First Results from ROTES: The ROtse Telescope Eclipsing-binary Survey

Detached eclipsing binaries (EBs) provide a unique opportunity to carry out stringent tests on stellar evolution models. The value of EBs is enhanced by their membership in open clusters, but the number of known systems is still very scarce. We have started a systematic search for late-type EBs in the nearest open clusters with the fully robotic ROTSE3b telescope at McDonald Observatory in West Texas. On our first campaigns on the Hyades and Collinder 359, we have identified a number of previously unknown eclipsing binary candidates. Some of these stars have been selected for spectroscopic and photometric follow-up. Here we present details of the observing and reduction strategy as well as the first results of this ongoing survey.     

Photometric Observations and Light Curve Studies of the Semi-Detached Eclipsing Binary R CMa

We present observations and light curve analysis of the eclipsing binary R CMa in the narrow band filters v and b. Observations were made during 1993 at Biruni Observatory and the light curves have been analyzed using the Wilson-Devinney light curve interpretation program. Assuming a semi-detached configuration for R CMa, the parameters i, Ω₁, L ₁, T ₂ and A ₂ were adjusted for the best fit between the synthesized light curves and observations. Both light curves were fitted well with a lower value of bolometric albedo than what would be expected for a normal cool star with a convective envelope. The masses of the primary and secondary components and the absolute dimensions of the stars have been calculated using the derived relative dimensions from Wilson-Devinney codes and the spectroscopic observations.     

Determination of tidal distortion in the eclipsing binary system V621 Cen by means of deviations from the third Kepler law

In this paper we determine the tidal distortion parameter k_m of the secondary partner (mass loser) of the semi-detached eclipsing binary system V621 Cen by comparing the phenomenologically determined orbital period P_b=3.683549(11) d to the Keplerian one P^Kep computed with the values of the relevant system’s parameters determined independently of the third Kepler law itself. Our result is k_m=-1.5±0.6. Using the periastron precession, as traditionally done with other eclipsing binaries in eccentric orbits, would have not been possible because of the circularity of the V621 Cen path.     

Cyclic period changes and the light-time effect in eclipsing binaries: A low-mass companion around the system VV Ursae Majoris

In this article, a period analysis of the late-type eclipsing binary VV UMa is presented. This work is based on the periodic variation of eclipse timings of the VV UMa binary. We determined the orbital properties and mass of a third orbiting body in the system by analyzing the light-travel time effect. The O−C diagram constructed for all available minima times of VV UMa exhibits a cyclic character superimposed on a linear variation. This variation includes three maxima and two minima within approximately 28,240 orbital periods of the system, which can be explained as the light-travel time effect (LITE) because of an unseen third body in a triple system that causes variations of the eclipse arrival times. New parameter values of the light-time travel effect because of the third body were computed with a period of 23.22 ± 0.17 years in the system. The cyclic-variation analysis produces a value of 0.0139 day as the semi-amplitude of the light-travel time effect and 0.35 as the orbital eccentricity of the third body. The mass of the third body that orbits the eclipsing binary stars is 0.787 ± 0.02 M_⊙, and the semi-major axis of its orbit is 10.75 AU.     

Photometric Studies of Bright Southern Binary Systems: ε Cra and ψ Ori

We present results from detailed analyses of new data combined with previously published light curves of ε Cra and ψ Ori. Based on the shape of the secondary minimum of ε CrA we found that the discrepancy between the photometric and spectroscopic mass ratio, although marginal, is statistically significant. We propose a third light as a possible solution and derive the absolute parameters of components. The physical parameters of components of the early-type binary system ψ Ori were also obtained from the light curve modelling. Our solution indicate that ψ Ori is a detached, grazing-eclipse system.     

Abundances from Disentangled Component Spectra of Close Binary Stars: An Observational Test of an Early Mixing in High-Mass Stars

Recent theoretical calculations of stellar evolutionary tracks for rotating high-mass stars suggests that the chemical composition of the surface layers changes even whilst the star is evolving on the Main Sequence. The abundance analysis of binary components with precisely known fundamental stellar quantities allows a powerful comparison with theory. The observed spectra of close binary stars can be separated into the individual spectra of the component stars using the method of spectral disentangling on a time-series of spectra taken over the orbital cycle. Recently, Pavlovski and Hensberge (2005, A&A, 439, 309) have shown that, even with moderately high line-broadening, metal abundances can be derived from disentangled spectra with a precision of 0.1 dex. In a continuation of this project we have undertaken a detailed abundance analysis of the components of another two high-mass binaries, V453 Cyg, and V380 Cyg. Both binaries are well-studied systems with modern solutions. The components are close to the TAMS and therefore very suitable for an observational test of early mixing in high-mass stars.     

