Photometric investigation of the evolved contact binary system DN Aur

We present here the photometric light curve analyses of the eclipsing binary star DN Aur. The CCD photometry, performed at the Behlen observatory using the 0.76 m automated telescope gave 646 individual data points inV andR bandpass filters. From this data we have determined a new epoch and an orbital period of 0.6168891 days. The published spectral classification is F3.The Wilson-Devinney model was used to derive the photometric solutions. DN Aur is a W UMa type contact binary system. The mass ratio, (q=m ₂/m ₁0.210, where star 2 is eclipsed at the primary minimum) suggests that the system has A-type configuration. The computed light curve has a third light of about 22 percent and a total eclipse in the secondary minimum. A solution with a cool spot on the secondary component is also found. We recommend spectroscopic study of DN Aur even though the light curve analysis show it to be a single line spectroscopic system. Generally contact systems of spectral type F3 have periods ranging from 0.25 to 0.5 days. The longer period of DN Aur suggests that it is an evolved contact system with case A mass transfer.     

Photometry of the contact binary system V471 Cas

UBV photoelectric observations of the W UMa-type binary V471 Cas were made from September to November 1984. Its colour indices were found to be(B-V)=0 _. ^m 771±0 _. ^m 02 and(U-B)=0 _. ^m 196±0 _. ^m 02. TheU, B, andV light curves of V471 Cas show some photometric fluctuations. We found that its orbital period is not 0.335998 days which was given by GCVS (1986), but 0.405356 days.Photometric orbital elements of V471 Cas were found using the Wilson-Devinney method. V471 Cas is a contact system, in which the overcontact factor is 0.19, its mass ratio of two components is 0.5947, and orbital minclination is in 83.29 degrees.     

Photometric study of the FUor star V 1735 Cyg (Elias 1-12)

Results from optical photometric observations of the PMS star V 1735 Cyg are reported. The star is located in the IC 5146 dark cloud complex—a region of active star formation. On the basis of observed outburst and spectral properties, V 1735 Cyg was classified as a FUor object. We present data from BVRI CCD photometric observations of the star, collected from March 2003 to January 2009. Plates from the Rozhen Schmidt telescope archive were scanned for a brightness estimation of the star. A sequence of sixteen comparison stars in the field of V 1735 Cyg was calibrated in BVRI bands. The data from photographic observations made from 1986 to 1992 show a strong light variability (ΔV=1_⋅^m2). In contrast, the recent photometric data obtained from 2003 to 2009 show only small amplitude variations (ΔI=0_⋅^m3). The analysis of existing photometric data shows a very slow decrease in star brightness—1_⋅^m8 (R) for a 44 year period. The possibilities for future photometric investigations of V 1735 Cyg using the photographical plate archives is discussed briefly.     

First CCD photometry for the contact binary VZ Trianguli

First CCD photometry is presented for the eclipsing binary VZ Trianguli, observed at the Sheshan Station of Shanghai Astronomical Observatory in 2008. Using the Wilson–Devinney Code, the photometric solution of VZ Tri was first deduced from the R-band observations. The results show that VZ Tri is an A-subtype late-type contact binary, with a mass ratio of q=0.350(±0.004) and a low contact degree of f=27.9%(±1.0%). Based on all available light minimum times covering over 40 years, it is found that the orbital period shows a long-term decrease at a rate of dP/dt=−1.52(±0.03)×10⁻⁷ d yr⁻¹, suggesting that VZ Tri is undergoing mass transfer from the more massive component to the less massive component, accompanied with angular momentum loss. With period decreasing, the inner and outer critical Roche lobes will shrink, and then cause the contact degree to increase. Therefore, the weak-contact binary VZ Tri with decreasing period may evolve into a deep-contact configuration.     

V 505 Mon: One of the most massive binaries

From 59 spectra collected at Asiago from 1969 to 1976, we obtain the spectroscopic orbit of the binary V 505 Mon. The rather long periodP=53.7805 days and semiamplitudeK ₁=83±4 km s^–1 of the primary component imply a fairly large mass of the secondary (m ₂3.2±0.4m ). Apparently also lines of this latter have been recorded, thus indicating highly massive components (m ₁50,R ₁=26,m ₂27,R ₂=14, in solar units) in a detached system (separation 255R ). The already reported variation of 0.15 mag., with period about one day, together with H emission, we detected, point toward a possible massive X-ray progenitor.     

