The BVRI Light Curves And Period Analysis Of The Beta Lyrae System XX Leonis

TL;DR

This study presents detailed BVRI light curves and period analysis of the contact binary system XX Leonis, revealing its physical parameters and suggesting a third body with a 53-year orbit affecting its period.

Contribution

The paper provides new photometric data and analysis of XX Leonis, including the first period analysis indicating a potential third body in the system.

Findings

Effective temperature of primary component: 7889K

Orbital inclination: 89.98 degrees

Third body period: 52.96 years, minimum mass: 3.6 solar masses

Abstract

The contact eclipsing binary system XX Leonis (P = 0.97 days, sp A8) has been analysed using the PHOEBE programme, based on the Wilson Devinney code. The BVRI light curves were obtained during spring 2006 using the 20-cm telescope and ST-7 CCD detector. The effective temperature of the primary component determined from the photometric analysis is T=(7889+/-61)K, the inclination of the orbit is i=(89.98+/-2.45)deg and the photometric mass ratio q=(0.41+/-0.01). Also the third body hypothesis was suggested, based on the period analysis using 57 minimum times and resulting the period of the third body p3= (52.96+/-0.01)yr, amplitude A=(0.057+/-0.029)d and eccentricity e=(0.79+/-0.08) which gives the minimum mass m3,min=(3.6+/-0.8)M_sun.