H.-F. Dai

DEEP, LOW MASS RATIO OVERCONTACT BINARY SYSTEMS. XIII. DZ PISCIUM WITH INTRINSIC LIGHT VARIABILITY

New multi-color photometry for the eclipsing binary DZ Psc was performed in 2011 and 2012 using the 85 cm telescope at the Xinglong Station of the National Astronomical Observatories of China. Using the updated Wilson-Devinney (W-D) code, we deduced two sets of photometric solutions. The overcontact degree is f = 89.7(+/- 1.0)%, identifying DZ Psc as a deep, low mass ratio overcontact binary. The asymmetric light curves (i.e., LC2 in 2012) were modeled by a hot spot on the primary star. Based on all of the available light minimum times, we discovered that the orbital period of DZ Psc may be undergoing a secular period increase with a cyclic variation. The modulated period and semi-amplitude of this oscillation are P-mod = 11.89(+/- 0.19) yr and A = 0.0064(+/- 0.0006) days, which may be possibly attributed to either cyclic magnetic activity or light-time effect due to the third body. The long-term period increases at a rate of dP/dt = +7.43(+/- 0.17) x 10(-7) days yr(-1), which may be interpreted as conserved mass transfer from the less massive component to the more massive one. With mass transferring, DZ Psc will finally merge into a rapid-rotation single star when J(spin)/J(orb) > 1/3.

PHOTOMETRIC STUDIES OF THREE NEGLECTED SHORT-PERIOD CONTACT BINARIES GN BOOTIS, BL LEONIS, AND V1918 CYGNI

We present new photometry for three short-period contact binaries, GN Boo, BL Leo, and V1918 Cyg, observed from 2008 December to 2012 April using several small telescopes in China. Photometric models were deduced from new observations using the updated Wilson-Devinney Code. The results show that GN Boo and BL Leo are W-type contact binaries, while V1918 Cyg is an A-type one. The mass ratios and fill-out factors are q = 0.320(+/- 0.002) and f = 5.8(+/- 0.1)% for GN Boo, q = 0.476(+/- 0.005) and f = 21.3(+/- 1.1)% for BL Leo, q = 0.264(+/- 0.002), and f = 49.7(+/- 0.7)% for V1918 Cyg, respectively. From the (O - C) curves, it is discovered that the orbital periods of three binaries have varied in a complicated way, i.e., cyclic oscillation for GN Boo, long-term period decrease for BL Leo, and both for V1918 Cyg. The cyclic variations for GN Boo and V1918 Cyg may probably be attributed to the magnetic activity of the primary component or light-time effect due to the third body. Meanwhile, the secular period decreases for BL Leo and V1918 Cyg may result from mass transfer from the primary to the secondary, accompanying the mass and angular momentum loss from the central system. Finally, GN Boo, BL Leo, and V1918 Cyg will evolve into deep contact binaries. Additionally, a statistical study of 37 contact binaries with decreasing periods is given. We obtained the relations of q - f and q - d ln P/dt, and preliminarily determined the mass loss rate of d ln M/dt from the binary system.

PHOTOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF SELECTED ALGOL-TYPE BINARIES. III. AL GEMINORUM AND BM MONOCEROTIS WITH POSSIBLE LIGHT-TIME ORBITS

We present the CCD photometry of two Algol-type binaries, AL Gem and BM Mon, observed from 2008 November to 2011 January. With the updated Wilson-Devinney program, photometric solutions were deduced from their EA-type light curves. The mass ratios and fill-out factors of the primaries are found to be q ph = 0.090(± 0.005) and f 1 = 47.3%(± 0.3%) for AL Gem, and q ph = 0.275(± 0.007) and f 1 = 55.4%(± 0.5%) for BM Mon, respectively. By analyzing the O–C curves, we discovered that the periods of AL Gem and BM Mon change in a quasi-sinusoidal mode, which may possibly result from the light-time effect via the presence of a third body. Periods, amplitudes, and eccentricities of light-time orbits are 78.83(± 1.17) yr, 00204(±00007), and 0.28(± 0.02) for AL Gem and 97.78(± 2.67) yr, 00175(±00006), and 0.29(± 0.02) for BM Mon, respectively. Assumed to be in a coplanar orbit with the binary, the masses of the third bodies would be 0.29 M ☉ for AL Gem and 0.26 M ☉ for BM Mon. This kind of additional companion can extract angular momentum from the close binary orbit, and such processes may play an important role in multiple star evolution.

OO Aquilae: a solar-type contact binary with intrinsic light curve changes

New multi-color photometry of the solar-type contact binary OO Aql was obtained in 2012 and 2013, using the 60 cm telescope at Xinglong Station of the National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences. From two sets of light curves LC 1 and LC 2 , photometric models were performed by using the 2003 version of the Wilson-Devinney code. The overcontact factor of the binary system was determined to be f = 37.0(±0.5)%. The intrinsic variability of this binary occurs in light maxima and minima, which could result from a possible third component and magnetic activity of the late type components. Based on all available light minimum times, the orbital period may change in a complicated mode, i.e., sudden period jumps or continuous period variations. The period of OO Aql may possibly undergo a secular period decrease with a rate of dP/dt = −3.63(±0.30) × 10 −8 d yr −1 , superimposed by two possible cyclic variations in the O − C curve. The long-term period decrease may be interpreted as conserved mass transfer from the more massive component to the less massive one. The 21.5-yr oscillation may be attributed to cyclic magnetic activity, and the 69.3-yr one may result from the light-time effect of an unseen tertiary body.

PS Vir: a short-period solar-like contact binary

We present multi-color photometric observations and a one-dimensional spectrum, acquired from March 2016 to May 2017, for the short-period eclipsing binary PS Vir, by using the 2.16-m, 85-cm and 60-cm telescopes at Xinglong station, which is administered by National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences. The spectral type was determined as G2V from the onedimensional spectrum. The photometric solution was reduced from BV Rc light curves. The results imply that PS Vir is a W-subtype contact binary with a mass ratio of q = 0.305(±0.008) and a fill-out factor of f = 14.4(±1.8)%. The orbital period may be undergoing a cyclic oscillation with an amplitude of A = 0.0027(±0.0001)d and a modulated period of 11.7(±0.2)yr, which may result from the light-time effect due to a third body. The lower limit on mass for the assumed component is 0.12 M⊙. Moreover, the more massive component of PS Vir may be a bit more evolved star as determined from the mass-luminosity diagram.

WW Geminorum: An Early B-type Eclipsing Binary Evolving into the Contact Phase

WW Gem is a B-type eclipsing binary with a period of 1.2378 days. The CCD photometry of this binary was performed in 2013 December using the 85 cm telescope at the Xinglong Stations of the National Astronomical Observatories of China. Using the updated W-D program, the photometric model was deduced from the VRI light curves. The results imply that WW Gem is a near-contact eclipsing binary whose primary component almost fills its Roche lobe. The photometric mass ratio is qph = 0.48(±0.05). All collected times of minimum light, including two newones,wereusedfortheperiodstudies.TheorbitalperiodchangesofWWGemcouldbedescribedbyanupward parabola, possibly overlaid by a light-time orbit with a period of Pmod = 7.41(±0.04)yr and a semi-amplitude of A = 0.0079 days(±0.0005 days), respectively. This kind of cyclic oscillation may be attributed to the light-travel time effect via the third body. The long-term period increases at a rate of dP/dt = +3.47(±0.04) ×10 −8 dayyr −1 , which may be explained by the conserved mass transfer from the less massive component to the more massive one. With mass transfer, the massive binary WW Gem may be evolving into a contact binary.