Photometric investigation of the short period eclipsing binary star V719 Her

The Behlen observatory 0.76 m telescope CCD photometer is used to obtain 347 observations of the short period (P0^d.4) eclipsing binary star V719 Her. The observations done withV andR bandpass filters were made on 6 nights in 1993. Previously published light elements and the present five timings of minimum provide a new epoch and a more accurate orbital period of 0.4009828 days. Our analyses show that the period of the system appears to decrease. We recommend future monitoring of the eclipse minima for this system. No published spectral classification for V719 Her exists. From the color,V-R=0.391, we estimate it to be about F5.The 1993 version of the Wilson Devinney model gave the photometric solutions. The adopted solution indicates that V719 Her is a W UMa type contact binary. The mass ratio,q=(m ₂/m ₁, where star 1 eclipse at the primary minimum)=0.296 suggests that V719 Her is a WUMa system with type-A (transit during primary eclipse) configuration. The secondary minimum shows a total eclipse. V719 Her with period less than 0.5 and spectral class F5, is probably a zero-age contact system. Since our photometric solution shows that the luminosity difference between the components is very large, we suspect that V719 Her is most likely a single line spectroscopic binary. We recommend spectroscopic study of this system.     

Absolute dimensions of the close binary systems V453 Monocerotis and V523 Cassiopeiae

We present multi-colour CCD observations of the low-temperature contact binaries, V453 Mon and V523 Cas. Their light curves are modelled to determine a new set of stellar and orbital parameters. Analysis of mid-eclipse times yields a new linear ephemeris for both systems. A period decrease (dP/dt=2.3×10⁻⁷ days/yr) in V453 Mon is discovered. V523 Cas, however, is detected to show a period increase (dP/dt=9.8×10⁻⁸ days/yr) because of the mass transfer of a rate of 1.1×10⁻⁷ M_⊙ yr⁻¹, from a less massive donor. Using these findings we can determine the physical parameters of the components of V523 Cas to be M ₁=0.76 (3)M _⊙, M ₂=0.39 (2)M _⊙, R ₁=0.74 (2)R _⊙, R ₂=0.55 (2)R _⊙, L ₁=0.19 (3)L _⊙, L ₂=0.14 (3)L _⊙, and the distance of system as 46(9) pc.     

Close binary system GO Cyg

In this study, we present long term photometric variations of the close binary system GO Cyg. Modelling of the system shows that the primary is filling Roche lobe and the secondary of the system is almost filling its Roche lobe. The physical parameters of the system are M₁ = 3.0 ± 0.2M_⊙, M₂ = 1.3 ± 0.1M_⊙, R₁ = 2.50 ± 0.12R_⊙, R₂ = 1.75 ± 0.09R_⊙, L₁ = 64 ± 9L_⊙, L₂ = 4.9 ± 0.7L_⊙, and a = 5.5 ± 0.3R_⊙. Our results show that GO Cyg is the most massive system near contact binary (NCB). Analysis of times of the minima shows a sinusoidal variation with a period of 92.3 ± 0.5 yr due to a third body whose mass is less than 2.3M_⊙. Finally a period variation rate of −1.4 × 10⁻⁹ d/yr has been determined using all available light curves.     

Chemical Evolution of Gas-Rich Galaxy Mergers

We investigate numerically the chemodynamical evolution of major disc–disc galaxy mergers in order to explore the origin of the mass-dependent chemical, photometric and spectroscopic properties observed in elliptical galaxies. We investigate especially the dependence of the fundamental properties on merger progenitor disc mass (M _d). Three main results are obtained in this study:– More massive (luminous) ellipticals formed by galaxy mergers between more massive spirals have higher metallicity (Z) and thus show redder colours; the typical metallicity ranges from ∼ 1.0 solar abundance (Z∼ 0.02) for ellipticals formed by mergers with M _d = 10¹⁰ M _⊙to ∼ 2.0 solar (Z∼ 0.04) for those with M _d= 10¹² M _⊙.– Both the Mg₂ line index in the central part of ellipticals (R ≤ 0.1 R _e) and the radial gradient of Mg₂ (δ Mg₂ / δ log R) are more likely to be larger for massive ellipticals. δ Mg₂ / δ log R correlates reasonably well with the central Mg₂ in ellipticals. For most of the present merger models, ellipticals show a positive radial gradient of the H_β line index. – Both M/L _B and M/L _K (where M, L _B, and L _K are the total stellar mass of galaxy mergers, the B-band and the K-band luminosities, respectively) depend on galactic mass in such a way that more massive ellipticals have larger M/L _B and smaller M/L _K. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Apsidal motion in the eclipsing binary system of BW AQR

