Variation of the period and light curves of the solar-type contact binary EQ Tauri

We present two new sets of complete light curves of EQ Tauri (EQ Tau) observed in 2000 October and 2004 December. These were analysed, together with the light curves obtained by Yang & Liu in 2001 December, with the 2003 version of the Wilson–Devinney code. In the three observing seasons, the light curves show a noticeable variation in the time-scale of years. The more massive component of EQ Tau is a solar-type star (G2) with a very deep convective envelope, which rotates about 80 times as fast as the Sun. Therefore, the change can be explained by dark-spot activity on the common convective envelope. The assumed unperturbed part of the light curve and the radial velocities published by Rucinski et al. were used to determine the basic parameters of the system, which were kept fixed for spot modelling in the three sets of light curves. The results reveal that the total spotted area on the more massive component covers 18, 3 and 20 per cent of the photospheric surface in the three observing seasons, respectively. Polar spots and high-latitude spots are found. The analysis of the orbital period has demonstrated that it undergoes cyclical oscillation, which is due to either a tertiary component or periodic magnetic activity in the more massive component.     

Velocity curve analysis of the spectroscopic binary stars by the non-linear least squares

We introduce a new method to derive the orbital parameters of spectroscopic binary stars by a non-linear least squares analysis of residuals. Using measured radial velocity data of four double lined spectroscopic binary systems RZ Cas, CC Cas, V1130 Tau and Y Cygni, we find corresponding orbital and spectroscopic elements. Our numerical results are in good agreement with those obtained by others using more traditional methods.     

Power spectrum analysis of the light curve of RR Tauri

Power spectrum analysis is applied to the light curve of RR Tauri. Periodicities are found at 80, 200 and 533 days with some variation in the peak positions and power for different decades. Factors involved in the classification of the variable are discussed.Receipt delayed by postal strike in Great Britain.     

Light curve analysis of the short period eclipsing binary RT and

We have analysed the 1978 UBV photoelectric observations of the short-period (RS CVn type) binary system RT And, using the rectifiable methods of Russell and Merrill (1952) and Kitamura (1965). The primary minimum is a transit. The solutions allow us to classify the system as a detached one, but a certain disagreement results with respect to solutions of previous epochs. A graphical test of the reliability of the solution is given.     

First investigation of eclipsing binary KIC 9026766:analysis of light curve and periodic changes

We investigate a short-period W UMa binary KIC 9026766 with an orbital period of 0.2721278 d in the Kepler field of view.By applying an automated q-search for t...     

BL Andromedae and GW Tauri: close binary stars in a key evolutionary stage

A photoelectric light curve of BL And is presented along with the first CCD light curve of GW Tau. Both objects are short-period eclipsing binaries and were observed in 2003 or 2004. Photometric elements were computed using the latest version of the Wilson–Van Hamme code. The results reveal that BL And is a semidetached system with the primary component filling its Roche lobe and the secondary one almost filling but still detached, while GW Tau is a marginal-contact binary system with a small degree of contact ( f = 10.9 per cent) and a large temperature difference of about 3100 K. All available eclipse times, including new ones, were analysed for each system. It was found that the orbital period of BL And is decreasing at the rate of  d P /d t =−2.36 × 10⁻⁸ (±0.09) d yr⁻¹  while that of GW Tau may be decreasing or oscillating. We think period decrease is more probable. The derived configuration and secular period decrease for BL And combined with the asymmetry of the light curve indicate that this system may evolve from the present semidetached phase into a contact stage, with mass transfer from the primary component to the secondary one through the L ₁ point, or that it might just undergo the broken stage predicted by the theory of thermal relaxation oscillations. In contrast, GW Tau is a marginal-contact binary in poor thermal contact and may be at the beginning of the contact phase.     

Photometric observation and light curve analysis of binary system ER-Orionis

Photometric observations of the over-contact binary ER ORI were performed during November 2007 and February to April 2008 with the 51 cm telescope of Biruni Observatory of Shiraz University in U, B and V filters (Johnson system) and an RCA 4509 photomultiplier. We used these data to obtain the light curves and calculate the newtimes of minimum light in each filter and plot the O-C diagram of ER ORI. Using theWilson’s computer code with the help of an auxiliary computer program to improve the optimizations, the light curve analyses were carried out to find out the photometric elements of the system.     

Orbital period correction and light curve modeling of the W-subtype shallow contact binary OW Leo

Orbital period and multi-color light curves’investigation of OW Leo are presented for the first time.The orbital period of OW Leo is corrected from P=0.325545 days to P=0.32554052 days in our work,and the observational data from the All-Sky Automated Survey for Super Novae(ASAS-SN)are used to test the newly determined orbital period.Then,the phased light curves are calculated with the new period and the Wilson-Devinney program is applied to model the light curves,which reveal that OW Leo is a W-subtype shallow contact binary system(q=3.05,f=12.8%).The absolute physical parameters of the two component stars are estimated to be M₁=0.31(1)M_⊙,M₂=0.95(3)M_⊙,R₁=0.63(1)R⊙,R₂=1.04(1)R_⊙,L₁=0.43(1)L_⊙and L₂=1.01(2)L_⊙.The evolutionary status shows that the more massive star is less evolved than the less massive star.OW Leo has very low metal abundance,which means its formation and evolution are hardly influenced by any additional component.It is formed from an initially detached binary system through nuclear evolution and angular momentum loss via magnetic braking,and has passed a very long time of main sequence evolution.     

Analysis of the photoelectric light curve and the orbital period variations of the binary system UU Andromedae

In this work, the analysis of the photoelectric light curve (LC) in the broad‐band filter (400–700 nm) for the UU And system was carried out using the PHOEBE program (vers. 0.31a). The absolute dimensions of the system are determined and its evolution is discussed. Moreover, the period changes of the system are studied using updated O – C data, which shows a cyclic change with a period of P_mod = 18 yr. This was attributed to a magnetic activity cycle operating in this system. In addition to the cyclic change, a long‐term secular variation due to mass transfer from the secondary to the primary component with a rate of 6.17×10^–9 M_⊙ yr^–1 was also detected. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Further confirmations of mass transfer in Algol type binary U Sagittae

This paper describes how a new photometric V light curve solution of Algol type binary U Sge was obtained using Wilson–Devinney code. I also discuss how the physical and orbital parameters, along with absolute dimensions of the system, were determined. The Roche lobe configurations of the system indicate that the secondary component has filled its Roche lobe and therefore is losing mass at the rate of 6.15×10⁻⁷ M _sun yr⁻¹. The conservative mass flow is the most likely process in this system.