Photometric light curve solutions of three ultra-short period eclipsing binaries

We present the results of our study of the eclipsing binary systems CSS J112237.1+395219,LINEAR 1286561 and LINEAR 2602707 based on new CCD B, V, Rcand Iccomplete light curves. The ultra-short period nature of these stars, as reported by Drake et al., is confirmed and the system's periods are revised. The light curves were modeled using the 2003 version of the Wilson-Devinney code. When necessary, cool spots on the surface of the primary component were introduced to account for asymmetries in the light curves. As a result, we found that CSS J112237.1+395219 is a W UMa type contact binary system belonging to W subclass with a mass ratio of q = 1.61 and a shallow degree of contact of 14.8%where the primary component is hotter than the secondary one by 500 K. LINEAR 1286561 and LINEAR2602707 are detached binary systems with mass ratios q = 3.467 and q = 0.987 respectively. These detached systems are low-mass M-type eclipsing binaries with similar temperatures. The marginal contact,fill-out factor and temperature difference between components of CSS J112237.1+395219 suggest that this system may be at a key evolutionary state predicted by thermal relaxation oscillation(TRO) theory. From the estimated absolute parameters, we conclude that our systems share common properties with other ultrashort period binaries.     

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 the All Sky Automated Survey catalogue

The All Sky Automated Survey (ASAS) is a long-term project to monitor bright variable stars over the whole sky. It has discovered 50 099 variables brighter than   V < 14 mag  south of declination +28°, and among them 11 076 eclipsing binaries. We present a preliminary analysis of 5384 contact, 2949 semi-detached, and 2743 detached systems. The statistics of the distribution provides a qualitative confirmation of decades old idea of Flannery and Lucy that the W UMa-type binaries evolve through a series of relaxation oscillations: the ASAS finds comparable number of contact and semi-detached systems.
The most surprising result is a very small number of detached eclipsing binaries with periods   P < 1 d  , the systems believed to be the progenitors of the W UMa stars. As many (perhaps all) contact binaries have companions, there is a possibility that some were formed in a Kozai cycle, as suggested by Eggleton and his associates.     

Catalog of W UMa type binary systems with additional components based on eclipsing time variations

A catalog of W UMa type eclipsing binary systems with tertiary components based on eclipse timing diagrams is presented listing the physical and orbital parameters (including third body parameters) of 150 W UMa type eclipsing binaries.In this study, the (O–C) diagrams of nine sample W UMa type eclipsing binary systems, based on the most reliable timings of minima in the literature, are analyzed to obtain the third-body parameters and significant statistical results are presented from the data in the catalog.     

First photometric analysis of the two EW binaries ZTF J214226.88+435827.1 and KAO-EGYPT J214216.38+440015.1

The EW-type eclipsing binaries are strongly interacting systems known to have often both component stars filling their crucial Roche lobes and having a common envelope. We present new BVRI light curves of the eclipsing binaries ZTF J214226.88+435,827.1 (ZTF21+43) and KAO-EGYPT J214216.38+440,015.1 (KAO21+44) based on CCD observations acquired with the 1.88-m Kottamia Astronomical Observatory (KAO) at Newtonian and Cassegrain telescope focus. The modeling results show that these two systems are to be W UMa contact binaries belonging to EW subtypes. All the light curves show the inverse O'Connell effect. We computed new ephemeris for each system using our times of minima and that available in the literature. Using our new times of minima and epochs for both systems from all available observations, the orbital period changes of these structures are studied for our systems. Using the PHOEBE package, a preliminary determination of the two systems' photometric orbital and physical parameters has been present. The positions of the systems were also depicted on the Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R), M-L, and T_eff-L diagrams to test their evolutionary status.     

Orbital period changes of contact binary systems: direct evidence for thermal relaxation oscillation theory

