Context.
RZ Cas is a short-period Algol-type system showing episodes of mass transfer and
δ
Sct-like oscillations of its mass-gaining primary component. This system exhibits temporal changes in ...orbital period,
v
sin
i
, and the oscillation pattern of the primary component.
Aims.
We analyse high-resolution spectra of RZ Cas that we obtained during a spectroscopic long-term monitoring lasting from 2001 to 2017. In this first part we investigate the atmospheric parameters of the stellar components and the time variation of orbital period,
v
sin
i
, and radial velocities (RVs), searching for seasonal changes that could be related to episodes of mass exchange and to a possible activity cycle of the system triggered by the magnetic cycle of the cool companion.
Methods.
We used spectrum synthesis to analyse the spectra of both components of RZ Cas. The study of variations of the orbital period is based on published times of primary minima. We used the least-squares deconvolved (LSD) binary program to derive separated RVs and LSD profiles of the components. From the LSD profiles of the primary we determined its
v
sin
i
. Using Markov chain Monte Carlo simulations with the PHOEBE program, we modelled the RV variations of both components.
Results.
Spectrum analysis resulted in precise atmospheric parameters of both components, in particular in surface abundances below solar values. We find that the variation of orbital period is semi-regular and derive different characteristic timescales for different epochs of observation. We show that the RV variations with orbital phase can be modelled when including two cool spots on the surface of the secondary component. The modelling leads to very precise masses and separation of the components. The seasonal variation of several parameters, such as
v
sin
i
, rotation-orbit synchronisation factor, strength of the spots on the cool companion, and orbital period, can be characterised by a common timescale of the order of nine years.
Conclusions.
We interpret the timescale of nine years as the magnetic activity cycle of the cool companion. In particular the behaviour of the dark spots on the cool companion leads us to the interpretation that this timescale is based on an 18-yr magnetic dynamo cycle. We conclude that the mass-transfer rate is controlled by the variable depth of the Wilson depression in the magnetic spot around the Lagrangian point L1. In the result, based on available data, we observe a damped activity cycle of the star, starting with a high mass-transfer episode around 2001 with a calculated mass-transfer rate of 1.510
−6
M
⊙
yr
−1
, followed by quiet periods in 2006 and 2009, slightly higher activity around 2013 and 2014, and again followed by quiet periods in 2015 and 2016. However, owing to missing data for years 2010 and 2011, we cannot exclude that a second high mass-transfer episode occurred within this time span.
•We analyzed high-precision Kepler photometry and ESO Science Archieve data.•Data from the Kepler makes it clear that the system inclination is close to 90.•The secondary star is not expected to have ...evolved significantly.•The primary star is at near the turnoff point of the open cluster NGC 6791.
We analyzed high-precision Kepler photometry and high–resolution UVES and GIRAFFE spectroscopy from ESO Science Archieve for a double–lined eclipsing binary star in the field of the high metallicity old open cluster NGC 6791. Earlier measurements of the masses and radii of the detached system were not accurate enough for photometric and spectroscopic data to demonstrate that there are significant differences between current stellar models. Here we improved on the result and add follow-up measurements of the system. Data from the Kepler archive makes it clear that the system has an inclination that is close to 90°. The combination of radial velocity and Kepler light curve of the system were analysed simultaneously, which allows us to determine a reliable mass for the primary and secondary star and radii for both stars, and to constrain the cluster age. The characteristics of the primary star at the cluster turnoff indicate an age of 8.5 ± 0.12 Gyr, consistent with earlier analysis of the color–magnitude diagram. The brighter star in the binary also produces a precision estimate of the distance modulus, independent of reddening estimates: (m-M)V (mag)=13.899 ± 0.117. The secondary star is not expected to have evolved significantly, but its radius is more than 10% larger than predicted by models. The hallmark is useful for testing the idea that radius inflation can occur in short period binaries for stars with significant convective envelopes due to the inhibition of energy transport by magnetic fields.
We consider the spin angular momentum evolution of the accreting components of Algol-type binary stars. In wider Algols the accretion is through a disc so that the accreted material can transfer ...enough angular momentum to the gainer that material at its equator should be spinning at breakup. We demonstrate that even a small amount of mass transfer, much less than required to produce today's mass ratios, transfers enough angular momentum to spin the gainer up to this critical rotation velocity. However the accretors in these systems have spins typically between 10 and 40 per cent of the critical rate. So some mechanism for angular momentum loss from the gainers is required. Unlike solar-type chromospherically active stars, with enhanced magnetic activity which leads to angular momentum and mass loss, the gainers in classical Algols have radiative envelopes. We further find that normal radiative tides are far too weak to account for the necessary angular momentum loss. Thus enhanced mass loss in a stellar wind seems to be required to spin-down the gainers in classical Algol systems. We consider generation of magnetic fields in the radiative atmospheres in a differentially rotating star and the possibility of angular momentum loss driven by strong stellar winds in the intermediate-mass stars, such as the primaries of the Algols. Differential rotation, induced by the accretion itself, may produce such winds which carry away enough angular momentum to reduce their rotational velocities to the today's observed values. We apply this model to two systems with initial periods of 5 d, one with initial masses 5 and and the other with 3.2 and . Our calculations show that, if the mass outflow rate in the stellar wind is about 10 per cent of the accretion rate and the dipole magnetic field is stronger than about 1 kG, the spin rate of the gainer is reduced to below breakup velocity even in the fast phase of mass transfer. Larger mass loss is needed for smaller magnetic fields. The slow rotation of the gainers in the classical Algol systems is explained by a balance between the spin-up by mass accretion and spin-down by a stellar wind linked to a magnetic field.
