Jia-Jia He

Deep, Low Mass Ratio Overcontact Binary Systems. VI. AH Cancri in the Old Open Cluster M67

CCD photometric light curves in the B and V bands obtained in 2001 and in the V band obtained in 2002 of AH Cnc in the old open cluster M67 are presented. It is shown that AH Cnc is a total-eclipsing binary and its light curves correspond to a typical A type according to Binnendijks classification. The variations of the light curve around the primary minimum and second maximum were found. Our nine epochs of light minimum monitored from 2001 to 2005, including others collected from the literature, were used to create the first study of the period changes of the binary system. A cyclic oscillation with a period of 36.5 yr and an amplitude of 0.0237 days was discovered to be superposed on a continuous period increase (dP/dt = 3: 99; 10(-7) days yr(-1)). Weak evidence indicates that there exists another small-amplitude period oscillation (A(4) = 0: 0035 days, P-4 = 7.75 yr). The symmetric light curves in the B and V bands obtained in 2001 were analyzed with the 2003 version of the Wilson-Devinney code. It is confirmed that AH Cnc is a deep overcontact binary system with a high degree of overcontact f = 58.5%+/- 4.5% and a low mass ratio of q = 0.1682 +/- 0.0012. The existence of the third light and the cyclic period oscillation both may suggest that AH Cnc is a triple system containing an unseen third body. The tertiary component may have played an important role in the origin of the overcontact binary star by removing angular momentum from the central system, which would cause it to have a short initial orbital period and thus evolve into an overcontact configuration by angular momentum loss. The long-term period increase can be interpreted as a mass transfer from the less massive component to the more massive one. As the orbital period increases, the decrease of the mass ratio will cause it finally to evolve into a single rapid-rotating star when the system meets the more familiar criterion that the orbital angular momentum be less than 3 times the total spin angular momentum. Therefore, AH Cnc may be a progenitor of the blue straggler stars in M67.

AD Cancri: A shallow contact solar-type eclipsing binary and evidence for a dwarf third component and a 16 year magnetic cycle

CCD photometric observations of AD Cancri obtained from 2000 March 7 to 2004 December 20 are presented. Variations of the light levels at the primary minimum and both maxima are found. Uniform solutions of four sets of photometric data were derived by using the Wilson-Devinney method. The solutions suggest that AD Cancri is a shallow W-type contact binary (f 8.3% +/- 1.3%) with a highmass ratio of 1/q = 0.770 +/- 0.002. The long-term variation of the light curve is explained by variable dark-spot models of the more massive component star with a possible 17 yr cycle. Our 13 times of light minimum over 5 years, including others collected from the literature, have been used for the period study. The complex period changes can be sorted into a long-term period increase at rate of dP/dt +(4.94 +/- 0.16) x 10(-7) days yr(-1), a 16.2 yr periodic component (A(3) = 0.0155 days), and a very small amplitude period oscillation (A(4) = 0.0051 days, P-4 = 6.6 yr). The existence of third light may indicate that there is a tertiary component in the binary system. Solving the four-band light curves of Samec & Bookmyer, it is found that the contribution of the tertiary component to the total light of the triple system increases with wavelength, which suggests that it is very cool and may be a very red main-sequence star. The small-amplitude period oscillation may be caused by the light-time effect of the cool tertiary component (M-3 similar to 0.41 M-circle dot). The 16.2 yr periodic component in the orbital period and the 17 yr cyclic activity of the dark spot on the more massive component both may reveal that the more massive component displays solar-type magnetic activity with a cycle length of about 16 yr.

