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Contact Binaries with Additional Components. I. The Extant Data
We have attempted to establish observational evidence for the presenceof distant companions that may have acquired and/or absorbed angularmomentum during the evolution of multiple systems, thus facilitating orenabling the formation of contact binaries. In this preliminaryinvestigation we use several techniques (some of themdistance-independent) and mostly disregard the detection biases ofindividual techniques in an attempt to establish a lower limit to thefrequency of triple systems. While the whole sample of 151 contactbinary stars brighter than Vmax=10 mag gives a firm lowerlimit of 42%+/-5%, the corresponding number for the much better observednorthern-sky subsample is 59%+/-8%. These estimates indicate that mostcontact binary stars exist in multiple systems.
| V781 Tauri: a W Ursae Majoris binary with decreasing period
We analyze light curves of the W UMa type eclipsing binary V781 Taurifrom three epochs and radial velocity curves from two epochssimultaneously, including previously unpublished B and V data. Theoverall time span is from 1983 to 2000 and the solution is donecoherently in time (not phase) with five light curves and two sets ofprimary and secondary velocity curves. Minor systematic differencesamong the individual light curves are not large enough to undermine thevalue of a coherent solution that represents 18 years of observations.Times of minima confirm a period of 0.34491d and the general solutionfinds a small period change, dP/P, of(5.08±{04})×10-11 that represents recentbehavior. The eclipse timings cover the last half-century and find dP/Pabout four times smaller, corresponding to a period change time scale,P/(dP/dt) of about 6 million years. The system is over-contact with afilling factor of 0.205. The solution produces a temperature differenceof about 260 K between the components, an inclination of 65.9dg, and amass ratio M_2/M_1=2.47. Separate solutions of the several light curvesthat incorporate dark spots find parameters that differ little fromcurve to curve. Absolute masses, luminosities, radii and the distanceare derived, with luminosities and distance based on star 1 being oftype G0V. The orbital angular momentum is compared with those of other WUMa type binaries and is normal. The star to star mass flow that one caninfer from dP/dt is opposite to that expected from TRO (ThermalRelaxation Oscillator) theory, but pertains to a time span that is veryshort compared to the time scale of TRO oscillations.
| Luminosity function of contact binaries based on the All Sky Automated Survey (ASAS)
The luminosity function for contact binary stars of the W UMa type isevaluated on the basis of the All Sky Automated Survey (ASAS)photometric project covering all stars south of δ=+ 28° withina magnitude range 8 < V < 13. Lack of colour indices enforced alimitation to 3374 systems with P < 0.562 d (i.e. 73 per cent of allsystems with P < 1 d) where a simplified MV(logP)calibration could be used. The spatial density relative to themain-sequence FGK stars of 0.2 per cent, as established previously fromthe Hipparcos sample to V= 7.5, is confirmed. While the numbers ofcontact binaries in the ASAS are large and thus the statisticaluncertainties small, derivation of the luminosity function required acorrection for missed systems with small amplitudes and with orbitalperiods longer than 0.562 d; the correction, by a factor of 3, carriesan uncertainty of about 30 per cent.
| A catalogue of eclipsing variables
A new catalogue of 6330 eclipsing variable stars is presented. Thecatalogue was developed from the General Catalogue of Variable Stars(GCVS) and its textual remarks by including recently publishedinformation about classification of 843 systems and making correspondingcorrections of GCVS data. The catalogue1 represents thelargest list of eclipsing binaries classified from observations.
