Photometric Studies of EV Cnc and AH Cnc in the Open Cluster M67

Contact binaries at various stages of evolution unveil various operating mechanisms that drive them.We report the photometric and period variation analysis of two contact binaries EV Cnc and AH Cnc in open cluster M67.We observed the cluster from the JCBT 1.3 m telescope and utilized TESS and Kepler observations.The photometric solutions of EV Cnc and AH Cnc revealed a mass ratio of q~0.41 and~0.15 with an inclination of i=42°and87°respectively.These solutions suggest that EV Cnc is probably a semi-detached and AH Cnc is a deep low-mass ratio contact binary.The study of O-C variation analysis indicates that for both systems,the period is increasing which suggests the mass transfer is occurring from secondary to primary.In the case of AH Cnc and based on simulations by randomly varying the time of minima to fit the LITE solution,we noted the third body orbital period to be around P_(3)=26.82±2.54 yr,which is different from earlier reported values and conclude that future observations are required to confirm this scenario.We compare these two systems with other similar contact binaries to get an estimate of the final configuration of the respective systems.

Magnetic Activity and Parameters of 43 Flare Stars in the GWAC Archive

In the archive of the Ground Wide Angle Camera(GWAC),we found 43 white light flares from 43 stars,among which,three are sympathetic or homologous flares,and one of them also has a quasi-periodic pulsation with a period of 13.0±1.5 minutes.Among these 43 flare stars,there are 19 new active stars and 41 stars that have available TESS and/or K2 light curves,from which we found 931 stellar flares.We also obtained rotational or orbital periods of 34 GWAC flare stars,of which 33 are less than 5.4 days,and ephemerides of three eclipsing binaries from these light curves.Combining with low resolution spectra from LAMOST and the Xinglong 2.16 m telescope,we found that L_(Hα)/L_(bol) are in the saturation region in the rotation-activity diagram.From the LAMOST medium-resolution spectrum,we found that Star#3(HAT 178-02667)has double Hαemissions which imply it is a binary,and two components are both active stars.Thirteen stars have flare frequency distributions(FFDs)from TESS and/or K2 light curves.These FFDs show that the flares detected by GWAC can occur at a frequency of 0.5to 9.5 yr^(-1).The impact of flares on habitable planets was also studied based on these FFDs,and flares from some GWAC flare stars may produce enough energetic flares to destroy ozone layers,but none can trigger prebiotic chemistry on their habitable planets.

Detection of Pulsation and Additional Components in Eclipsing Binary RS Sct

The eclipsing binary star RS Sct is a semi-detached system of theβLyrae type.This system was photometered for six nights in 2019 August,and 2020 June and August.The light and radial velocity curves were simultaneously analyzed to obtain the absolute physical and orbital parameters of the system,and the system geometry was determined.In this system,the primary component has filled its inner Roche lobe and the secondary component is close to filling it.Moreover,the change in the orbital period of this system was investigated.The presence of the third or fourth components and the mass transfer between the two components affect the orbital period of the system.In addition,the pulsation of the primary component was detected.Also,several frequencies with high signal-to-noise ratios were identified.According to the position of the primary component in the H-R diagram and the value of the obtained frequencies,this component is likely a delta-Scuti pulsator.

New Photometric Investigations of G-type Contact Binary TU Boo

Two sets of CCD photometric observations for contact binary TU Boo were obtained in 2020 and 2021.Different from its asymmetric light curves published from the literature,our BVRcIc-band curves show that the heights of maximum are almost equal.These distortions of light curves possibly indicate that the components were active in past 25 yr,but they were stable in the last two years.For total-eclipse binary TU Boo,due to some star-spots on the surface of the components,the physical structure obtained by many investigators are different.Therefore,the symmetric multi-color light curves in 2020,2021 are important for understanding configuration and evolution of this system.By using the Wilson–Devinney program,it is confirmed that TU Boo is an A-type shallow-contact binary with the temperature difference ofΔT=152 K and fill-out of f=14.67%.In the O−C diagram of orbital period analysis,a cyclic oscillation superimposed on a continuous decrease was determined.The long-term decreasing is often explained by the mass transfer from the more massive star to less massive one,this system will evolve into a deeper contact binary with time.The cyclic oscillations computed from much more CCD times of light minimum maybe result from the light-travel time effect via the presence of a third body.These characters of structure,evolution and ternary belong to typical A-type W UMa binaries with spectral G.

