Global parameters of the totally-eclipsing W UMa stars NSVS 6673994, NSVS 4316778, PP Lac and NSVS 1926064

Photometric observations of four totally-eclipsing W UMa binaries, NSVS 6673994, NSVS 4316778, PP Lac and NSVS 1926064, are presented. Their global parameters were determined from the light curve solutions and GAIA distances. The main results are as follows: (i) NSVS 6673994, NSVS 4316778 and PP Lac are of W subtype while NSVS 1926064 is of A subtype; (ii) The mass ratios of NSVS 4316778 and NSVS 1926064 are close to the lower mass-ratio limit; (iii) NSVS 4316778 has double contact configuration while NSVS 1926064 is in deep contact; (iv) The changes of the PP Lac period seem cyclic and are accompanied with episodes of essentially constant value; (v) The relations between the global parameters of the four W UMa stars differ considerably from those of Main Sequence (MS) stars. The deviations of the radii, temperatures and luminosities of the stellar components from those of MS stars with the same masses are bigger for the two targets with extremely small mass ratio.     

Absolute parameters of the three totally-eclipsing W UMa stars NSVS 2443858, NSVS 780649 and V1098 Her

We present the first photometric analysis of three totally-eclipsing W UMa binaries,NS VS2443858,NSVS 780649 and V1098 Her.The absolute astrophysical parameters of the stellar components were determined by means of Gaia distances and light curve solutions.The results show that:(ⅰ) Two of the systems,NSVS 2443858 and V1098 Her,are of A subtype while the obtained temperature of the secondary component of NSVS 780649 indicates that it is a W-subtype system;(ⅱ) The estimated mass ratios approach the lower limit of the mass ratio assumed by researchers in recent years so our targets could be classified as extreme mass ratio binary(EMRB) systems;(ⅲ) All the systems have deep contact configurations,so they also are deep low mass ratio(DLMR) systems;(ⅳ) The components of our systems are stars of F and G spectral type and undergo total eclipses;(ⅴ) The sum 0.871 M_⊙ of the component masses of NSVS 780649 is below the mass limit of 1.0-1.2 M_⊙ assumed for the known contact binary stars.     

CK Bootis: a W UMa system with a small mass ratio

We present an analysis of BV R light curves of an eclipsing binary CK Bootis, a system with a very small mass ratio. The light curves appear to exhibit a typical O'Connell effect. The light curves are analyzed by means of the latest version of the WD program. The asymmetry of the light curves is explained by a cool star spot model. The simultaneous BV R synthetic light curve analysis gives a tiny mass ratio of 0.12, an extremely large fill‐out factor of 0.65, and a very small difference between the component temperatures of 90 K. The absolute parameters of the system were also derived by combining the photometric solutions with the radial velocity data. The mass of the secondary is very low (0.15 M_⊙) and it continues losing mass. Thirty seven new times of minimum are reported. It is found that the orbital period of the system has a quasi periodic variation, superimposed on a period increase. The long‐term period increase rate is deduced to be dP/dt = 3.54x10^–7 d yr^–1, which can be interpreted as being due to mass transfer from the less massive star to the more massive component. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Photometric observations and light curve solutions of the W UMa stars NSVS 2244206, NSVS 908513, CSS J004004.7+385531 and VSX J062624.4+570907

Photometric observations in Sloan g' and i' bands of four W UMa stars,NSVS 2244206,NSVS908513,CSS J004004.7+385531 and VSX J062624.4+570907,are presented.The light curve solutions reveal that all targets have overcontact configurations with fillout factors within 0.15-0.26.Their components are G-K spectral types and are almost in thermal contact.They are also relatively close in size and luminosity:the radius ratios r_2/r_1 are within 0.75-0.90;the luminosity ratios l_2/l_1 are within 0.53-0.63.The results of the light curve solution of CSS J004004.7+385531 imply the weak limb-darkening effect of its primary component and possible presence of additional absorbing features in the system.     