Orbital period changes of ten contact binary systems (S Ant, ε CrA, EF Dra, UZ Leo, XZ Leo, TY Men, V566 Oph, TY Pup, RZ Tau and AG Vir) are studied based on the analysis of their     curves. It is discovered that the periods of the six systems, S Ant, ε CrA, EF Dra, XZ Leo, TY Men and TY Pup, show secular increases. For UZ Leo, its secular period increase rate is revised. For the three systems, V566 Oph, RZ Tau and AG Vir, weak evidence is presented that a periodic oscillation (with periods of 20.4, 28.5 and 40.9 yr respectively) is superimposed on a secular period increase. The cyclic period changes can be explained by the presence of an unseen third body in the three systems. All the sample stars studied are contact binaries with     .
Furthermore, orbital period changes of 27 hot contact binaries have been checked. It is found that, apart from AW UMa with the lowest mass ratio     , none shows an orbital period decrease. The relatively weak magnetic activity in the hotter contact binaries means little angular momentum loss (AML) from the systems via magnetic stellar winds. The period increases of these W UMa binaries can be explained by mass transfer from the secondary to the primary components, which is in agreement with the prediction of the thermal relaxation oscillation (TRO) models. This suggests that the evolution of a hotter W UMa star is mainly controlled by TRO. On the other hand, for a cooler W UMa star     , its evolution may be TRO plus AML, which coincides with the recent results of Qian.     

Absolute parameters of the W UMa binaries CSS J223614+311343, V523 Aur and V783 And

Photometric BVR_c observations of the stars CSS J223614+311343, V523 Aur and V783 And were carried out and their absolute parameters (masses, radii and luminosities) were determined based on light curve modeling and Gaia distances. The main results are: (i) The components of CSS J223614+311343 and V783 And are of K spectral type while those of V523 Aur are G stars; (ii) The three systems have middle fillout factors 0.20–0.29; (iii) CSS J223614+311343 and V783 And are of A-subtype while V523 Aur is of W-subtype; (iv) The common target masses are near the lower mass limit for the known W UMa binaries; (v) The smaller in size (and less massive) components of all targets locate above the MS band of the evolutional diagrams while the bigger components are within the MS band. The only exception is the bigger component of V523 Aur that is also above the MS band. This result was attributed to the W-subtype of the target.     

Variable stars in the open cluster NGC 2141

We report the results of a search for variable stars in the open cluster NGC 2141. Ten variable stars are detected, among which nine are new variable stars and they are classified as three short-period W UMa-type eclipsing binaries, two EAtype eclipsing binaries, one EB-type eclipsing binary, one very short-period RS CVntype eclipsing binary, one d-type RR Lyrae variable star, and one unknown type of variable star. The membership and physical properties are discussed, based on their light curves, positions in the color magnitude diagrams, spatial locations and periods.A known EB-type eclipsing binary is also identified as a blue straggler candidate in the cluster. Furthermore, we find that all eclipsing contact binaries have prominent asymmetric eclipses and display the O'Connell effect, which increases with a decrease in orbital periods. This suggests that the O'Connell effect is probably related to the evolution of the orbital period in short period eclipsing binary systems.     

Variable stars in the globular cluster NGC 6362

We report the results of a CCD search for short-period variables in the field of a southern globular cluster NGC 6362. We identified 19 new candidate variables, five of which are cluster RR Lyraes, four are probable SX Phe-type stars and eight are eclipsing binaries. Of the discovered binaries, three are EA-type systems, two of which are located on the cluster CMD in the turn-off region and the third 1 mag above the turn-off point, in the yellow straggler region. Five other systems are of W UMa type, three of which are foreground objects and two are likely cluster members. The remaining two candidates exhibit a modulation of the brightness level with an amplitude of 0.1–0.2 mag; further observations are needed to reveal the nature of their variability. Phased VI light curves for 20 variables (18 RR Lyrae stars and two blue stragglers) located in the central region of the cluster are presented.     

Contact Binaries: A Study of the Proximity Effects and Gravity Darkening Based on Kopal’s Fourier Method

A new method for the determination of the proximity effects and gravity darkening exponents in contact binaries of W UMa type is presented. The method is based on Kopal’s method of Fourier analysis of the light changes of eclipsing variables in the Frequency Domain. The method was applied to 36 W UMa systems for which geometric and photometric elements have been derived by the most powerful techniques. The derived values are very close to those predicted by the existing theory of radiative transfer or convective equilibrium.     

A Possible Explanation of the O‘Connell Effect in Close Binary Stars

A theoretical model for explaining the O‘Connell effect of close binary stars is given based on the hypothesis that the circumstellar material of a binary system is captured by its components.The results inferred form the model suggest that late-type and /or short-period binaries can easily produce obvious O‘Connell effect and that the occurrence of O‘Connell effect has no relation with the type of binaries,These conclusions are in agreement with the observed results.The observed O‘Connell effects of six binary systems are examined by the model.For three W-subtype W UMa binaries(YY Eri,BX Per and SW Lac).the densities of the materials captured by the two components are assumed to be equal,and the calculated O‘Connell effect is found to be almost equal to the observed effect.For three A-subtype W UMa systems(CN And,FG Hya and AU Ser),the two densities are assumed to be different,and are calculated separately.The calculated O‘Connell effect turns out to agree better with the observed effect than that was formerly obtained.     