IP Lyn:A Totally Eclipsing Contact Binary with an Extremely Low Mass Ratio

We present the first photometric and orbital period investigations for a neglected totally eclipsing contact binary IP Lyn.The photometric solutions derived from both ground-based and several surveys'observations suggest that it is a shallow contact binary with an extremely low mass ratio of 0.055.The weak asymmetry observed in our multiple band light curves can be interpreted as a result of an active cool spot on the primary.The absolute physical parameters were determined with the Gaia-distance-based method and checked by an empirical relation.Combining the eclipse timings collected from the literature and those derived from our and variable surveys'observations,we find that IP Lyn has been undergoing a secular orbital period increase for the past two decades,implying a mass transfer from the less massive secondary to the primary.By comparing the current parameters with the critical instability ones,we infer that IP Lyn is currently stable in spite of its relatively low mass ratio and orbital angular momentum.Finally,from a catalog of 117 extremely low mass ratio contact binaries,we find that their orbital angular momenta are significantly lower than those of the contact binaries with a relatively high mass ratio,suggesting they should be at the late evolutionary stage of a contact binary.

1SWASP J010313.78+352903.7:A Totally Eclipsing Binary with Components in Poor Thermal Contact

We presented photometry for an EB-type totally eclipsing binary,1SWASP J010313.78+352903.7,observed with the Xinglong 85 cm telescope on 2021 October 22.Light curves in five bands(including the TESS data)were analyzed by employing the Wilson-Devinney method.The photometric solutions show that it is a contact binary with a relatively low mass ratio(q≌0.28),relatively large fill-out factor(f≌40%)and large temperature difference(ΔT≌1700 K).Max.I-Max.II is up to about 9%of variable light amplitude of the asymmetric light curves.It is well described by double-hot spots model on the surface of the cooler secondary.The two hot spots are both in growing and evolving.They may be caused by two different mechanics,i.e.,magnetic stellar activity and mass transfer.The large temperature difference between the two contact components indicates that they share a non-thermal equilibrium common envelope.

Constraining the Orbital Inclination and Companion Properties of Three Black Widow Pulsars Detected by FAST

Black widows(BWs)are millisecond pulsars ablating their companion stars.The out-flowing material from the companion can block the radio emission of the pulsar,resulting in eclipses.In this paper,we construct a model for the radio eclipse by calculating the geometry of the bow shock between the winds of the pulsar and companion,where the shock shapes the eclipsing medium but had not been described in detail in previous works.The model is further used to explain the variations of the flux density and dispersion measure of three BW pulsars(i.e.,PSR B1957+20,J2055+3829,and J2051-0827)detected by the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope.Consequently,we constrained the parameters of the three BW systems such as the inclination angles and true anomalies of the observer as well as the mass-loss rates and wind velocity of the companion stars.With the help of these constraints,it is expected that magnetic fields of companion stars and even masses of pulsars could further be determined as some extra observation can be achieved in the future.

ASAS J174406+2446.8 is identified as a marginal-contact binary with a possible cool third body

ASAS J174406+2446.8 was originally found as aδScuti-type pulsating star with the period P=0.189068 d by ASAS survey.However,the LAMOST stellar parameters reveal that it is far beyond the red edge of pulsational instability strip on the log g-T diagram ofδScuti pulsating stars.To understand the physical properties of the variable star,we observed it by the 1.0-m Cassegrain reflecting telescope at Yunnan Observatories.Multi-color light curves in B,V,R_c and I_c bands were obtained and are analyzed by using the W-D program.It is found that this variable star is a shallow-contact binary with an EB-type light curve and an orbital period of 0.3781 d rather than aδScuti star.It is a W-subtype contact binary with a mass ratio of 1.135(±0.019)and a fill-out factor of 10.4%(±5.6)%.The situation of ASAS J174406+2446.8 resembles those of other EB-type marginal-contact binaries such as UU Lyn,ⅡPer and GW Tau.All of them are at a key evolutionary phase from a semi-detached configuration to a contact system predicted by the thermal relaxation oscillation theory.The linear ephemeris was corrected by using 303 new determined times of light minimum.It is detected that the O-C curve shows a sinusoidal variation that could be explained by the light-travel-time effect via the presence of a cool red dwarf.The present investigation reveals that some of theδScuti-type stars beyond the red edge of pulsating instability strip on the log g-T diagram are misclassified eclipsing binaries.To understand their structures and evolutionary states,more studies are required in the future.