NSVS 01286630:a detached binary with a close-in companion

New photometric observations of NS VS 01286630 were performed and two sets of fourcolor(B, V, R_c, I_c) light curves(LCs) were obtained. Using the 2013 version of the Wilson-Devinney(W-D) code, we analyzed these data. The photometric solutions reveal that NS VS 01286630 is an active detached eclipsing binary(EB) with a high orbital inclination(nearly 90°). Remarkably, the temperature of the primary component(the hotter star) is higher than the secondary one, but the value of mass ratio q(M2/M1)for NS VS 0128663 is more than 1, which can be explained in that the surface of the secondary component of NSVS 01286630 is covered with big cool starspots. Based on our new CCD mid-eclipse times and the data published until now, variations in the mid-eclipse times were reanalyzed in detail using a weighted least-squares method. It is discovered that the(O-C) diagram of the system shows a cyclic oscillation with a period of 3.61 yr and an amplitude of 0.001 d. The cyclic variation may be caused by the light-travel time effect(LTTE) due to the presence of a third companion, whose mass we calculated as M3 sin(i_3) =0.11 M(?). The third body may affect the orbital evolution of the central binary system by transferring angular momentum.     

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.     

Early-type W UMa contact binary system: New data on V535 Ara

This paper presents the results of spectroscopic and photometric observations of the early-type W UMa system V535 Ara. New high-resolution spectra were taken at the Mt. John University Observatory in 2007. Radial velocities and spectroscopic orbital elements of the system were determined by applying KOREL spectral disentangling. The resulting orbital elements were: a₁sini = 0.0047 ± 0.0001 AU, a₂sini = 0.0146 ± 0.0001 AU, M₁sin³i = 1.85 ± 0.01 M_⊙, and M₂sin³i = 0.59 ± 0.01 M_⊙. The components were found to be in synchronous rotation following examination of their disentangled Hγ line profiles. Four photometric data-sets (1966 BV, 1967 BV, HIPPARCOS and ASAS) were modeled using the Wilson-Devinney method. The model describes V535 Ara as an A sub-type W UMa type eclipsing binary which has a fill out factor of 0.22 in marginal contact configuration. The simultaneous solution of light and radial velocity curves gave the following absolute parameters: M₁ = 1.94 ± 0.04 M_⊙, M₂ = 0.59 ± 0.02 M_⊙, R₁ = 2.09 ± 0.03 R_⊙, R₂ = 1.23 ± 0.02R_⊙, L₁ = 18 ± 3 L_⊙ and L₂ = 6 ± 1 L_⊙. The distance to V535 Ara was calculated as 123 ± 20 pc using distance modulus with correction for interstellar extinction.     

The distribution of binary mass ratios

The distribution of binary mass ratios is studied in a context of rapid captures in a protostellar ensemble. A power-law mass function is used, and the spatial distribution of stars is modelled as a Poisson process. This gives rise to various forms of mass ratio distribution in response to the power-law index and the limits of the mass range. By comparing these forms with observed results, some constraints may be placed on preferable forms for the initial mass function (IMF) in the ensemble. However, such arguments have to be qualified against a background of numerous complicating factors both observational and theoretical, some further aspects of which are also discussed.     

Biperiodic orbital period modulation of the W UMa binary system CK Bootis

A study of the orbital period variation of the W UMa system CK Bootis is made using an extended observational time base. The biperiodicity of the orbital period modulation is emphasized. Both detected periodicities (24.14 yr and 10.62 yr) cannot be explained through the light-time effect unless the companion would be a white dwarf as suggested by other authors, too. Moreover, we also argue that, nowadays at least, it seems that there is no causal relation between the orbital period variation and the recently discovered visual companion. Consequently, we infer that at least one of the two periodicities may be related to the magnetic activity cycles in the component stars of CK Boo, while the other periodicity could be related to the presence of a fourth companion in the system.     