Photometric and Hα Observations of the Cataclysmic Star UX UMa

UBVRI photometry and spectroscopic observations around the H_α line of the cataclysmic star UX UMa are presented. The analysis of the 9-year photometry shows that the out-of-eclipse brightness of the system and the depth of the eclipse changes in different time scales while the width of the eclipse remains constant. The observed features of the light curves as well as the features of the two-peaked H_α profiles were attributed to an inhomogeneity of the accretion disk. “Spiral arm” model for a fitting of the light curves of UX UMa is proposed. It reproduces well the observational data. The obtained azimuthal extent of the spiral arms is of ∼90° and their light contribution is about 17–30of the total V flux of the disk. The obtained two dense structures at the outer disk covering partially the inner hot disk and the white dwarf at orbital phases ∼0.7 and ∼0.2 is in agreement with the predictions of the theoretical computations.     

First analysis of eight Algol-type systems: V537 And,GS Boo,AM CrB,V1298 Her,EL Lyn,FW Per,RU Tri,and WW Tri

Analyzing available photometry from the Super WASP and other databases, we performed the very first light curve analysis of eight eclipsing binary systems V537 And, GS Boo, AM CrB, V1298 Her, EL Lyn, FW Per, RU Tri, and WW Tri. All of these systems were found to be detached ones of Algol-type, having the orbital periods of the order of days. 722 new times of minima for these binaries were derived and presented, trying to identify the period variations caused by the third bodies in these systems.     

A photometric and spectroscopic study of the binary V1430 Aql

We present the first infrared light curves of the binary V1430 Aql, in the bands J and K, plus V, R and I light curves and spectra covering the ranges of H_β, H_α and Ca II-IRT lines. Our VRIJK data, together with published radial velocity curves, are analyzed to determine the orbital and stellar parameters of the system. Both stellar components present spectroscopic evidence of chromospheric activity, with emission excesses in the H_β, H_α and Ca II-IRT lines. The measured ratio of the lines H_β/H_α emission excesses can be interpreted as originated in plages. Our light curves also show photometric evidence of cool spots at least on one of the stars.     

“Constant” eclipsing binary in the instability strip

The eclipsing binary OO Peg consist of two late-A type stars in circular orbit with a period of 2.985 days. I use the high-resolution spectroscopic and extensive light curves from the ASAS and Hipparcos survey to measure the physical properties of the system. Previous attempts to model the light and radial velocity curves of the system have met with limited success, primarily because of the lack of a accurate photometric data. The system shows no signs of stellar activity, it is slowly rotating, has not been detected period changes, and there is no pulsational signs in the photometric data. I show the location of the components in effective temperature vs. luminosity diagram compared to the instability region limits established from eclipsing binary components. While more than 25 system have been plotted to diagram, about six single stars and OO Peg components do not show any pulsational frequencies. They are apparently constant stars lie within the pulsation instability region. I speculate as to the possible causes of this picture.     

20颗依巴谷碳星的近红外测光

对20颗依巴谷(Hipparcos)卫星所观测的碳星作了近红外JHK测光，由近红外观测结果估算了其在K波段的热改正BCK和视热星等mbpl以及有效温度Te，结合依巴谷卫星所得视差，得到其中一些星的绝对热星等Mbol。     

Photometric analysis of 8 newly discovered short-period eclipsing binaries at Astronomical Observatory at Kolonica Saddle

We present photometric analysis of 8 short-period eclipsing binaries discovered and observed at Astronomical Observatory at Kolonica Saddle between 2007 and 2010 with different instruments. We determined their orbital periods and performed photometric analysis of their light curves. We found that 3 systems are detached binaries, 4 systems are over-contact binaries of W UMa type and one system is semi-detached with the secondary component filling its Roche lobe. Light curves of 2 systems exhibit asymmetries, explained by spot(s) on the surface of the components.     

Eclipsing Binaries in Open Clusters

The study of detached eclipsing binaries in open clusters can provide stringent tests of theoretical stellar evolutionary models, which must simultaneously fit the masses, radii, and luminosities of the eclipsing stars and the radiative properties of every other star in the cluster. We review recent progress in such studies and discuss two unusually interesting objects currently under analysis. GV Carinae is an A0 m + A8 m binary in the Southern open cluster NGC 3532; its eclipse depths have changed by 0.1 mag between 1990 and 2001, suggesting that its orbit is being perturbed by a relatively close third body. DW Carinae is a high-mass unevolved B1 V + B1 V binary in the very young open cluster Collinder 228, and displays double-peaked emission in the centre of the Hα line which is characteristic of Be stars. We conclude by pointing out that the great promise of eclipsing binaries in open clusters can only be satisfied when both the binaries and their parent clusters are well-observed, a situation which is less common than we would like.     

On the Gaia Expected Harvest on Eclipsing Binaries

The space experiment Gaia, the approved cornerstone 6 ESA mission, will observe up to a billion stars in our Galaxy and obtain their astrometric positions on a micro-arcsec level, multi-band photometry as well as spectroscopic observations. It is expected that about one million Eclipsing Binaries (EBs) (with V ≤ 16 mag) will be discovered and the observing fashion will be quite similar to Hipparcos/Tycho mission operational mode. The combined astrometric, photometric and spectroscopic data will be used to compute the physical parameters of the observed EBs. From a study of a small sample of EBs, it is shown that the agreement between the fundamental stellar parameters, derived from ground-based and Hipparcos (Gaia-like) observations, is more than satisfactory and the Gaia data will be suitable to obtain accurate binary solutions.