Photoelectric photometry of the RS CVn binary EI Eridani = HD 26337

DifferentialUBV(RI) _KC andUBVRI photometry of the RS CVn binary EI Eridani obtained during December 1987 and January 1988 at fourteen different observatories is presented. A combined visual bandpass light curve, corrected for systematic errors of different observatories, utilizes the photometric period of 1.945 days to produce useful results. Analysis shows the visual light curve to have twin maxima, separated by about 0.4 phase, and a full amplitude of approximately 0.06 mag for the period of observation, a smaller amplitude than reported in the past. The decrease in amplitude may be due to a decrease or homogenization of spot coverage. To fit the asymmetrical light curve, a starspot model would have to employ at least two spotted regions separated in longitude.     

Quiescent radio emission of RS CVn binary systems

It is shown that the quiescent radio emission observed in some RS Vc binary systems cannot be ascribed to the same thermal electrons population responsible for the X-ray emission. An alternative explanation to account for the observed correlation between X-ray and radio luminosity is suggested.Paper presented at the 11th European Regional Astronomical Meetings of the IAU on New Windows to the Universe, held 3–8 July, 1989, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.     

Photometric investigation of the RS CVn binary CF Tuc

Photometry of the southern RS CVn binary CF Tuc collected from over a sixteen year period since December 1978, is analysed. 25 data-sets, mainly in broadbandV, have been studied for trends in the effects of surface maculation.The data-sets were divided into four intervals of more continuous records. From these we find the following: (a) Maculation tends to concentrate in certain restricted regions of longitude, so that distinct waves can often be seen. These maculation waves can be modelled with one or two large circular dark regions - starspots, plausibly at higher latitudes, in comparison with the familiar solar case. (b) Such a spot often prefers a longitude close to, but frequently a little before, that of the central meridian at primary minimum. A latitude of ~ ±(40-50) deg is feasible at this stage. (c) From this position the spot will tend to drift to lower phases over the timescale of a year or so, and at a rate of typically 30–50 deg/year. (d) There are indications that such a spot will drift downward in latitude during this process. (e) After a given large spot has drifted back to the phase of near second quadrature, a new formation will typically start to appear around the primary conjunction phase. (f) At, or a little after, this stage, the maculation effects can become quite complex, without a small number of predominating features. (g) A near-conjunction feature will subsequently tend to predominate as at (b).We tentatively posit an activity cycle (b) (f) (b) taking typically around five to six years.More continuous and detailed photometric monitoring could help substantiate or improve on this picture, thus augmenting our knowledge of stellar magnetodynamic activity.     

Starspot modelling of the RS CVn binary HK lacertae

Investigating more than 270 nightly mean magnitudes of the long-period RS CVn binary HK Lac, we can draw some conclusions about the nature of its complicated light variations. The mean brightness, the apparent photometric period, and the shape of the light curve all show strong variations. Analysis with a starspot model, assuming two large spots and a general uniform spottedness, indicates two comparably large spots which appear to have maintained their separate identities for the last 15 yr and drifted in longitude separation from each other smoothly by only about 45°. The phase of the two spots indicates both are rotating very nearly synchronously with the orbital motion, one slightly (0.025%) faster and the other slightly (0.080%) slower. the latitudes of the two spots, one farther above the equator and one closer to the equator, are consistent with solar-type differential rotation and yield an estimate of 25±12° for the co-rotating latitude. A correlation between mean spot latitude and instantaneous photometric period yields another estimate of 31±2°, in agreement with the first.     

Spot activity in the RS CVn binary UX arietis

Photoelectric observations of the RS CVn type non-eclipsing binary UX Arietis obtained at Nizamiah Observatory during the observing seasons of 1975–76, 1981–82 and 1982–83 are presented. The light curve of UX Ari showed a distortion wave with an amplitude inV varying from 0.02 mag during 1975–76 to 0.15 mag during 1982–83. An analysis of the available data shows that the light maximum is almost constant. It is also evident that the light-curve minimum decreases as the wave amplitude increases. The constant light at maximum,V = 6.51 ± 0.03 indicates the unspotted photospheric brightness. It is also suggested that the variation in meanV brightness is mainly due to spot activity and not due to intrinsic variation.     