Close binary systems among very low‐mass stars and brown dwarfs

Using Monte Carlo simulations and published radial velocity surveys we have constrained the frequency and separation (a ) distribution of very low‐mass star (VLM) and brown dwarf (BD) binary systems.We find that simple Gaussian extensions of the observed wide binary distribution, with a peak at 4AU and 0.6 < σ _{log(a /AU)} < 1.0, correctly reproduce the observed number of close binary systems, implying a close (a < 2.6 AU) binary frequency of 17–30% and overall frequency of 32–45%. N‐body models of the dynamical decay of unstable protostellar multiple systems are excluded with high confidence because they do not produce enough close binary VLMs/BDs. The large number of close binaries and high overall binary frequency are also completely inconsistent with published smoothed particle hydrodynamical modelling and argue against a dynamical origin for VLMs/BDs. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

FZ Orionis: a short period W UMa system

PhotoelectricU , B andV observations of the eclipsing binary system FZ Orionis obtained by the author during three years 1984, 1985 and 1986 are presented and studied. The present photometry may settle the dispute regarding the class and the period of the system light variation between the GCVS 1969 ( Lyr;p = 1.597 d) and Figer (1983) and Le Brogneet al. (1984) (W UMa;p 0.4 d) in favour of the latter. A period change was detected which may be elucidated as due to the presence of a third body and mass exchange between the components. Times of ten minima were determined and new ephemeris have been deduced. The present light and colour curves were investigated and preliminary parameters for the system could be estimated.     

Long-term photometric study of a faint W UMa binary in the direction of M31

We carry out a re-analysis of the photometric data in R_cI_c bands which were taken during the Nainital Microlensing Survey from 1998 to 2002 with the aim to detect gravitational microlensing events in the direction of M31. Here, we do photometric analysis of a faint W UMa binary CSS_J004259.3 +410629 identified in the target field. The orbital period of this star is found to be 0.266402±0.000018 d.The photometric mass ratio, q,is found to be 0.28 ± 0.01. The photometric light curves are investigated using the Wilson-Devinney(WD) code and absolute parameters are determined using empirical relations which provide masses and radii of the binary as M_1 = 1.19 ± 0.09 M_☉,M_2 = 0.33 ± 0.02 M_⊙ and R_1=1.02±0.04 R_⊙,R_2 = 0.58 ±0.08 R_⊙ respectively based on R_c band data. Quite similar values are found by analyzing I_c band data. From the photometric light curve examination, the star is understood to be a low mass-ratio overcontact binary of A-subtype with a high fill-out factor of about 47%. The binary system is found to be located approximately at a distance of 2.64 ± 0.03 kpc having a separation of 2.01 ± 0.05 R_⊙ between the two components.     

Catalog of W UMa type binary systems with additional components based on eclipsing time variations

A catalog of W UMa type eclipsing binary systems with tertiary components based on eclipse timing diagrams is presented listing the physical and orbital parameters (including third body parameters) of 150 W UMa type eclipsing binaries.In this study, the (O–C) diagrams of nine sample W UMa type eclipsing binary systems, based on the most reliable timings of minima in the literature, are analyzed to obtain the third-body parameters and significant statistical results are presented from the data in the catalog.     

CU Tauri: A W UMa-type system with a small mass ratio

New BV light curves and photometric solutions of the W UMa-type contact binary CU Tau are presented in this paper. From the observations, four times of minimum light were determined and from the present times of minimum light and those collected from the references, a new ephemeris was formed. The O-C diagram of the period change suggests that the orbital period of the system seems to vary. While the B light curve seems to be symmetric, the V light curve appears to exhibit an O'Connell effect, with Maximum I being 0.015 mag. brighter than Maximum II. The light curves are analyzed by means of the latest version of the Wilson-Devinney code. The results show that CU Tau is A-subtype W UMa contact binary with a small mass ratio q = 0.180. The asymmetry of the light curve is explained by star spot models.     

Eccentric discs in binaries with intermediate mass ratios: superhumps in the VY Sculptoris stars

We investigate the role of the eccentric disc resonance in systems with mass ratios q ≳1/4, and demonstrate the effects that changes in the mass flux from the secondary star have upon the disc radius and structure. The addition of material with low specific angular momentum to the outer edge of a disc restricts that disc radially. Should the mass flux from the secondary be reduced, it is possible for the disc in a system with mass ratio as large as 1/3 to expand to the 3:1 eccentric inner Lindblad resonance and for superhumps to be excited.