A New CCD Photometric Investigation of the Short-Period Close Binary AP Leonis

New CCD photometric light curves in the B, V, and R bands of the short-period close binary AP Leonis are presented. A photometric analysis with our symmetric light curves suggests that AP Leo is an overcontact binary with a degree of overcontact of 24.9%. Since the O - C values of photographic and visual times of light minimum showed a large scatter (up to 0.06 days), all of the period changes proposed for the eclipsing binary by previous investigators are not reliable. In this paper the orbital period changes of AP Leo are analyzed based on all published CCD and photoelectric eclipse times. A small-amplitude cyclic oscillation, with a period of 22.4 yr and an amplitude of 0.0049 days, is discovered to be superposed on a secular period decrease at a rate of dP/dt = - 1:08; 10(-7) days yr(-1). The continuous period decrease may be caused by angular momentum loss or a combination of the mass transfer from the primary to the secondary and angular momentum loss. The cyclic period change may indicate that AP Leo is a triple system containing a cool dwarf third component. If this is true, it is possible that this third component plays an important role in the origin and evolution of the overcontact system by removing angular momentum from the central system, and that it makes the eclipsing pair have a low angular momentum and a short initial orbital period ( e. g., P < 5 days). In that case, the initially detached system evolves into an overcontact configuration via magnetic torques from stellar winds. On the other hand, the rapid rotation of the solar-type components (spectral type G0) and the variations of the light curve indicate a high degree of magnetic activity from the spin-up of the components. Both the long-term period decrease and the oscillation can plausibly be interpreted by magnetic activity (i.e., enhanced magnetic stellar wind and activity cycles).

Deep, low mass ratio overcontact binary systems. v. the lowest mass ratio binary V857 herculis

Charge-coupled device (CCD) photometric light curves in the B, V, and R bands of the complete eclipsing binary star V857 Her are presented. It is shown that the light curves of the W UMa-type binary are symmetric and of A type according to Binnendijks classification. Our four epochs of light minimum along with others compiled from the literature were used to revise the period and study the period change. Weak evidence indicates that the orbital period of V857 Her may show a continuous increase at a rate of dP/dt = +2.90 x 10(-7) days yr(-1). The photometric parameters of the system were determined with the 2003 version of the Wilson-Devinney code. It is shown that V857 Her is a deep overcontact binary system with f = 83.8% +/- 5.1%. The derived mass ratio of q = 0.06532 +/- 0.0002 suggests that it has the lowest mass ratio among overcontact binary systems. As the orbital period increases, the decrease of the mass ratio will cause it to evolve into a single rapidly rotating star when it meets the more familiar criterion that the orbital angular momentum be less than 3 times the total spin angular momentum. To understand the evolutionary state of the system, long-term photometric monitoring and spectroscopic observations will be required.

Deep, Low Mass Ratio Overcontact Binary Systems. VII. QX Andromedae in the Intermediate-Age Open Cluster NGC 752

QX Andromedae is a short- period eclipsing binary in the intermediate- age open cluster NGC 752. Charge- coupled device photometric observations of the close binary system obtained from 2004 November 13 to 2006 November 18 are presented. It is confirmed that the light curves show partial eclipses, and night-to- night intrinsic variations are seen. As in the case of AH Cancri in the old open cluster M67, the light curve of QX And seems to change between A and W types. Both the short- and long-term light variations suggest that QX And shows strong magnetic activity, which is in agreement with its X- ray observations. The symmetric light curves in B and V bands obtained the night of 2004 November 13 were analyzed with the new version of the W- D code. It is found that QX And is a deep overcontact binary system with a high degree of overcontact of f = 55.9% and a low mass ratio of q = 0.2327, suggesting that it is in the late stage of overcontact evolution. Based on our 23 times of light minimum, including four recently published eclipse times, the orbital period of the eclipsing binary was revised. It was discovered that the orbital period shows a continuous period increase at a rate of dP/dt =+2.48x10(-7) days yr(-1), which can be interpreted as a mass transfer from the less massive component to the more massive one. As the period increases, the mass ratio of the system will decrease. It may finally evolve into a rapid- rotating single star when it meets the more familiar criterion that the orbital angular momentum is less than 3 times the total spin angular momentum. The existence of QX And in the late evolutionary stage of an overcontact binary in the intermediate- age open cluster NGC 752 indicates that it may undergo strong cluster stellar interaction. This means it had a very short initial orbital period and could have evolved into the present evolutionary state within the cluster age. By comparing with the evolutionary state of TX Cnc in M44, it is estimated that the lifetime of overcontact binaries may be no less than 1 Gyr.

