Circumbinary Planets Orbiting the Rapidly Pulsating Subdwarf B-type binary NY Vir

We report here the tentative discovery of a Jovian planet in orbit around the rapidly pulsating subdwarf B-type (sdB-type) eclipsing binary NY Vir. By using new determined eclipse times together with those collected from the literature, we detect that the observed-calculated (O-C) curve of NY Vir shows a small-amplitude cyclic variation with a period of 7.9\,years and a semiamplitude of 6.1\,s, while it undergoes a downward parabolic change (revealing a period decrease at a rate of $\dot{P}=-9.2\times{10^{-12}}$). The periodic variation was analyzed for the light-travel time effect via the presence of a third body. The mass of the tertiary companion was determined to be $M_3\sin{i^{\prime}}=2.3(\pm0.3)$\,$M_{Jupiter}$ when a total mass of 0.60\,$M_{\odot}$ for NY Vir is adopted. This suggests that it is most probably a giant circumbinary planet orbiting NY Vir at a distance of about 3.3 astronomical units (AU). Since the rate of period decrease can not be explained by true angular momentum loss caused by gravitational radiation or/and magnetic braking, the observed downward parabolic change in the O-C diagram may be only a part of a long-period (longer than 15 years) cyclic variation, which may reveal the presence of another Jovian planet ($\sim2.5$$M_{Jupiter}$) in the system.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures, accepted by ApJ Letter

A photometric and spectroscopic study of NSVS 14256825: the second sdOB+dM eclipsing binary

We present an analysis of UBVR$_{\rm C}$I$_{\rm C}$JH photometry and phase-resolved optical spectroscopy of NSVS 14256825, an HW Vir type binary. The members of this class consist of a hot subdwarf and a main-sequence low-mass star in a close orbit ($P_{\rm orb} ~ 0.1$ d). Using the primary-eclipse timings, we refine the ephemeris for the system, which has an orbital period of 0.11037 d. From the spectroscopic data analysis, we derive the effective temperature, $T_1 = 40000 \pm 500$ K, the surface gravity, $\log g_1 = 5.50\pm0.05$, and the helium abundance, $n(\rm He)/n(\rm H)=0.003\pm0.001$, for the hot component. Simultaneously modelling the photometric and spectroscopic data using the Wilson-Devinney code, we obtain the geometrical and physical parameters of NSVS 14256825. Using the fitted orbital inclination and mass ratio (i = 82\fdg5\pm0\fdg3 and $q = M_2/M_1 = 0.260\pm0.012$, respectively), the components of the system have $M_1 = 0.419 \pm 0.070 M_{\odot}$, $R_1 = 0.188 \pm 0.010 R_{\odot}$, $M_2 = 0.109 \pm 0.023 M_{\odot}$, and $R_2 = 0.162 \pm 0.008 R_{\odot}$. From its spectral characteristics, the hot star is classified as an sdOB star.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

Detection of a tertiary brown dwarf companion in the sdB-type eclipsing binary HS 0705+6700

HS 0705+6700 is a short-period (P=2.3 hours), close binary containing a hot sdB-type primary and a fully convective secondary. We have monitored this eclipsing binary for more than 2 years and as a result, 32 times of light minimum were obtained. Based on our new eclipse times together with these compiled from the literature, it is discovered that the O-C curve of HS 0705+6700 shows a cyclic variation with a period of 7.15 years and a semiamplitude of 92.4 s. The periodic change was analyzed for the light-travel time effect that may be due to the presence of a tertiary companion. The mass of the third body is determined to be M3 sin i = 0.0377 (+/-0.0043) Msun when a total mass of 0.617 Msun for HS 0705+6700 is adopted. For orbital inclinations i >= 32.8, the mass of the tertiary component would be below the stable hydrogen-burning limit of M3~0.072 Msun, and thus it would be a brown dwarf. The third body is orbiting the sdB-type binary at a distance shorter than 3.6 astronomical units (AU). HS 0705+6700 was formed through the evolution of a common envelope after the primary becomes a red giant. The detection of a sub-stellar companion in HS 0705+6700 system at this distance from the binary could give some constraints on stellar evolution in such systems and the interactions between red giants and their companions.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures To be published in Astrophysical Journa

Modeling the System Parameters of 2M1533+3759: A New Longer-Period Low-Mass Eclipsing sdB+dM Binary