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 one-dimensional spectrum. The photometric solution was reduced from BVRc light curves. The results imply that PS Vir is a W-subtype contact binary with a mass ratio of q - 0.305（zk0.008） and a fill-out factor of f = 14.4（＋1.8）%. The orbital period may be undergoing a cyclic oscillation with an ampli-tude of A = 0.0027（~0.0001）d and a modulated period of 11.7（4-0.2） 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 Me. Moreover, the more massive component of PS Vir may be a bit more evolved star as determined from the mass-luminosity diagram.

Photometric analysis and evolutionary stages of the contact binary V2790 Ori

A photometric analysis and evolutionary stages of the contact binary V2790 Ori are presented.The BV RC observations were carried out at the Thai National Observatory. The photometric light curves were fitted to provide fundamental parameters, required to examine evolutionary stages of the binary. The results indicate that V2790 Ori is a W-type contact system with a mass ratio of q = 2.932. The orbital period increase is found at a rate of d P/dt = 1.03×10^-7 d yr^-1. This implies that a rate of mass transfer from the secondary component to the primary one is dm2/dt =6.31×10^-8 M⊙yr^-1. Furthermore, we find that from the detached phase to the contact phase, the amount of mass that the evolved secondary component has lost is 1.188±0.110 M⊙, i.e., mass lost by the system is 0.789±0.073 M⊙and mass transfer to the primary is0.399±0.037 M⊙. Since the time of the first overflow, the angular momentum loss is found to be 72.2% of JFOF, causing the orbit and Roche surface to shrink until the present time.

More than two hundred and fifty thousand spectroscopic binary or variable star candidates discovered by LAMOST

About 786.4 thousand stars were observed by LAMOST twice or more during the first stage of its spectroscopic survey. The radial velocity differences for about 256 thousand targets are larger than10 km s^(-1) and they are possible spectroscopic binary or variable candidates(SBVCs). It is shown that most SBVCs are slightly metal poorer than the Sun. There are two peaks in the temperature distribution of SBVCs around 5760 K and 4870 K, while there are three peaks in the distribution of the gravitational acceleration at 2.461, 4.171 and 4.621 cm s^(-2). The locations of SBVCs on the [Fe/H]-T, [Fe/H]-log g, log g-T and H-R diagrams are investigated. It is found that the detected SBVCs could be classified into four groups. The first group has higher log g～4.621 and lower T ～ 4870 K which are mainly cool red dwarf binaries. The second group of SBVCs has logg around 4.171 cm s^(-2) that includes binaries and pulsating stars such as δSet and γ Dor variables. The gravitational accelerations of the third group of SBVCs are higher and some of them are below the zero-age main sequence. They may be contact binaries in which the primary components are losing energy to the secondaries in the common envelopes and are at a special stellar evolutionary stage.The last group is composed of giants or supergiants with log g around 2.461 cm s^(-2) that may be evolved pulsating stars. One target(C134624.29+333921.2) is confirmed as an eclipsing binary with a period of 0.65 days. A preliminary analysis suggests that it is a detached binary with a mass ratio of 0.46. The primary fills its critical Roche lobe by about 89%, indicating that mass transfer will occur between the two components.

Spectroscopic and photometric studies of a candidate pulsating star in an eclipsing binary:V948 Her

Eclipsing binary stars with a pulsating component are powerful tools that allow us to probe the stellar interior structure and the evolutionary statuses with a good accuracy. Therefore, in this study, spectroscopic and photometric examinations of an eclipsing binary system V948 Her are presented. The primary component of the system is classified to be a candidate 3 Scuti variable in the literature. The fundamental stellar, atmospheric and orbital parameters, and the surface abundance of the star were determined and the pulsation behaviour was investigated in this study. The orbital parameters were derived by the analysis of radial velocity and SuperWASP light curves. The spectral classification was found to be F2V. The initial atmospheric parameters of the primary component were derived by analysis of the spectral energy distribution and hydrogen lines. The final atmospheric parameters and chemical abundances of the primary component were obtained by using the method of spectrum synthesis. As a result, the final atmospheric parameters were determined as Teff= 7100±200 K, log 9= 4.34±0.1 cgs and ζ = 2.2 4± 0.2 km s^-1. The surface abundance was found to be similar to solar. The fundamental stellar parameters of both components were also obtained to be M = 1.722 4±0.123, 0.762 4± 0.020 Me, R = 1.655 4± 0.034,M,R= 0.689 ± 0.016 R for primary and secondary components, respectively. The pulsation characteristic of the primary component was examined using SuperWASP data and the pulsation period was found to be ~0.038 d. The position of the primary pulsating component was also obtained inside the instability strip of δ Sct stars. The primary component of V948 Her was defined to be a Sct variable.

