.87 ± 0.05 R_⊙, 0.99 ± 0.13 L_⊙, respectively. The evolutionary status and physical nature of the contact binary system were discussed compared with the theoretical models.     

Photometric study of the newly discovered short period eclipsing binary 1SWASP J133105.91 + 121538.0

A total of 311 BVRI observations were carried out on 4 May 2013 for the new short period W UMa system 1SWASP J133105.91 + 121538.0 using the 1.88 m reflector telescope of Kottamia Astronomical Observatory (KAO) at NRIAG. A photometric solution of these light curves was obtained by means of Wilson–Devinney (WD) code. A spotted model was applied to treat the asymmetry of the light curve. The results show that the more massive component is hotter than the less massive one with about ΔT ∼ 300 K. The system is at a distance of 89 ± 3.6 pc. Based on the physical parameters of the system, we investigate the evolutionary state of the components. Both components are above the zero age main sequence (ZAMS) track by about 0.2 magnitudes.     

The near-contact binary star RZ Dra revisited

This paper presents the absolute parameters of RZ Dra. New CCD observations were made at the Mt. Suhora Observatory in 2007. Two photometric data sets (1990 BV and 2007 BVRI) were analysed using modern light-curve synthesis methods. Large asymmetries in the light curves may be explained in terms of a dark starspot on the primary component, an A6 type star. Due to this magnetic activity, the primary component would appear to belong to the class of Ap-stars and would show small amplitude with δ Scuti-type pulsations. With this in mind, a time-series analysis of the residual light curves was made. However, we found no evidence of pulsation behaviour in RZ Dra. Combining the solutions of our light curves and Rucinski et al. (2000)’s radial velocity curves, the following absolute parameters of the components were determined: M₁ = 1.63 ± 0.03 M_⊙, M₂ = 0.70 ± 0.02 M_⊙, R₁ = 1.65 ± 0.02R_⊙, R₂ = 1.15 ± 0.02 R_⊙, L₁ = 9.72 ± 0.30 L_⊙ and L₂ = 0.74 ± 0.10 L_⊙. The distance to RZ Dra was calculated as 400 ± 25 pc, taking into account interstellar extinction. The orbital period of the system was studied using updated O–C information. It was found that the orbital period varied in its long-period sinusoidal form, superimposed on a downward parabola. The parabolic term shows a secular period decrease at a slow rate of 0.06 ± 0.02 s per century and is explained by the mass loss via magnetized wind of the Ap-star primary. The tilted sinusoidal form of the period variation may be considered as an apparent change and may be interpreted in terms of the light-time effect due to the presence of a third body.