Roche Modeling and Evolutionary History of Multiple Low Mass Contact Binary Systems

The Northern Sky Variable Survey (NSVS) has been a rich source of variable stars many of which have only been studied to a limited extent. Herein we describe five eclipsing binary systems that were first detected by the ROTSE-I telescope and ultimately shown to be low mass contact binaries. Photometric data (B, V and Ic) acquired from MU Cnc (NSVS 10133793, TYC 1397-1030-1), V596 Peg (NSVS 6225359, GSC 2765-0348), TYC 1597-2327-1 (NSVS 11082150), GSC 2723-2376 (NSVS 8849526) and GSC 4946-0765 (NSVS 13176410) were used to calculate an orbital period for each system along with new linear ephemerides. Except for MU Cnc, the limited number of time-of-minimum values precluded the characterization of any long-term period change. Since a total eclipse is observed with all five systems, Roche modeling based on the Wilson-Devinney W-D code yielded in each instance a well-constrained photometric value for the mass ratio. Using the evolutionary model of cool close binaries we searched for possible progenitors of the investigated binaries. The best fit is obtained if the initial binaries have orbital periods from the interval between 2.4–3.4 d, total masses between 6% and 9% higher than presently observed and mass ratios between 2.2 and 3.3. The model progenitors need between 7.5–10 Gyr to attain the presently observed parameters of the variables. The present periods of three models slowly increase with simultaneous mass ratio decrease, which suggests the formation of the common envelope in the future. However, in four other models the period decreases and the model computations predict the ultimate overflow of the outer Roche lobe.

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Opracowanie rekordu w ramach umowy 509/P-DUN/2018 ze środków MNiSW przeznaczonych na działalność upowszechniającą naukę (2019).