| On the properties of contact binary stars
We have compiled a catalogue of light curve solutions of contact binarystars. It contains the results of 159 light curve solutions. Theproperties of contact binary stars were studied using the cataloguedata. As is well known since Lucy's (\cite{Lucy68a},b) and Mochnacki's(\cite{Mochnacki81}) studies, primary components transfer their ownenergy to the secondary star via the common envelope around the twostars. This transfer was parameterized by a transfer parameter (ratio ofthe observed and intrinsic luminosities of the primary star). We provethat this transfer parameter is a simple function of the mass andluminosity ratios. We introduced a new type of contact binary stars: Hsubtype systems which have a large mass ratio (q>0.72). These systemsshow behaviour in the luminosity ratio- transfer parameter diagram thatis very different from that of other systems and according to ourresults the energy transfer rate is less efficient in them than in othertypes of contact binary stars. We also show that different types ofcontact binaries have well defined locations on the mass ratio -luminosity ratio diagram. Several contact binary systems do not followLucy's relation (L2/L1 =(M2/M1)0.92). No strict mass ratio -luminosity ratio relation of contact binary stars exists.Tables 2 and 3 are available in electronic form athttp://www.edpsciences.org
| Minima of Eclipsing Binaries in the ASAS-2 Database
Not Available
| Catalogue of the field contact binary stars
A catalogue of 361 galactic contact binaries is presented. Listedcontact binaries are divided into five groups according to the type andquality of the available observations and parameters. For all systemsthe ephemeris for the primary minimum, minimum and maximum visualbrightness and equatorial coordinates are given. If available,photometric elements, (m1+m2)sin3i,spectral type, parallax and magnitude of the O'Connell effect are alsogiven. Photometric data for several systems are augmented by newobservations. The quality of the available data is assessed and systemsrequiring modern light-curve solutions are selected. Selectedstatistical properties of the collected data are discussed.
| AD Cancri: A Contact Binary with Components in Poor Thermal Contact
We present the light curve and photometric solutions of the contactbinary AD Cnc. The light curve appears to exhibit a typical O'Connelleffect, with Maximum I brighter than Maximum II by 0.010 mag. in V. From1987 to 2000, the light curve showed changes of shape: the depth of theprimary eclipse increased by about 0.056m while that of thesecondary eclipse decreased by about 0.032m, so thedifference between the primary and the secondary eclipses increased byabout 0.088m, while there was no obvious variation in theO'Connell effect. Using the present and past times of minimum light, thechanges in the orbital period of the system are analyzed. The resultreveals that the orbital period of AD Cnc has continuously increased ata rate of {d p}/{d t}=4.4× 10-7 day yr-1.The light curve is analyzed by means of the latest version of theWilson-Devinney code. The results show that AD Cnc is a W-subtypecontact binary with a small mass ratio of 0.267 and the two componentsare in poor thermal contact. AD Cnc has a component temperaturedifference exceeding 500K, and exhibits a shallow contact of 3.6%. Theasymmetry of the light curves is explained by the star spot model. Wepresent the equivalent widths of 15 extrasolar-planet host stars.Thesedata were based on the high-resolution, high signal-to-noise ratiospectra obtained with the 2.16m telescope at Xinglong station. The errorin the Xinglong equivalent width is estimated by a comparison of thesedata with those given in previous studies of common stars.
| V432 Persei: A Contact Binary with Components in Poor Thermal Contact
CCD photometric observation of the short-period eclipsing binary V432Persei was carried out in the B and V bands at the Yunnan Observatory ofChina. The light curves of the system are obviously asymmetrical, withthe primary maximum brighter than the secondary maximum, which is knownas the O'Connell effect. The presented light curves are analyzed bymeans of the latest version of the Wilson-Devinney program. A grid ofsolutions for several fixed values of the mass ratio was calculated. Thebest fitting possible is for a mass ratio of 0.269 and a low degree ofcontact. The results show that V432 Per is seen to be a W-subtype WUrsae Majoris contact binary in poor thermal contact. The differencebetween the mean temperatures of the components is about 850 K. Theasymmetry of the light curves is explained by a cool spot on thesecondary component. The nature of the overluminosity of the secondaryof the system suggests that there should be very great energy transferfrom the primary to the secondary.
| Orbital period changes of contact binary systems: direct evidence for thermal relaxation oscillation theory
Orbital period changes of ten contact binary systems (S Ant, ɛCrA, EF Dra, UZ Leo, XZ Leo, TY Men, V566 Oph, TY Pup, RZ Tau and AGVir) are studied based on the analysis of their O-C curves. It isdiscovered that the periods of the six systems, S Ant, ɛ CrA, EFDra, XZ Leo, TY Men and TY Pup, show secular increases. For UZ Leo, itssecular period increase rate is revised. For the three systems, V566Oph, RZ Tau and AG Vir, weak evidence is presented that a periodicoscillation (with periods of 20.4, 28.5 and 40.9yr respectively) issuperimposed on a secular period increase. The cyclic period changes canbe explained by the presence of an unseen third body in the threesystems. All the sample stars studied are contact binaries withM1>=1.35Msolar. Furthermore, orbital periodchanges of 27 hot contact binaries have been checked. It is found that,apart from AW UMa with the lowest mass ratio (q=0.072), none shows anorbital period decrease. The relatively weak magnetic activity in thehotter contact binaries means little angular momentum loss (AML) fromthe systems via magnetic stellar winds. The period increases of these WUMa binaries can be explained by mass transfer from the secondary to theprimary components, which is in agreement with the prediction of thethermal relaxation oscillation (TRO) models. This suggests that theevolution of a hotter W UMa star is mainly controlled by TRO. On theother hand, for a cooler W UMa star(M1<=1.35Msolar), its evolution may be TRO plusAML, which coincides with the recent results of Qian.
