Period changes in six semi-detached Algol-type binaries

TL;DR

This study analyzes period variations in six semi-detached Algol-type binaries to detect third bodies, revealing companions with long orbital periods and varying eccentricities through O-C diagram analysis.

Contribution

It provides the first period analysis for these binaries, identifying third bodies and calculating their properties using new and existing minima data.

Findings

Third bodies with orbital periods from 46 to 84 years identified.

Eccentricities of third bodies range from 0.0 to 0.78.

Mass functions and minimal masses of third bodies calculated.

Abstract

Six semi-detached Algol-type binaries lacking a period analysis were chosen to test for a presence of a third body. The O-C diagrams of these binaries were analyzed with the least-squares method by using all available times of minima. Also fourteen new minima, obtained from our observations, were included in the present research. The light-time effect was adopted as a main factor for the detailed description of the long-term period changes. Third bodies were found with orbital periods from 46 up to 84 years, and eccentricities from 0.0 to 0.78 for the selected binaries. The mass functions and the minimal masses of such bodies were also calculated.