Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2008-12-25
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
20 pages, including 5 figures and 6 tables, accepted for publication in PASP
Scientific paper
10.1086/597169
New multiband CCD photometry is presented for the eclipsing binary GW Gem; the $RI$ light curves are the first ever compiled. Four new minimum timings have been determined. Our analysis of eclipse timings observed during the past 79 years indicates a continuous period increase at a fractional rate of +(1.2$\pm$0.1)$\times10^{-10}$, in excellent agreement with the value $+1.1\times10^{-10}$ calculated from the Wilson-Devinney binary code. The new light curves display an inverse O'Connell effect increasing toward longer wavelengths. Hot and cool spot models are developed to describe these variations but we prefer a cool spot on the secondary star. Our light-curve synthesis reveals that GW Gem is in a semi-detached, but near-contact, configuration. It appears to consist of a near-main-sequence primary star with a spectral type of about A7 and an evolved early K-type secondary star that completely fills its inner Roche lobe. Mass transfer from the secondary to the primary component is responsible for the observed secular period change.
Kim Ho-Ilkim
Kim Seung-Lee
Koch Robert H.
Lee Chung Uk
Lee Jae Woo
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