| A CCD Photometric Study of the Contact Binary V396 Monocerotis
Complete BV light curves of the W Ursae Majoris binary V396 Mon arepresented. The present CCD photometric observations reveal that thelight curves of the system are obviously asymmetric, with the primarymaximum brighter than the secondary maximum (the ``O'Connell effect'').The light curves are analyzed by means of the latest version of theWilson-Devinney code. The results show that V396 Mon is a W-subtype WUMa contact binary with a mass ratio of 0.402. The asymmetry of thelight curves is explained by a cool spot on the secondary component. Thenature of the overluminosity of the secondary of a W UMa-type system isanalyzed. It is shown that the overluminosity of the secondary isclearly related to the mass of the primary and that, for a W UMa system,the higher the mass of the primary, the greater the overluminosity ofthe secondary. In addition, the overluminosity of the secondary is alsorelated to its own density: the lower the density of the secondary, thegreater its overluminosity.
| ROSAT all-sky survey of W Ursae Majoris stars and the problem of supersaturation
From ROSAT all-sky survey (RASS) data we obtained X-ray fluxes for 57 WUMa type contact systems. In our sample we detected three stars whichare the shortest period main sequence binaries ever found as X-raysources. For stars with (B-V)_0 < 0.6 the normalized X-ray fluxdecreases with a decreasing color index but for (B-V)_0 > 0.6 aplateau is reached, similar to the saturation level observed for single,rapidly rotating stars. The X-ray flux of W UMa stars is about 4-5 timesweaker than that of the fastest rotating single stars. Because earlytype, low activity variables have longer periods, an apparentperiod-activity relation is seen among our stars, while cool stars with(B-V)_0 > 0.6 and rotation periods between 0.23 and 0.45 days do notshow any such relation. The lower X-ray emission of the single, ultrafast rotators (UFRs) and W UMa stars is interpreted as the result of adecreased coronal filling factor. The physical mechanisms responsiblefor the decreased surface coverage differs for UFRs and W UMa systems.For UFRs we propose strong polar updrafts within a convection zone,driven by nonuniform heating from below. The updrafts should beaccompanied by large scale poleward flows near the bottom of theconvective layer and equatorward flows in the surface layers. The flowsdrag dynamo generated fields toward the poles and create a field-freeequatorial region with a width depending on the stellar rotation rate.For W UMa stars we propose that a large scale horizontal flow embracingboth stars will prevent the magnetic field from producing long-livedstructures filled with hot X-ray emitting plasma. The decreased activityof the fastest rotating UFRs increases the angular momentum loss timescale of stars in a supersaturated state. Thus the existence of a periodcutoff and a limiting mass of W UMa stars can be naturally explained.
| Catalogue of Apparent Diameters and Absolute Radii of Stars (CADARS) - Third edition - Comments and statistics
The Catalogue, available at the Centre de Données Stellaires deStrasbourg, consists of 13 573 records concerning the results obtainedfrom different methods for 7778 stars, reported in the literature. Thefollowing data are listed for each star: identifications, apparentmagnitude, spectral type, apparent diameter in arcsec, absolute radiusin solar units, method of determination, reference, remarks. Commentsand statistics obtained from CADARS are given. The Catalogue isavailable in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp tocdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcar?J/A+A/367/521
| Stars with the Largest Hipparcos Photometric Amplitudes
A list of the 2027 stars that have the largest photometric amplitudes inHipparcos Photometry shows that most variable stars are all Miras. Thepercentage of variable types change as a function of amplitude. Thiscompilation should also be of value to photometrists looking forrelatively unstudied, but large amplitude stars.