The chemical composition of stellar photospheres in mass-transferring binary systems is a precious diagnostic of the nucleosynthesis processes that occur deep within stars, and preserves information ...on the components’ history. The binary system u Her belongs to a group of hot Algols with both components being B stars. We have isolated the individual spectra of the two components by the technique of spectral disentangling of a new series of 43 high-resolution échelle spectra. Augmenting these with an analysis of the Hipparcos photometry of the system yields revised stellar quantities for the components of u Her. For the primary component (the mass-gaining star), we find M
A = 7.88 ± 0.26 M⊙, R
A = 4.93 ± 0.15 R⊙ and T
eff, A = 21 600 ± 220 K. For the secondary (the mass-losing star) we find M
B = 2.79 ± 0.12 M⊙, R
B = 4.26 ± 0.06 R⊙ and T
eff, B = 12 600 ± 550 K. A non-local thermodynamic equilibrium analysis of the primary star's atmosphere reveals deviations in the abundances of nitrogen and carbon from the standard cosmic abundance pattern in accord with theoretical expectations for CNO nucleosynthesis processing. From a grid of calculated evolutionary models the best match to the observed properties of the stars in u Her enabled tracing the initial properties and history of this binary system. We confirm that it has evolved according to case A mass transfer. A detailed abundance analysis of the primary star gives C/N = 0.9, which supports the evolutionary calculations and indicates strong mixing in the early evolution of the secondary component, which was originally the more massive of the two. The composition of the secondary component would be a further important constraint on the initial properties of u Her system, but requires spectra of a higher signal-to-noise ratio.
Aims.
Both components of the bright eclipsing binary
α
Dra have been resolved using long baseline interferometry and the secondary component has been shown to contribute approximately 15% of the ...total flux; however, a spectroscopic detection of the companion star has so far been unsuccessful. We aim for a firm spectroscopic detection of the secondary component of
α
Dra using state-of-the-art spectroscopic analysis methods for very high-quality spectroscopic observations. This will allow the determination of fundamental and atmospheric properties of the components in the system with high precision and accuracy.
Methods.
To achieve our goals, we use a combined data set from interferometry with the Navy Precision Optical Interferometer (NPOI), photometry with the TESS space observatory, and high-resolution spectroscopy with the H
ERMES
fibre-fed spectrograph at the La Palma observatory. We use the method of spectral disentangling to search for the contribution of a companion star in the observed composite H
ERMES
spectra, to separate the spectral contributions of both components, and to determine orbital elements of the
α
Dra system. TESS light curves are analysed in an iterative fashion with spectroscopic inference of stellar atmospheric parameters to determine fundamental stellar properties and their uncertainties. Finally, NPOI interferometric measurements are used for determination of the orbital parameters of the system and angular diameters of both binary components.
Results.
We report the first firm spectroscopic detection of the secondary component in
α
Dra and deliver disentangled spectra of both binary components. The components’ masses and radii are inferred with high precision and accuracy, and are
M
A
= 3.186 ± 0.044
M
⊙
,
R
A
= 4.932 ± 0.036
R
⊙
, and
M
B
= 2.431 ± 0.019
M
⊙
,
R
B
= 2.326 ± 0.052
R
⊙
for the primary and secondary components, respectively. Combined astrometric and spectroscopic analysis yields the semi-major axis of the system, which is ultimately used to derive the dynamical parallax of
π
= 11.48 ± 0.13 mas, and the distance
d
= 87.07 ± 1.03 pc to the
α
Dra system. Evolutionary analysis of both binary components with M
ESA
stellar structure and evolution models suggests the primary is an evolved post-TAMS A-type star, while the companion is a main-sequence A-type star with a convective core mass of
M
cc
= 0.337 ± 0.011
M
⊙
. Positions of both binary components in the Kiel- and HR-diagrams suggest a value of the convective core overshooting parameter
f
ov
well below 0.010
H
p
, and we infer the age of the system to be 310 ± 25 Myr.
Conclusions.