Spot activity in the RS CVn binary HR 1099

UBV photometry of HR 1099 obtained during the 1979-80 and 1980-81 observing seasons is presented. An analysis of the available data shows that the brightness at the light curve maximum increases as the wave amplitude increases, while the brightness at the light minimum remains almost the same. In terms of the starspot model it implies that there is always a hemisphere of the active component that is nearly ’saturated’ with spots and that spots occupy a larger fraction of the stellar surface when the wave amplitude is smaller. The continuous migration attributed to the photometric wave by various authors is far from certain. The amplitude of the wave has a sharp rise followed by slow decay with a period around 5–6 yr. It is found that the two-spot model proposed by Dorren and Guinan (1982) is inadequate to describe all the observed photometric peculiarities of HR 1099.     

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.     

Orbital elements of the RS CVn eclipsing binary,SV Camelopardalis

The extensiveUBV observations of SV Camelopardalis by Patkos (1982) have been analysed to derive the orbital elements of the system. The data were corrected for the effect of third body (Sarma, Sarma & Abhyankar 1985) and for the ‘RS CVn’ distortion wave (Sarma, Vivekanandarao & Sarma 1988). The cleaned data were used to obtain a preliminary solution by a modified version of Wellmann method (Sarma & Abhyankar 1979) from which we concluded that the primary eclipse is a transit. The final orbital elements of SV Cam were obtained by the modified version (Sarma 1988; Sarmaet al. 1987) of WINK program by Wood (1972). The colour and median brightness variation are discussed. From the spectroscopic mass functionf(m) = 0.118 M_⊙ (Hiltner 1953), the absolute dimensions of the components are found to be 0.826 M_bd & 0.592 M_⊙ and 1.236 R_⊙ & 0.778 R_⊙ for the primary and secondary components, respectively. The age of the binary system is estimated to be 6.0 ± 1.0 × 10⁸ years     

MM Herculis: An eclipsing binary of the RS CVn type

Differential photoelectric photometry inV, B, andU has been obtained for the eclipsing binary MM Her, a member of the RS Canum Venaticorum class. The light outside eclipse was Fourier-analyzed to study the wave. The migration and amplitude of the wave and the mean light level of the system now have been monitored from 1976 through 1980. The phase of wave minimum has decreased from 0 _. ^P 80 to 0 _. ^P 25, the wave amplitude has varied between 0 _. ^m 06 and 0 _. ^m 12, and the mean light level has fluctuated between 0.94 and 0.99. Observations within eclipse revealed that the eclipses are partial, not total as previously thought, and a new time of mid-eclipse was found to be JD (hel.)=2444 500.6665±0 _. ^d 0008. The Russell model was used to solve the 1980 light curve. Elements of the rectified light curve werei=86 _. ^° 35±0 _. ^° 09,r _h =0.070±0.002,r _c =0.125±0.001,L _h (V)=0.585±0.008 andL _h (B)=0.683±0.010. The geometric elements were forced on the pre-1980 light curves and found to be compatible. With these elements and previously obtained double-lined radial velocity curves, new absolute dimensions have been calculated: 1.18M and 1.58R for the hotter star and 1.27M and 2.83R for the cooler star. By plotting color indices on the color-color curve, spectral types of G2V and K21V were found, each uncertain by a couple of subclasses.Guest Observer Kitt Peak National Observatory, operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, under contract with the National Science Foundation.     

The close binary ZZ aurigae

Between December 23–29, 1981, we made photoelectric observations of ZZ Aur at the Yunnan Observatory and obtained 603 measurements in yellow light and 604 measurements in blue light. We thereby secured the epochs of two principal minima and two secondary minima and discovered that the period of ZZ Aur was just beginning to change. We found the main component to have spectral type A5V and the secondary component, GOV, and we think that this system may be a main sequence binary at the limit of stability.     