The first photoelectric light curve of the eclipsing binary system BW Aqr (F71V+F81V;P=6^d.7;V=10 ^m .31), discovered by Miss Leavitt at the beginning of the century, was obtained. The photometric elements were detemined. The components of this system are considerably evolved stars: the age of the system is about 2×10⁹ yr. It follows from the photometric data that the secondary component should have greater mass than the primary one The zero-age spectral classes of components were F2V and F1V. The system has an elliptical orbit with the eccentricitye=0.18. The angular rate of the apsidal motion (_obs = 0.070 deg yr^–1) and the corresponding value of the apsidal parameterk ₂=0.0090 (the relativistic term included) were found. The derived valuek ₂ exceeds by more than a factor of 2 the theoretical coefficient obtained from the modern theory of internal structure of stars with moderate masses .     

The Overcontact Binary BO Arietis

New radial velocity and photometric data for BO Ari have been obtained, and Roche-based simultaneous analysis of RV and light curve data for the system has been accomplished using the 2003 version of the Wilson-Devinney code. Values for the masses and radii have been obtained: M₁ = 1.34 (2) M_ʘ, M₂ = 0.26 (1) M_ʘ, and R₁ = 1.25 (2) R_ʘ, R₂ = 0.61 (2) R_ʘ. For the luminosities the most likely values are L₁ = 1.67 (15) L_ʘ and L₂ = 0.42 (4) L_ʘ, each the mean of two values. There is poor agreement with earlier values by Gurol et al. (2015). During the light curve modelling, solutions were found with a small third light contribution, but the existence of the latter cannot be established unambiguously owing to the very close residuals of the different solutions. A third component was not found in the RV data within detection limits.     

The detached binary IR cassiopeiae

The first radial velocity curves for IR Cas have been obtained. Combined with new light curve data, simultaneous Roche-based light curve analyses have been carried out using the 2003 version of the Wilson-Devinney code. New values for the masses, radii, and luminosities have been obtained: M₁ = 1.40 (4) M _ʘ, M ₂ = 1.20 (3) M _ʘ, R₁ = 1.75 (2) R_ʘ, R₂ = 1.62 (2) R_ʘ, L₁ = 5.11 (9) L _ʘ, and L ₂ = 2.56 (16) L _ʘ. Comparison with the results from the photometric only analysis of Li et al. (2014) reveal remarkable agreement; however, they concluded a semi-detached system, whereas this paper concludes that this is a detached system. Reference to the plotted log L vs log T data of Yakut and Eggleton (2005) suggests that both stars are evolved.     

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.     

V792 Her=HD 155638: A totally eclipsing RS CVn binary

Photometry of HD 155638=V792 Her has been analyzed to determine the elements of this totally eclipsing RS CVn binary. The light variation outside eclipse was found to have a period of 27^d.07±0^d.07, which is slightly different from the 27^d.5384±0^d.0045 orbital period. Analysis of the eclipses was achieved by a modification of the Russell-Merrill technique. With the aid of radial velocity measures, absolute elements were obtained for the hot and cool stars, respectively;R _h=2.58R ,R _c=12.28R ,M _h=1.40M ,M _c=1.46M ,i=80^o.61 and velocity semi-amplitudesK _c=48.36 km s^–1±0.79 km s^–1, andK _h=50.50 km s^–1±0.33 km s^–1. The apparent magnitudes areV _h=9 ^m .73 andV _c=8 ^m .48. The distance to HD 155638 was estimated to be 310 parsecs.     

A study of the close binary star TU Monocerotis

New photometric elements,i=89°.5,r _a =0.24,r _b =0.25 andL _a =0.82(Y), 0.88(B), 0.94(U), are deduced for the eclipsing system TU Mon, using the incomplete Fourier method for the analysis of its light curve. They are based upon three-colour photoelectric observations obtained in 1966–68 with the 36-inch reflector of the Okayama Astrophysical Observatory. From discussion combined with the spectroscopic data byDeutsch (1945) and byPopper (1967), it seems fair to conclude that TU Mon is an ordinary semi-detached close binary system consisting of a detached brighter B5V star and an A5 subgiant in contact at its Roche limit.     