Photometric investigations on two totally eclipsing contact binaries:V342 UMa and V509 Cam

By analyzing two sets of complete BV Rc Ic light curves for V342 UMa and three sets of complete BV Rc Ic light curves for V509 Cam, we determined that the two systems are both W-subtype contact binaries and that V342 UMa manifests a shallow contact configuration, while V509 Cam exhibits a medium contact configuration. Given that both of them are totally eclipsing binaries, the physical parameters derived only by the photometric light curves are reliable. Meanwhile, the period changes of the two targets were analyzed based on all available eclipsing times. We discovered that V342 UMa shows long-term period decrease with a rate of-1.02(±0.54)× 10^-7 d yr^-1 and that V509 Cam displays long-term period increase with a rate of 3.96(±0.90)× 10^-8 d yr^-1. Both the conservative mass transfer and angular momentum loss via magnetic stellar winds can be used to interpret the long-term period decrease of V342 UMa. The longterm period increase of V509 Cam can be explained by mass transfer from the less massive star to the more massive one. The absolute parameters of the two binaries were estimated according to their Gaia distances and our derived photometric solution results. This method can be extended to other contact binaries without radial velocities but with reliable photometric solutions. Their evolutionary states were investigated and we found that they reveal properties that are identical to other W-subtype contact systems.

The first photometric investigations of the G-type shallow contact binary IO Cnc

IO Cnc was classified to be a new G-type(G0)W UMa-type eclipsing binary system.Our first multicolor photometric solutions show that IO Cnc is a new W-subtype shallow contact binary with a fill-out factor of f=16.1%and a low mass ratio of q=3.12(or 1/q=0.32).During orbital period investigations,a cyclic variation and a downward parabolic variation with a rate of(-1.28±0.43)×10^(-7) d yr^(-1) was discovered in the observed–calculated(O-C)curve.The cyclic variation was analyzed by the light travel time effect(LTTE)via a potential red dwarf companion star,an orbital semi-major axis shorter than 4.88±0.82 AU was obtained.Finally,we collect physical parameters of a sample of 50 G-type shallow contact binaries(f≤20%),it is suggested that most of the G-type shallow contact binaries are undergoing a longterm and periodic orbital period changes,especially more systems show long-term decreases.The long-term orbital period decrease indicates that IO Cnc is in a mass transferring from the more massive component to the less massive one.With the long-term decrease of the orbital period,this shallow contact binary will evolve into a deeper contact one.

Orbital period correction and light curve modeling of the W-subtype shallow contact binary OW Leo

Orbital period and multi-color light curves’investigation of OW Leo are presented for the first time.The orbital period of OW Leo is corrected from P=0.325545 days to P=0.32554052 days in our work,and the observational data from the All-Sky Automated Survey for Super Novae(ASAS-SN)are used to test the newly determined orbital period.Then,the phased light curves are calculated with the new period and the Wilson-Devinney program is applied to model the light curves,which reveal that OW Leo is a W-subtype shallow contact binary system(q=3.05,f=12.8%).The absolute physical parameters of the two component stars are estimated to be M_(1)=0.31(1)M_(⊙),M_(2)=0.95(3)M_(⊙),R_(1)=0.63(1)R⊙,R_(2)=1.04(1)R_(⊙),L_(1)=0.43(1)L_(⊙)and L_(2)=1.01(2)L_(⊙).The evolutionary status shows that the more massive star is less evolved than the less massive star.OW Leo has very low metal abundance,which means its formation and evolution are hardly influenced by any additional component.It is formed from an initially detached binary system through nuclear evolution and angular momentum loss via magnetic braking,and has passed a very long time of main sequence evolution.