| The All Sky Automated Survey. Catalog of about 3800 Variable Stars
Results of the first two years of observations using the All SkyAutomated Survey prototype camera are presented. More than 140000 starsin 50 Selected Fields covering 300 square degrees were monitored eachclear night in the I-band resulting in the ASAS Photometric I-bandCatalog containing over 5*10^7 individual measurements. Nightlymonitoring of over 100 standard stars confirms that most of our dataremains within sigma_I=0.03 mag of the standard I system. Search for thestars varying on the time scales longer than a day revealed about 3800variable stars (mostly irregular, pulsating and binaries) brighter than13 mag. Only 630 of them are known or suspected variables included inthe GCVS (Kholopov 1985). Among the stars brighter than I approx 7.5(which are saturated on our frames) we have found about 50 variables (12are in the GCVS, 6 others in the Hipparcos catalog). Because of thelarge volume of data we present here only selected tables and lightcurves, but the complete ASAS Catalog of Variable Stars (currentlydivided into Periodic and Miscellaneous sections) and all photometricdata are available on the Internethttp://www.astrouw.edu.pl/~gp/asas/asas.html orhttp://archive.princeton.edu/~asas/
| Absolute Magnitude Calibration for the W UMa-Type Systems Based on HIPPARCOS Data
Hipparcos parallax data for 40 contact binary stars of the W UMa-type(with epsilon M_V < 0.5) are used to derive a new, (B-V)-basedabsolute-magnitude calibration of the form M_V = M_V(log P,B-V). Thecalibration covers the ranges 0.26 < (B-V)_0 < 1.14, 0.24 < P< 1.15 day, and 1.4 < M_V < 6.1; it is based on a solutionweighted by relative errors in the parallaxes (2.7% to 24%). Previouscalibrations have not been based on such a wide period and color space,and while they have been able to predict M_V with sufficient accuracyfor systems closely following the well-known period-color relation, thenew calibration should be able to give also good predictions for moreexotic ``outlying'' contact binary systems. The main limitations of thiscalibration are the inadequate quality of the ground-based photometricdata, and the restriction to the (B-V) index, which is more sensitive tometallicity effects than the (V-I) index; metallicities are, however,basically unknown for the local W UMa-type systems. (SECTION: Stars)
| The properties of W Ursae Majoris contact binaries: new results and old problems.
The physical properties of W UMa binary systems are revisited on thebasis of the observational data published in the last decade and of therecent theoretical studies on angular-momentum-loss-driven secularevolution. The absolute elements (masses, radii, luminosities) arederived by an inference method and a calibration based on the availablehigh quality spectroscopic orbits. The derived age (8Gy) agrees with theestimate of Guinan and Bradstreet from space motions. The analysis ofthe resulting physical parameters shows little correlation between thestandard classification in A and W subtype (first proposed by Binnendijk(1970) and only related to the light curve morphology) and theevolutionary status and origin of the systems. Most A-subtype systemsseem to have no evolutionary link with W-subtype ones. The relationbetween total mass and mass ratio for the "bona fide" sample alsosuggests that mass loss from the system may play an important role.
| Program of Parallax Measurements from Space for the Nearest Eclipsing Binaries
Not Available
| A note on thermally decoupled W Ursae Majoris systems
The thermal decoupling degree of short-period contact or near-contactsystems is studied. Statistics of well-observed W UMa systems includingnew beta-light-curve objects was made for thermal-decoupling degree,spectral type, and orbital period. W UMa systems of type A and W arefound to be well characterized by these parameters. W-type objects showa good (linear) correlation in the spectral type vs. thermal-decouplingparameter diagram. This extends to the lower border of the diagram forA-type systems, otherwise scattered in an area of large thermaldecoupling. These empirical facts are analyzed in terms of contact ornoncontact configurations.
| Studies of Period Variation in Close Binary Systems
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1987AJ.....94..792L
| The List of the Nearest and Bright Eclipsing Binaries from the HIPPARCOS Program
Not Available
| Quasi-160-minute oscillation period of Delta Scuti stars
The resonance power spectrum (or commensurability spectrum) computed for217 Delta Scuti stars indicates that the dominant (most commensurate)period for the total set of oscillation periods of these stars is 162.2+ or - 2.8 min. Within the error limits, this period coincidesapproximately with the 160-min period of global oscillations of the sun.