MAGNETIC BRAKING AND THE EVOLUTION OF THE HW VIR-LIKE BINARY STARS

HW Vir-like close binaries are thought to be the progenitors of cataclysmic variables. However, how this type of peculiar stars evolve into cataclysmic variables is an unsolved problem in astrophysics. Here we report the variations of the orbital period of HW Vir, the prototype of this group of systems. A long-term period decrease is discovered to be superimposed on the well-known cyclic change reported by previous investigators. It is suggested that the continuous decrease can be plausibly interpreted by angular momentum loss via magnetic braking of the completely convective star. This is driving the shrink of the orbit and will result in mass transfer between both components. We found that the binary will be undergoing mass transfer long before the sdB primary star evolves into a white dwarf. This conclusion suggests that HW Vir-like binaries do not directly evolve into cataclysmic variables through angular momentum loss as astronomers previously thought. On the other hand, if the observed period decrease is only part of a long-period cyclic variation, it may reveal the presence of another substellar companion in a wide orbit. This makes HW Vir an important system for future study of the formation and evolution of substellar objects.

A NEW PHOTOMETRIC INVESTIGATION OF THE W UMA-TYPE BINARY BI CVn

New photometric observations and their investigation of the W UMa-type binary, BI CVn, are presented. The variations of the orbital period were analyzed based on 12 new determined times of light minimum together with the others compiled from the literature. It is discovered that the period of BI CVn shows a long-term period decrease at a rate of. (P) over dot = -1.51(+/- 0.12) x 10(-7) days year(-1) while it undergoes a cyclic variation with a period of 27.0 years and an amplitude of 0(d).0151. Photometric solutions determined with the Wilson-Devinney method suggest that BI CVn is a contact binary with a degree of contact of 18.0(+/- 1.7)%. The asymmetry of the light curves was interpreted by the presence of dark spots on both components, and absolute parameters were determined by combining the photometric elements with the spectroscopic solutions given by Lu. The observed period decrease can be plausibly explained by a combination of the mass transfer from the primary to the secondary and angular momentum loss via magnetic braking. The cyclic period oscillation suggests that BI CVn is a triple system containing a tertiary component with a mass no less than 0.58 M(circle dot) in a 27.0 year orbit. As in the cases of the other contact binaries (e. g., AH Cnc, AP Leo, AD Cnc, and UX Eri), it is possible that this tertiary companion played an important role for the formation and evolution of the contact system by removing angular momentum from the central system via Kozai oscillation or a combination of Kozai cycle and tidal friction, which causes the eclipsing pair to have a short initial orbital period (e. g., P < 5(d)). In that case, can the initially detached system evolve into the present contact configuration via a combination of magnetic torques from stellar winds and a case A mass transfer?

Photometric studies of twelve deep, low-mass ratio overcontact binary systems

The formations of the blue straggler stars and the FK Com-type stars are unsolved problems in stellar astrophysics. One of the possibilities for their formations is from the coalescence of W UMa-type overcontact binary systems. Therefore, deep (f > 50%), low-mass ratio (q < 0.25) overcontact binary stars are a very important source to understand the phenomena of Blue Straggler/FK Com-type stars. Recently, 12 W UMa-type binary stars, FG Hya, GR Vir, IK Per, TV Mus, CU Tau, V857 Her, V410 Aur, XY Boo, SX CrV, QX And, GSC 619-232, and AH Cnc, were investigated photometrically. Apart from TV Mus, XY boo, and GSC 619-232, new observations of the other 9 binaries were obtained. Complete light curves of the 10 systems, FG Hya, GR Vir, IK Per, TV Mus, CU Tau, V857 Her, GSC 619-232, V410 Aur, XY Boo, and AH Cnc, were analyzed with the 2003 version of the W-D code. It is shown that all of those systems are deep (f > 50%), low-mass ratio (q < 0.25) overcontact binary stars. We found that the system GSC 619-232 has the highest degree of overcontact (f = 93.4%). The derived photometric mass ratio of V857 Her, q = 0.0653, indicates that it is the lowest-mass ratio system among W UMa-type binaries.Of the 12 sample stars, long-term period changes of 11 systems were found. About 58% (seven) of the sample binaries show cyclic period oscillation. No cyclic period changes were discovered for the other 5 systems, which may be caused by the short observational time interval or by insufficient observations. Therefore, we think that all W UMa-type binary stars may contain cyclic period variations. By considering the long-term period changes (both increase and decrease) of those binary stars, we proposed two evolutionary scenarios evolving from deep, low-mass ratio overcontact binaries into Blue Straggler/FK Com-type stars.