EPIC 202843107:a close eclipsing binary containing a δ Scuti variable

This paper reports on the discovery that an eclipsing binary system, EPIC 202843107, has aδ Scuti variable component. The phased light curve from the Kepler space telescope presents a detached configuration. The binary modeling indicates that the two component stars have almost the same radius and may have experienced orbital circularization. Frequency analyses are performed for the residual light curve after subtracting the binary variations. The frequency spectrum reveals that one component star is a δ Scuti variable. A large frequency separation is cross-identified with the corresponding histogram, the Fourier transform and the echelle diagram method. The mean density of the δ Scuti component is estimated to be 0.09 g cm-3 based on the large separation and density relation. Systems like EPIC 202843107 are helpful to study the stellar evolution and physical state of binary stars.

NSVS 01286630:a detached binary with a close-in companion

New photometric observations of NS VS 01286630 were performed and two sets of fourcolor（B, V, Rc, Ic） light curves（LCs） were obtained. Using the 2013 version of the Wilson-Devinney（W-D） code, we analyzed these data. The photometric solutions reveal that NS VS 01286630 is an active detached eclipsing binary（EB） with a high orbital inclination（nearly 90°）. Remarkably, the temperature of the primary component（the hotter star） is higher than the secondary one, but the value of mass ratio q（M2/M1）for NS VS 0128663 is more than 1, which can be explained in that the surface of the secondary component of NSVS 01286630 is covered with big cool starspots. Based on our new CCD mid-eclipse times and the data published until now, variations in the mid-eclipse times were reanalyzed in detail using a weighted least-squares method. It is discovered that the（O-C） diagram of the system shows a cyclic oscillation with a period of 3.61 yr and an amplitude of 0.001 d. The cyclic variation may be caused by the light-travel time effect（LTTE） due to the presence of a third companion, whose mass we calculated as M3 sin（i3） =0.11 M（⊙）. The third body may affect the orbital evolution of the central binary system by transferring angular momentum.

IU Cancri:a solar-type contact binary with mass transfer

We present new CCD photometry of the solar-type contact binary IU Cnc, which was observed from November 2017 to March 2018 with three small telescopes in China. BV light curves imply that IU Cnc is a W-type contact binary with total eclipses. The photometric solution indicates that the mass ratio and fill-out factor are q = 4.104 ± 0.004 and f = 30.2%± 0.3%, respectively. From all available light minimum times, the orbital period may increase at a rate of dP/dt =+6.93(4)× 10^-7 d yr^-1, which may result from mass transfer from the secondary component to the primary one. With mass transferring,IU Cnc may evolve from a contact configuration into a semi-detached configuration.

The semi-detached binary system IU Per and its intrinsic oscillation

We present a long-term time-resolved photometry of the short-period eclipsing binary IU Per. It confirms the intrinsic 6 Scuti-like pulsation of the system reported by Kim et al.. With the obtained data, an orbital period study and an eclipsing light curve synthesis based on the Wilson-Devinney method were carded out. The photometric solution reveals a semi-detached configuration with the less-massive component filling its own Roche-lobe. By subtracting the eclipsing light changes from the data, we obtained the pure pulsating light curve of the mass-accreting primary component. A Fourier analysis reveals four pulsation modes with confidence larger than 99%. A mode identification based on the results of the photometric solution was made. It suggests that the star may be in radial pulsation with a fundamental period of about 0.0628 d. A brief discussion concerning the evolutionary status and the pulsation nature is finally given.

KIC 5197256:an eclipsing binary containing a δ Scuti variable star

This paper reports analysis of an eclipsing binary system KIC 5197256 with aδSct variable component.Utilizing light-curve modeling,several stellar parameters are derived,e.g.,temperature,mass,and mass ratio.The O-C diagram is a straight line with a negative slope which means that its period is almost constant for about 2 yr.Frequency analyses are performed for the residual light curve after subtracting the binary variations.The frequency spectrum reveals that one component star is aδScuti variable.Large frequency separation is cross-identified with the histogram graph and the Fourier transform method.Based on the large separation and density relationship,the mean density of theδSct component is estimated to be 0.05 g·cm-3.Five frequencies with the same frequency spacing in the range of 25 d-1-34 d-1 are detected.Statistically,the pulsation amplitudes ofδSct stars increase with decreasing of rotations,so we propose that KIC 5197256 might have a relatively large rotational velocity,and the frequency f10 might be the rotation frequency.