Global parameters of the totally-eclipsing W UMa stars NSVS 6673994, NSVS 4316778, PP Lac and NSVS 1926064

Photometric observations of four totally-eclipsing W UMa binaries, NSVS 6673994, NSVS 4316778, PP Lac and NSVS 1926064, are presented. Their global parameters were determined from the light curve solutions and GAIA distances. The main results are as follows: (i) NSVS 6673994, NSVS 4316778 and PP Lac are of W subtype while NSVS 1926064 is of A subtype; (ii) The mass ratios of NSVS 4316778 and NSVS 1926064 are close to the lower mass-ratio limit; (iii) NSVS 4316778 has double contact configuration while NSVS 1926064 is in deep contact; (iv) The changes of the PP Lac period seem cyclic and are accompanied with episodes of essentially constant value; (v) The relations between the global parameters of the four W UMa stars differ considerably from those of Main Sequence (MS) stars. The deviations of the radii, temperatures and luminosities of the stellar components from those of MS stars with the same masses are bigger for the two targets with extremely small mass ratio.     

Photometric observations of the W UMa stars CSS J113505.5+332031, ASAS J142124+1813.1 and HR Boo

Multicolor photometric observations of the W UMa binaries CSS J113505.5+332031, ASAS J142124+1813.1 and HR Boo are presented. They led to improvement of the orbital periods of CSS J113505.5+332031 and HR Boo. The light curve solutions revealed that all the targets are overcontact binaries with moderate fill-out factors whose components are of G and K spectral types. ASAS J142124+1813.1 and HR Boo undergo total eclipses and their mass ratios are well-determined. The small mass ratio of ASAS J142124+1813.1 puts this target in the list of W UMa binaries with extreme low mass ratios. The possible solutions for the partially-eclipsed binary CSS J113505.5+332031 and their precision are discussed in detail. Masses, radii and luminosities of the target components were estimated by our light curve solutions and GAIA distances.     

Observed photometric peculiarities of six eclipsing binaries with solar-type activity: I

From the observed light curves of six eclipsing binaries with solar-type activity and from the analysis of their period variations some problems in the interpretation of the observations came out: Are these binaries similar to classical RS CVn stars? Is the stellar surface spot coverage the unique interpretation of the observed light curves? Are these systems really linked with W UMa's? In a further study some models will be tempted to try to solve these problems.     

A catalogue of stars suspected of bright active regions

We present a catalogue of field stars across the HR diagram suspected of bright active regions in their atmospheres.We aim at developing the first version of a database of active stars with bright regions (bright spots). Using a variety of databases and the internet we found and gathered all relevant archival data starting about 1973 and being important for developing such a catalogue. We found that the phenomenon starspot is now common to a variety of spectral type and luminosity classes. Our primary goal was to identify active solar and late type stars suspicious of bright active regions but the search offers expanded results including young T Tauri stars, eclipsing binaries with equal or mixed spectral types components (Algols,WUMa stars) and in some cases other types of objects. Moreover, the light curves analyses for eclipsing binaries offer reliable estimates for spot properties and it was found that 20% of binaries in the catalogue had a spot located near the L point (neck zone). At present, the catalogue consists of 134 stars and overall characteristics for them are organised in several files in ASCII format. The catalogue is electronically available (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Variable stars in the field of the old open cluster Melotte 66

We report the results of photometric monitoring of the Melotte 66 field in BVI filters. 10 variables were identified with nine being new discoveries. The sample includes eight eclipsing binaries of which four are W UMa type stars and one star is a candidate blue straggler. All four contact binaries are likely the members of the cluster based on their estimated distances. 10 blue stars with   U − B < −0.3  were detected inside a  14.8 × 22.8 arcmin²  field centred on the cluster. Time series photometry for seven of them showed no evidence for any variability. The brightest object in the sample of blue stars is a promising candidate for a hot subdwarf belonging to the cluster. We show that the anomalously wide main sequence of the cluster, reported in some earlier studies, results from a combination of two effects: variable reddening occurring across the cluster field and the presence of a rich population of binary stars in the cluster itself. The density profile of the cluster field is derived and the total number of the member stars with  16 < V < 21  or  2.8 < M _V < 7.8  is estimated conservatively at about 1100.     