Orbital period changes of the nova-like cataclysmic variable AC Cancri: evidence of magnetic braking and an unseen companion

Aims. The source AC Cnc is a nova-like cataclysmic variable containing a white-dwarf primary with a mass of 0.76 M-circle dot and a K2-type secondary with a mass of 0.77 M-circle dot. We intend to study its period changes and search for evidence of magnetic braking and unseen third body. Methods. The period changes were investigated based on the analysis of the O-C curve, which is formed by one new eclipse time together with the others compiled from the literature. Results. A cyclic change with a period of 16.2 yr was found to be superimposed on a long-term period decrease at a rate of. P = -1.24(+/- 0.44) x 10(-8) days/year. Conclusions. It is shown that the mechanism of magnetic activity-driven changes in the quadrupole momentum of the secondary star (Applegates mechanism) does not explain it easily. This period oscillation was plausibly interpreted by a light-travel time effect caused by the presence of a cool M-type dwarf companion (M-3 > 0.097 M-circle dot) in a long orbit (16.2 yr) around the binary. Since the masses of both components are nearly the same, the mass transfer from the lobe-filling secondary to the primary is not efficient to cause the continuous period decrease. It may be strong evidence of an enhanced magnetic stellar wind from the K2-type component. If the Alfen radius of the cool secondary is the same as that of the Sun (i.e., R-A = 15 R-circle dot), the mass-loss rate should be. M-2 = -1.65 x 10(-10) M-circle dot/year. By using the enhanced mass loss proposed by Tout & Eggleton (1988), the mass-loss rate should be. M-2 = -1.18 x 10(-9) M-circle dot/year. In this case, the Alfen radius is determined to be R-A = 5.2 R-circle dot. However, the long-term decrease of the period may be only a part of a long-period (> 100 yr) oscillation caused by the presence of an additional body. To check the conclusions, new precise times of light minimum will be required.

CCD Photometric Study of the Contact Binary TX Cnc in the Young Open Cluster NGC 2632

TX Cnc is a member of the young open cluster NGC 2632. In the present paper, four CCD epochs of light minimum and a complete V light curve of TX Cnc are presented. A period investigation based on all available photoelectric or CCD data showed that it is superimposed on a long-term increase (dP/dt = +3.97 x 10(-8) d yr(-1)), and weak evidence suggests that it includes a small-amplitude period oscillation (A(3) = 0.(d)0028; T-3 = 26.6 yr). The light curves in the V band obtained in 2004 were analyzed with the 2003 version of the W-D code. It was shown that TX Cue is an overcontact binary system with a degree of contact factor f = 24.8% (+/- 0.9%). The absolute parameters of the system were calculated: M-1 = 1.319 +/- 0.007 M-circle dot M-2 = 0.600 +/- 0.01 M-circle dot; R-1 = 1.28 +/- 0.19 R-circle dot, R-2 = 0.91 +/- 0.13 R-circle dot. TX Cnc may be on the TRO-controlled stage of the evolutionary scheme proposed by Qian (2001a, b, 2003a), and may contain an invisible tertiary component (m(3) approximate to 0.097 (circle dot)). If this is true, the tertiary component has played an important role in the formation and evolution of TX Cnc by removing angular momentum from the central system (Pribulla & Rucinski 2006). In this way the contact binary configuration can be formed in the shortlife time of a young open cluster via AML.