The close binary BS Vulpeculae

The first radial velocity curves for BS Vul have been obtained. Combined with new light curve data, simultaneous Roche-based light curve analyses have been carried out using the 2003 version of the Wilson-Devinney code. New values for the masses, radii, and luminosities have been obtained: M₁ = 2.03 (8) M _ʘ, M ₂ = 0.68 (3) M _ʘ, R₁ = 1.71 (2) R_ʘ, R₂ = 1.03 (2) R_ʘ, L₁ = 5.4 (5) L _ʘ, and L ₂ = 0.41 (4) L _ʘ. Comparison with re-modelled data from De Bernardi and Skaltriti (1979) revealed good agreement although temperature T₂ there seemed to be significantly lower. There was also reasonable agreement with the results from the photometric analysis of Zhu et al. (2012). Reference to the sample of close binary stars from Yakut and Eggleton (2005) and the ZAMS suggests that both stars are evolved.     

Absolute and geometric parameters of W UMa type contact binary TYC 1174-344-1

We present the results of our investigation on the geometrical and physical parameters of W UMa-type binary TYC1174-344-1 from analyzed CCD (BVRI) light curves and radial velocity data. The photometric data were obtained in 2009 at Ankara University Observatory (AUO) and the spectroscopic observations were made in 2008 at Astrophysical Observatory of Asiago (Italy). Light and radial velocity observations were analyzed simultaneously by using the well-known Wilson–Devinney (2007 revision) code to obtain absolute and geometrical parameters. According to our solutions, the system is found to be a low mass-ratio A-type W UMa system. Combining our photometric solution with the spectroscopic data, we derived mass and radii of the eclipsing system as M₁ = 1.381 M_⊙, M₂ = 0.258 M_⊙, R₁ = 1.449 R_⊙ and R₂ = 0.714 R_⊙. We finally discussed the evolutionary condition of the system.     

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.     

The overcontact binary SS arietis

New radial velocity and photometric data for SS Ari have been obtained and analysed using the 2003 versions of the Wilson-Devinney code. Values for fundamental quantities have been obtained: M₁ = 0.510 (15) M _ʘ, M ₂ = 1.521 (26) M _ʘ, R₁ = 0.87 (2) R_ʘ, R₂ = 1.42 (2) R_ʘ, L₁ = 0.88 (8) L _ʘ, and L ₂ = 2.13 (21) L _ʘ. In addition to the values provided by the Wilson-Devinney output, luminosities have been computed directly using photometry from APASS, the Gaia distance, and estimates of the interstellar absorption. Although the two sets of luminosities compare well, the accuracy of the latter set is limited by the uncertainty in the APASS magnitudes. Although the TYC magnitudes for the comparison star are more precise, they produce higher luminosities (but still within error limits). In any case, the good agreement between the luminosities determined by the two methods suggests that they, and all other results in this paper, might be more reliable than previous values in the literature. Inserting the parameters into a Log(L)-Log(T_eff) plot for each star using data from Yakut and Eggleton (2005) suggests that the more massive star is somewhat over-luminous and therefore evolved, whereas its companion is under-luminous. Analysis of the period behaviour with the aid of an eclipse timing difference (OC) plot reveals that the double sine relationship Kim et al. (2003) is no longer valid. A new LiTE relationship adding two companion stars has been obtained, but, in view of the fact the putative period of one of them is in the range of ∼600 years, the relationship must be regarded as very tentative indeed.     

Analysis of light variations of the eclipsing binary system XY ceti with Am spectra

The photoelectric light curves of XY Cet of Srivastava and Padalia (1975) and of Morrison and Morrison (1968), from which considerably different sets of photometric elements have previously been deduced, were re-analyzed in detail. The elements derived in the present study from Srivastava and Padalia's (1975)UBV observations arer _g=0.157±0.006 (p.e.),r _s=0.142±0.007,i=88°.4±0°.5,L _g=0.600±0.017, 0.602±0.015 and 0.584±0.018 forU, B andV, respectively. It is also found from their light curves that the system has an eccentric orbit withe cos =0.0026±0.0005. The elements deduced from theV observations of Morrison and Morrison (1968) are found to be in satisfactory agreement with those presented above.The existence of theAm characteristics of both components, which was recognized by earlier spectroscopic observations, are supported by theB-V andU-B color indices and [m ₁] value of the system. Both components are also found to have appreciably evolved, as expected for metallicline stars.