| General properties of W Ursae Majoris systems
The light curves of a sample of 42 W Ursae Majoris binary systems (21W-type, 21 A-type) have been synthesized using the computer code ofWilson and Devinney (1971). The masses, radii and luminosities of thestars have been derived assuming the global properties of a contactbinary system are the same as those of an analogous detached system. Atable listing the main photometric data is given. Substantial continuitywas observed in the physical properties of the A-type and the W-typesystems, suggesting a scenario in which almost all of the A-type systemsare the evolved counterparts of the W-types. The existence of aninhomogeneous group, probably evolved into contact from a detachedconfiguration, is confirmed. An upper limit for the primary mass of theunevolved objects is derived.
| Solution of the Asymmetric Light Curve of TY Mensae
Not Available
| IUE observations of W UMa systems AE Phoenicis and TY Mensae
SWP spectra of AE Phe and TY Men are presented and discussed. Thespectrum of AE Phe is typical in showing strong emission lines whichoriginate in the chromosphere and transition region. On the basis of thestrength of the He II emission line it is predicted that AE Phe shouldbe a moderately strong X-ray source. The spectrum of TY Men is tooweakly exposed for a full discussion. It is pointed out that this staris one of the most important for understanding of the activity in W UMasystems.
| Statistics of categorized eclipsing binary systems Lightcurve shapes, periods, and spectral types
The statistics of the light curve morphologies, eclipse depths, orbitalperiods, and spectral types of about 1000 eclipsing binary systems areexamined, after attempting to subdivide these binaries into variousbasic evolutionary categories. The applicability of statisticalcriteria, based on light curve morphologies and eclipse depths, for thecategorization of eclipsing binaries has been found more limited thanpreviously believed. In particular, EW-type light curves turn out to begood indicators of contact systems (though not conversely), while EA-and EB-type light curves have little physical significance. Moreover,the study reveals a strong deficit of short-period noncontact systems inthe whole spectral range, together with an underabundance of early-typecontact binaries (compared with the number of late-type contact pairs).Interestingly, the distribution of evolved Algol-type systems isshifted, on average, to periods longer than those of unevolved detachedsystems in the OB and early A spectral range (and to shorter periods inthe F spectral range).
| Violet and ultraviolet continua of W UMa systems on the basis of UVBY photometry observations
New observations of 17 southern WUMa systems are discussed together withprevious uvby data for 44 systems to determine properties of violet andultraviolet spectral distributions and to relate them to theperiod-color relation. The interstellar-reddening-corrected delta(m1)values extend from -0.02 to +0.10, which could be interpreted by aplausible range of metallicities; the most positive values of delta(m1)and largest ultraviolet excesses are observed for systems having theshortest periods at a given spectral type. The reddening-correcteddelta(c1) values are close to zero and are only slightly positive forearlier spectral types - mean delta (cl) = +0.04 for (b-y)O less than0.31 - indicating only very slight evolutionary advancement. Traces of adelta(cl) = -delta(ml) correlation for least evolved systems - smallestdelta(cl) - leave the possibility of intrinsic excesses still open.
| A uvby, beta photometric survey of southern hemisphere
A uvby, beta photometric study of southern hemisphere eclipsing binarystars has been undertaken at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory.The standardized colors and V magnitudes for 288 binaries at quadratureand/or at minimum are presented, along with an indication of theaccuracy of the standardization and photometry. Discussions of theresolving time of the pulse-counting photometers and of the atmosphericextinction at CTIO are included.
| Estimated absolute dimensions and the inferred lifetime and angular momentum of W Ursae Majoris contact binaries
The masses, radii, spectral types, and total specific angular momenta ofthe primary components of 47 W UMa contact binaries are estimated fromthe observed system spectral types and from an empirical spectraltype-mass relation. The binaries examined include 25 W-type and 22A-type systems. The absolute lifetimes of the primaries and theirfractional lifetimes with respect to the time required for crossing themain-sequence band are determined by finding the positions of theprimaries in theoretical evolutionary sequences for single stars. Afurther subdivision of the classical A- and W-type groups is discoveredin which each subclass corresponds to a characteristic origin andevolutionary state.
| Times of Minima for Southern Hemisphere Eclipsing Binaries
Not Available
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Observation and Astrometry data
| Constellation: | Mensa |
| Right ascension: | 05h26m49.72s |
| Declination: | -81°35'07.2" |
| Apparent magnitude: | 8.262 |
| Distance: | 168.634 parsecs |
| Proper motion RA: | -15.7 |
| Proper motion Dec: | 89.7 |
| B-T magnitude: | 8.566 |
| V-T magnitude: | 8.288 |
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INHABITED SKY