We present new photometric and spectroscopic observations for 2M 1533+3759 (= NSVS 07826147). It has an orbital period of 0.16177042 day, significantly longer than the 2.3--3.0 hour periods of the other known eclipsing sdB+dM systems. Spectroscopic analysis of the hot primary yields Teff = 29230 +/- 125 K, log g = 5.58 +/- 0.03 and log N(He)/N(H) = -2.37 +/- 0.05. The sdB velocity amplitude is K1 = 71.1 +/- 1.0 km/s. The only detectable light contribution from the secondary is due to the surprisingly strong reflection effect. Light curve modeling produced several solutions corresponding to different values of the system mass ratio, q(M2/M1), but only one is consistent with a core helium burning star, q=0.301. The orbital inclination is 86.6 degree. The sdB primary mass is M1 = 0.376 +/- 0.055 Msun and its radius is R1 = 0.166 +/- 0.007 Rsun. 2M1533+3759 joins PG0911+456 (and possibly also HS2333+3927) in having an unusually low mass for an sdB star. SdB stars with masses significantly lower than the canonical value of 0.48 Msun, down to as low as 0.30 Msun, were theoretically predicted by Han et al. (2002, 2003), but observational evidence has only recently begun to confirm the existence of such stars. The existence of core helium burning stars with masses lower than 0.40--0.43 Msun implies that at least some sdB progenitors have initial main sequence masses of 1.8--2.0 Msun or more, i.e. they are at least main sequence A stars. The secondary is a main sequence M5 star.Comment: 47 pages, 7 figure

EC 10246-2707: a new eclipsing sdB + M dwarf binary⋆

We announce the discovery of a new eclipsing hot subdwarf B + M dwarf binary, EC 10246-2707, and present multi-colour photometric and spectroscopic observations of this system. Similar to other HW Vir-type binaries, the light curve shows both primary and secondary eclipses, along with a strong reflection effect from the M dwarf; no intrinsic light contribution is detected from the cool companion. The orbital period is 0.118 507 993 6 ± 0.000 000 000 9 days, or about three hours. Analysis of our time- series spectroscopy reveals a velocity semi-amplitude of K1 = 71.6 ± 1.7 km s−1 for the sdB and best-fitting atmospheric parameters of Teff = 28900 ± 500 K, log g = 5.64 ± 0.06, and log N(He)/N(H) = -2.5 ± 0.2. Although we cannot claim a unique solution from modeling the light curve, the best–fitting model has an sdB mass of 0.45 M⊙ and a cool companion mass of 0.12 M⊙. These results are roughly consistent with a canonical–mass sdB and M dwarf separated by a ∼ 0.84 R⊙. We find no evidence of pulsations in the light curve and limit the amplitude of rapid photometric oscillations to < 0.08%. Using 15 years of eclipse timings, we construct an O-C diagram but find no statistically significant period changes; we rule out | ˙P | > 7.2×10−12. If EC 10246- 2707 evolves into a cataclysmic variable, its period should fall below the famous CV period gap.Web of Scienc

New binaries among UV-selected, hot subdwarf stars and population properties

We have measured the orbital parameters of seven close binaries, including six new objects, in a radial velocity survey of 38 objects comprising a hot subdwarf star with orbital periods ranging from ~0.17 to 3 d. One new system, GALEX J2205-3141, shows reflection on an M dwarf companion. Three other objects show significant short-period variations, but their orbital parameters could not be constrained. Two systems comprising a hot subdwarf paired with a bright main-sequence/giant companion display short-period photometric variations possibly due to irradiation or stellar activity and are also short-period candidates. All except two candidates were drawn from a selection of subluminous stars in the Galaxy Evolution Explorer ultraviolet sky survey. Our new identifications also include a low-mass subdwarf B star and likely progenitor of a low-mass white dwarf (GALEX J0805-1058) paired with an unseen, possibly substellar, companion. The mass functions of the newly identified binaries imply minimum secondary masses ranging from 0.03 to 0.39M?. Photometric time series suggest that, apart from GALEX J0805-1058 and J2205-3141, the companions are most likely white dwarfs. We update the binary population statistics: close to 40 per cent of hot subdwarfs have a companion. Also, we found that the secondary mass distribution shows a lowmass peak attributed to late-type dwarfs, and a higher mass peak and tail distribution attributed to white dwarfs and a few spectroscopic composites. Also, we found that the population kinematics imply an old age and include a few likely halo population members