Abstract
Precise multi-color CCD-derived photometric data were obtained from EH Cnc at two sites during 2010, 2014 and 2018 wherein each epoch used a different instrument. This has provided a unique opportunity to investigate parameter uncertainty following Roche modeling of light curves optimized by differential corrections using the Wilson–Devinney code. Furthermore, new radial velocity data from EH Cnc presented in this study for the first time has produced absolute physical and geometric parameters for this A-subtype W UMa-type variable. Analysis of eclipse timing data confirms the presence of sinusoidal-like excursions in the eclipse timing residuals. We address whether these are due to magnetic activity cycles, the so-called “Applegate effect”, or related to a light-time effect (LiTE) resulting from the presence of a third gravitationally bound cool low mass white dwarf. A model using the PAdova & TRieste Stellar Evolution Code (PARSEC) has provided valuable insight about the evolutionary history of EH Cnc as a trinary system.
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Notes
An unnecessary factor \(\omega \) appears in the formula for AML rate in the latter paper. Equation (16) gives the correct expression.
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Acknowledgements
This research has made use of the SIMBAD database and VizieR services operated at Centre de Donnes astronomiques de Strasbourg, France. Time-of-minima data tabulated in the Variable Star Section of Czech Astronomical Society (B.R.N.O.) website proved invaluable to the assessment of potential period changes experienced by this variable star. The diligence and dedication shown by all associated with these organizations is very much appreciated. This work also presents results from the European Space Agency (ESA) space mission Gaia. Gaia data are being processed by the Gaia Data Processing and Analysis Consortium (DPAC). Funding for the DPAC is provided by national institutions, in particular the institutions participating in the Gaia MultiLateral Agreement (MLA). The Gaia mission website is https://www.cosmos.esa.int/gaia while the Gaia archive website is https://archives.esac.esa.int/gaia. This work has also made use of data from the European Space Agency (ESA) mission Gaia. R.H.N. wishes to thank the staff members at the DAO (Dmitry Monin, David Bohlender) for their usual splendid help and assistance. Special thanks to Prof. Petr Zasche for sharing his simplex code used to obtain LiTE solutions from eclipse timings. Many thanks to the anonymous referee for taking time to critically review and provide very helpful commentary to improve this manuscript.
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Appendices
Appendices
1.1 Appendix A: RV error analyses
The error estimate for a given fitted quantity (such as \(K_{1}\), \(K_{2}\), or a derived quantity such as mass) was determined as follows: Let \(Q = f (y_{1}, y_{2},\ldots , y_{n}\)), where \(Q = K_{1}, K_{2},\ldots , y_{i}\) are the individual RV points, and f is a function not known explicitly but recoverable from the Solver fit. If we increase quantity \(y_{i}\) by its estimated error \(\delta y_{i}\) and reapply Solver we obtain a new value, \(Q_{i}^{\prime} = f (y_{1}, y_{2}, \ldots, y_{i} + \delta y_{i},\ldots , y_{n})\). The resulting difference, \(\mid Q_{i}^{\prime} - Q\mid \) may be taken as \(\delta Q_{i}\), a value due to error in point \(y_{i}\). Then, assuming statistical independence, the error in Q is given by the standard formula:
In this case, the number of data points was sufficiently small so that values for all the \(\delta Q_{i}\) were computed. This procedure has been used in other circumstances where the number of points, n, was too many for all values \(\delta Q_{i}\) to be evaluated. In this case, a random sample of points, \(y_{i}\), was taken and results scaled up.
1.2 Appendix B: Derivation of phase-smearing correction (R. H. Nelson)
Let \(I(\lambda ,t)\) equal the instantaneous spectrum, and compute the RVs by a broadening function routine such that
where B is some undefined function. (If the procedures and parameters of the broadening function process are fixed, B will return a unique value for a given input, and is therefore a function.) But, since instantaneous spectra cannot be taken, we need to integrate over some time interval:
At the mid-time, \(t_{m}\), we compute
It follows that since function B is linear (Ruciński 1992; Nelson 2010c),
If the orbit is circular, and outside of eclipse then
where \(\omega =2\pi /P\), K is the amplitude, and P is the period. Then
Set
Then
where \(f=\frac{\sin (x)}{x}\). Typical values of f are 0.95, 0.97, etc. Note that this correction affects only the scale of the RV plots, and cannot change the computed mass ratio. Therefore, the “true” value
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Alton, K.B., Nelson, R.H. & Stȩpień, K. A comprehensive investigation of the variable overcontact system EH Cancri. J Astrophys Astron 41, 26 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12036-020-09641-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12036-020-09641-y