The period distribution of eclipsing and spectroscopic binary systems,I

We analyse the period distribution of eclipsing and spectroscopic binary systems, using various methods to take into account selection effects on observational data, with the purpose of deriving the actual distribution curve. The discussion of results shows the presence of some secondary maxima in the distribution which are probably of a non-statistical character. They could be regarded as an indirect clue to the discrete nature of the star formation process, according to the spiral density wave theory of galactic evolution by Linet al. (1969).