Spot modelling and elements of the RS CVn eclipsing binary WY Cancri

Results of analysis of photoelectric observations of the RS CVn eclipsing binary WY Cancri in the standard passbands ofUBV during 1973-74, 1976-79 and inUBVRI during 1984-86 are reported. A preliminary analysis of the eclipses suggested the primary eclipse to be transit. A study of the percentage contribution of the distortion wave amplitudes in all the colours with respect to the luminosities of both components, showed the hotter component to be the source of the distortion wave. The clean (wave removed) light curves of different epochs have not merged, suggesting residual effects of spot activity. The reason for this is attributed to the presence of either (1) polar spots or (2) small spots uniformly distributed all over the surface of the hotter component. This additional variation is found to have a periodicity of about 50 years or more. The distortion waves in yellow colour are modelled according to Budding’s (1977) method. For getting the best fit of the observations and theory, it was found necessary to assume three or four spots on the surface of the hot component. Out of these four spot groups, three are found to have direct motion with migration periods of 1.01, 1.01 and 2.51 years while the fourth one has a retrograde motion with a migration period of 3.01 years. From these periods and the latitudes of the spots derived from the model a co-rotating latitude of 4ℴ is obtained. The temperatures of these spots are found to be lower than that of the photosphere by about 700ℴK to 800ℴK. Assuming the light curve of 1985-86, which is the brightest of all the observed seasons, to be least affected by the spots, the light curves of the other seasons are all brought up to the quadrature level of this season by applying suitable corrections. The merged curves in theUBVRI colours are analysed for the elements by the Wilson-Devinney method. This analysis yielded the following absolute elements:

Three X-ray flares near primary eclipse of the RS CVn binary XY UMa

We report on an archival X-ray observation of the eclipsing RS CVn binary XY UMa(P_(orb) ≈0.48 d). In two Chandra ACIS observations spanning 200 ks and almost five orbital periods, three flares occurred. We find no evidence for eclipses in the X-ray flux. The flares took place around times of primary eclipse, with one flare occurring shortly( 0.125 P_(orb)) after a primary eclipse, and the other two happening shortly( 0.05 P_(orb)) before a primary eclipse. Two flares occurred within roughly one orbital period(?φ≈1.024 P_(orb)) of each other. We analyze the light curve and spectra of the system, and investigate coronal length scales during both quiescence and flares, as well as the timing of the flares. We explore the possibility that the flares are orbit-induced by introducing a small orbital eccentricity, which is quite challenging for this close binary.     

Unravelling the nature of HD 81032 — A new RS CVn binary

BVR photometric and quasi-simultaneous optical spectroscopic observations of the star HD 81032 have been carried out during the years 2000-2004. A photometric period of 18.802 ± 0.07d has been detected for this star. A large group of spots with a migration period of 7.43 ± 0.07 years is inferred from the first three years of the data. Hα and CaII H and K emissions from the star indicate high chromospheric activity. The available photometry in the BVRIJHK bands is consistent with the spectral type of K0IV previously found for this star. We have also examined the spectral energy distribution of HD 81032 for the presence of an infrared colour excess using the 2MASS JHK and IRAS photometry, but found no significant excess in any band above the normal values expected for a star with this spectral type. We have also analyzed the X-ray emission properties of this star using data obtained by the ROSAT X-ray observatory during its All-Sky Survey phase. An X-ray flare of about 12 hours duration was detected during the two days of X-ray coverage obtained for this star. Its X-ray spectrum, while only containing 345 counts, is inconsistent with a single-temperature component solar-abundance coronal plasma model, but implies either the presence of two or more plasma components, nonsolar abundances, or a combination of both of these properties. All of the above properties of HD 81032 suggest that it is a newly identified, evolved RS CVn binary.     

Photoelectric observations of the eclipsing binary U Pegasi

Photoelectric observations inB andV of the eclipsing binary U Pegasi, made during 1980 with the 48 in. reflector of the National Observatory of Athens, are presented and discussed. The light curve seems to have remained constant since 1958 while the period of the system continues to decrease.     

The distortion wave on the light curve of the RS CVn binary UV piscium

The eclipsing binary UV Piscium was observed with the standardUBV filters during 1976-77, 1977-78 and 1978-79 observing seasons with the 1.22-m reflecting telescope of the Japal-Rangapur Observatory. A wave-like distortion on the light curve noticed by Carr (1969), Oliver (1974), Sadik (1979) and Zeiliket al. (1982a) is confirmed by the present observations. Combining our observations with those of Carr, Oliver and Sadik, it is found that the distortion wave is moving towards decreasing orbital phase with a period of about 1200 days. The source of the observed distortion wave is found to be the hotter component.     

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.     

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.