Photometric study of three contact binary systems

The first complete light curves of two eclipsing binaries in Camelopardalis, NX Cam and V584 Cam, are here presented together with the new observations of the system NSVS 2643686 obtained in 2014. The light curves were modelled using the latest version of the Wilson-Devinney code. Our results show that all the three systems have an extreme mass ratio q < 0.2, two of them, NX Cam and NSVS 2643686, having the fill-out f > 50%, belong to the class of the so called Deep Low Mass Ratio systems (DLMR) but show different physical characteristics. The two above systems are totally eclipsed binaries with the duration of the secondary eclipse of 87 min for NX Cam and 51 min for NSVS 2643686. The other system, V584 Cam, shows a middle fill-out value of f = 33% and low inclination. Using our Times of Minima (ToM) derived from the observations as well as those found in the literature, the ephemerides of the three systems are here revised. The absolute dimensions are estimated and, from statistical diagram, it is found that all the components of the systems follow the general pattern of the well known W UMa contact binaries.     

Structure and evolution of low-mass W Ursae Majoris type systems – III. The effects of the spins of the stars

In a previous paper, using Eggleton's stellar evolution code, we have discussed the structure and evolution of low-mass W Ursae Majoris (W UMa) type contact binaries with angular momentum loss owing to gravitational radiation or magnetic braking. We find that gravitational radiation is almost insignificant for cyclic evolution of low-mass W UMa type systems, and it is possible for angular momentum to be lost from W UMa systems in a magnetic stellar wind. The weaker magnetic activity shown by observations in W UMa systems is likely caused by the lower mass of the convective envelopes in these systems than in similar but non-contact binaries. The spin angular momentum cannot be neglected at any time for W UMa type systems, especially for those with extreme mass ratios. The spin angular momenta of both components are included in this paper and they are found to have a significant influence on the cyclic evolution of W UMa systems. We investigate the influence of the energy transfer on the common convective envelopes of both components in detail. We find that the mass of the convective envelope of the primary in contact evolution is slightly more than that in poor thermal contact evolution, and that the mass of the convective envelope of the secondary in contact evolution is much less than that in poor thermal contact evolution. Meanwhile, the rate of angular momentum loss of W UMa type systems is much lower than that of poor thermal contact systems. This is indeed caused by the lower masses of the convective envelopes of the components in W UMa type systems. Although the models with angular momentum loss for W UMa systems exhibit cyclic evolution, they seem to show that a W UMa system cannot continue this type of cyclic evolution indefinitely, and it might coalesce into a fast-rotating star after about 1200 cycles of evolution (about  7.0 × 10⁹ yr  ).     

Photometric Study Of W Uma Type Binary In The Old Cluster Ngc 6791

Study of eclipsing binaries in an open cluster offer information regarding the age of the cluster in addition to the component stars. In this paper we present the analysis of a W UMa system discovered in the open cluster NGC 6791 using the Wilson–Devinney (W–D) method.     

The first light curve solutions and period study of two contact binary systems: V1370 Tau and QQ Boo

The first light curve solutions of the binary systems V1370 Tau and QQ Boo are presented. The periodic changes are calculated, and a new ephemeris presented for each of these two binary systems. O-C analysis is performed using the MCMC method in OCFit code. The changing rate of period was measured as dP/dt= 0.2423 days/year for V1370 Tau and dP/dt= -0.1363 days/year for QQ Boo. The light curve solutions suggest that V1370 Tau is a weak-contact eclipsing binary system with a photometric mass ratio q = 0.829, and that the corresponding fillout factor is 11.06%. Furthermore, it is suggested that the QQ Boo binary system is also a weak-contact W UMa eclipsing binary with a photometric mass ratio q = 0.831, and that its fillout factor equals 10.26%. The light curve solutions require cold spots. Utilizing the Wilson-Devinney code the photometric and geometric parameters of the systems are determined. The distance of both V1370 Tau and QQ Boo are calculated according to the estimated absolute parameters as 159.95 ± 23 pc and 309.03 ± 25 pc, respectively, which are in a good agreement with the distance values derived from the Gaia DR2 parallax within one standard deviation. Moreover, the positions of their components on the H-R diagram are represented.