The inferred near-core mixing properties of both components do not support a dependence of the convective core overshooting on the stellar mass. At the same time, the
α
Dra system provides extra support to hypothesise that the mass discrepancy in eclipsing spectroscopic double-lined binaries is associated with inferior atmospheric modelling of intermediate- and high-mass stars, and less so with the predictive powerof stellar structure and evolution models as to the amount of near-core mixing and mass of the convective core.
Angular momentum evolution of Algol binaries İbanoǧlu, C.; Soydugan, F.; Soydugan, E. ...
Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society,
11/2006, Volume:
373, Issue:
1
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
We have compiled the well-determined absolute parameters of Algol-type binaries. The lists contain the parameters of 74 detached and 61 semidetached close binaries. The double-lined eclipsing ...binaries provide not only the most accurate determinations of stellar mass, radius and temperatures but also distance-independent luminosity for each of their individual components. The distributions of the primary and secondary masses of detached binaries (DBs) are similar, whilst the secondary masses of the semidetached binaries (SDBs) are mostly smaller than 2 M⊙ with a peak in the M2-bin (0.21–1.0). The components of the DBs are almost all located in the main-sequence band. On the contrary, the secondary components of the SDBs have larger radii and luminosity with respect to the same mass and the same effective temperature of main-sequence counterparts. They occupy a region of the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram between terminal-age main sequence and giants. Moreover, the total angular momenta and specific angular momenta are larger for the SDBs of orbital periods with P > 5 d than those of the shorter period ones. The specific angular momenta of SDBs with periods longer than 5 d are 65 per cent greater than that of the short period group with the same mass. The DBs and the SDBs with orbital periods longer and shorter than 5 d are separated into three groups in the J/M5/3−q diagram. The SDBs with mass ratios greater than 0.3 and P > 5 d have almost the same angular momentum to those of DBs. However, the SDBs with short periods have the smallest angular momentum even though they have the same mass ratios. This result reveals that angular momentum loss (AML) considerably affects the evolution of close binary systems. Recently, Chen, Li & Qian suggested that, in addition to magnetic braking, a circumbinary disc may play an important role in AML from Algol-type binaries. Their calculations indicated that the evolution of Algol-type binaries can be significantly affected by the circumbinary disc. Our results show that the evolution of close binaries begins as a DB and losing angular momentum, first via stellar wind and then magnetic braking plus circumbinary disc the period is shortened and orbit shrinks. Thereafter, the evolution of the system is accelerated and mass transfer rates are enhanced which result in a smaller mass ratios.
Context. RZ Cas is a short-period Algol-type system showing episodes of mass transfer and δ Sct-like oscillations of its mass-gaining primary component. This system exhibits temporal changes in ...orbital period, v sin i, and the oscillation pattern of the primary component. Aims. We analyse high-resolution spectra of RZ Cas that we obtained during a spectroscopic long-term monitoring lasting from 2001 to 2017. In this first part we investigate the atmospheric parameters of the stellar components and the time variation of orbital period, v sin i, and radial velocities (RVs), searching for seasonal changes that could be related to episodes of mass exchange and to a possible activity cycle of the system triggered by the magnetic cycle of the cool companion. Methods. We used spectrum synthesis to analyse the spectra of both components of RZ Cas. The study of variations of the orbital period is based on published times of primary minima. We used the least-squares deconvolved (LSD) binary program to derive separated RVs and LSD profiles of the components. From the LSD profiles of the primary we determined its v sin i. Using Markov chain Monte Carlo simulations with the PHOEBE program, we modelled the RV variations of both components. Results. Spectrum analysis resulted in precise atmospheric parameters of both components, in particular in surface abundances below solar values. We find that the variation of orbital period is semi-regular and derive different characteristic timescales for different epochs of observation. We show that the RV variations with orbital phase can be modelled when including two cool spots on the surface of the secondary component. The modelling leads to very precise masses and separation of the components. The seasonal variation of several parameters, such as v sin i, rotation-orbit synchronisation factor, strength of the spots on the cool companion, and orbital period, can be characterised by a common timescale of the order of nine years. Conclusions. We interpret the timescale of nine years as the magnetic activity cycle of the cool companion. In particular the behaviour of the dark spots on the cool companion leads us to the interpretation that this timescale is based on an 18-yr magnetic dynamo cycle. We conclude that the mass-transfer rate is controlled by the variable depth of the Wilson depression in the magnetic spot around the Lagrangian point L1. In the result, based on available data, we observe a damped activity cycle of the star, starting with a high mass-transfer episode around 2001 with a calculated mass-transfer rate of 1.510−6 M⊙ yr−1, followed by quiet periods in 2006 and 2009, slightly higher activity around 2013 and 2014, and again followed by quiet periods in 2015 and 2016. However, owing to missing data for years 2010 and 2011, we cannot exclude that a second high mass-transfer episode occurred within this time span.
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