Accretion disk in the eclipsing binary AU Mon

We analyze the CoRoT and V-passband ground-based light curves of the interacting close binary AU Mon, assuming that there is a geometrically and optically thick accretion disk around the hotter and more massive star, as inferred from photometric and spectroscopic characteristics of the binary. Our model fits the observations very well and provides estimates for the orbital elements and physical parameters of the components and of the accretion disk.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRA

Long photometric cycle and disk evolution in the β\beta Lyrae type binary OGLE-BLG-ECL-157529

The subtype of hot algol semidetached binaries dubbed Double Periodic Variables (DPVs) are characterized by a photometric cycle longer than the orbital one, whose nature has been related to a magnetic dynamo in the donor component controlling the mass transfer rate. We aim to understand the morphologic changes observed in the light curve of OGLE-BLG-ECL-157529 that are linked to the long cycle. In particular, we want to explain the changes in relative depth of primary and secondary eclipses. We analyze $I$ and $V$-band OGLE photometric times series spanning 18.5 years and model the orbital light curve. We find that OGLE-BLG-ECL-157529 is a new eclipsing Galactic DPV of orbital period 24\fd8, and that its long cycle length decreases in amplitude and length during the time baseline. We show that the changes of the orbital light curve can be reproduced considering an accretion disk of variable thickness and radius, surrounding the hottest stellar component. Our models indicate changes in the temperatures of hot spot and bright spot during the long cycle, and also in the position of the bright spot. This, along with the changes in disk radius might indicate a variable mass transfer in this system.Comment: 8 pages, 14 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic

Physical processes leading to surface inhomogeneities: the case of rotation

In this lecture I discuss the bulk surface heterogeneity of rotating stars, namely gravity darkening. I especially detail the derivation of the omega-model of Espinosa Lara & Rieutord (2011), which gives the gravity darkening in early-type stars. I also discuss the problem of deriving gravity darkening in stars owning a convective envelope and in those that are members of a binary system.Comment: 23 pages, 11 figure, Lecture given to the school on the cartography of the Sun and the stars (May 2014 in Besan\c{c}on), to appear in LNP, Neiner and Rozelot edts V2: typos correcte

Orbital and physical parameters of eclipsing binaries from the ASAS catalogue - IV. A 0.61 + 0.45 M_sun binary in a multiple system

We present the orbital and physical parameters of a newly discovered low-mass detached eclipsing binary from the All-Sky Automated Survey (ASAS) database: ASAS J011328-3821.1 A - a member of a visual binary system with the secondary component separated by about 1.4 seconds of arc. The radial velocities were calculated from the high-resolution spectra obtained with the 1.9-m Radcliffe/GIRAFFE, 3.9-m AAT/UCLES and 3.0-m Shane/HamSpec telescopes/spectrographs on the basis of the TODCOR technique and positions of H_alpha emission lines. For the analysis we used V and I band photometry obtained with the 1.0-m Elizabeth and robotic 0.41-m PROMPT telescopes, supplemented with the publicly available ASAS light curve of the system. We found that ASAS J011328-3821.1 A is composed of two late-type dwarfs having masses of M_1 = 0.612 +/- 0.030 M_sun, M_2 = 0.445 +/- 0.019 M_sun and radii of R_1 = 0.596 +/- 0.020 R_sun, R_2 = 0.445 +/- 0.024 R_sun, both show a substantial level of activity, which manifests in strong H_alpha and H_beta emission and the presence of cool spots. The influence of the third light on the eclipsing pair properties was also evaluated and the photometric properties of the component B were derived. Comparison with several popular stellar evolution models shows that the system is on its main sequence evolution stage and probably is more metal rich than the Sun. We also found several clues which suggest that the component B itself is a binary composed of two nearly identical ~0.5 M_sun stars.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, 7 tables, to appear in MNRA

The evolution stage and massive disc of the interacting binary V393 Scorpii

V393 Scorpii is a bright Galactic Double Periodic Variable showing a long photometric cycle of approx. 253 days. We present new VIJK photometric time series for V393 Scorpii along with the analysis of ASAS V-band photometry. We disentangled all light curves into the orbital and long cycle components. The ASAS V-band orbital light curve was modeled with two stellar components plus a circumprimary optically thick disc assuming a semidetached configuration. We present the results of this calculation, giving physical parameters for the stars and the disc, along with general system dimensions. Our results are in close agreement with those previously found by Mennickent et al. (2010) from IR spectroscopy and the modeling of the spectral energy distribution. The stability of the orbital light curve suggests that the stellar + disc configuration remains stable during the long cycle. Therefore, the long cycle should be produced by an additional variable and not-eclipsed emitting structure. We discuss the evolutionary stage of the system finding the best match with one of the evolutionary models of van Rensbergen et al. (2008). According to these models, the system is found to be after an episode of fast mass exchange that transferred 4 M_sun from the donor to the gainer in a period of 400.000 years. We argue that a significant fraction of this mass has not been accreted by the gainer but remains in an optically thick massive (about 2 M_sun) disc-like surrounding pseudo-photosphere whose luminosity is not driven by viscosity but probably by reprocessed stellar radiation. Finally, we provide the result of our search for Galactic Double Periodic Variables and briefly discuss the outliers beta Lyr and RX Cas.Comment: 10 pages, 5 tables, 6 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS main journa

Physical parameters of close binaries QX Andromedae, RW Comae Berenices, MR Delphini, and BD +07{\circ} 3142

Aims. We analyze new multicolor light curves and recently published radial velocity curves for close binaries QX And, RW Com, MR Del, and BD +07{\circ} 3142 to determine the physical parameters of the components. Methods. The light curves are analyzed using a binary star model based on Roche geometry to fit the photometric observations. Spectroscopic parameters, such as the mass ratios and spectral types, were taken from recent spectroscopic studies of the systems in question. Results. Our findings provide consistent and reliable sets of stellar parameters for the four studied binary systems. Of particular interest is the BD +07{\circ} 3142 system, since this is the first analysis of its light curves. We find that it is an overcontact binary of W UMa type and W subtype, and that each component has a large cool spot in the polar region. QX And is an A subtype, and RW Com a W subtype W UMa binary, and in both systems we find a bright spot in the neck region between the components. MR Del is a detached binary with a complex light curve that we could model with two cool spots on the hotter component.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures. Accepted for publication by A&