Surface Brightness Variation of the Contact Binary SW Lac: Clues From Doppler Imaging

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the surface brightness variations of the contact binary SW Lac by combining light curve analysis with Doppler imaging, revealing the importance of non-circular spot modeling for accurate surface feature characterization.

Contribution

It integrates Doppler imaging data with light curve analysis to improve spot modeling accuracy on the contact binary SW Lac.

Findings

Spot models agree with Doppler maps

Non-circular spot modeling enhances reliability

Two-year light curve data used

Abstract

In this study, we present the preliminary light curve analysis of the contact binary SW Lac, using B, V light curves of the system spanning 2 years (2009 - 2010). During the spot modeling process, we used the information coming from the Doppler maps of the system, which was performed using the high resolution and phase dependent spectra obtained at the 2.1 m Otto Struve Telescope of the McDonald Observatory, in 2009. The results showed that the spot modeling from the light curve analysis are in accordance with the Doppler maps, while the non-circular spot modeling technique is needed in order to obtain much better and reliable spot models.