Kepler Eclipsing Binary Stars. VI. Identification of Eclipsing Binaries in the K2 Campaign 0 Data-set

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the first K2 Campaign 0 data set, identifying 207 eclipsing binaries including 97 new discoveries, and reports additional findings such as false positives and potential exoplanets, enhancing the Kepler Eclipsing Binary Catalog.

Contribution

It provides the first comprehensive analysis of K2 Campaign 0 data, discovering new eclipsing binaries and integrating these into the existing catalog with detailed characterization.

Findings

Identified 207 eclipsing binaries in K2 Campaign 0 data.

Discovered 97 new eclipsing binary systems.

Serendipitously found two short-period exoplanet candidates.

Abstract

The original {\it Kepler} mission observed and characterized over 2400 eclipsing binaries in addition to its prolific exoplanet detections. Despite the mechanical malfunction and subsequent non-recovery of two reaction wheels used to stabilize the instrument, the {\it Kepler} satellite continues collecting data in its repurposed {\it K2} mission surveying a series of fields along the ecliptic plane. Here we present an analysis of the first full baseline {\it K2} data release: the Campaign 0 data-set. In the 7761 light curves, we have identified a total of 207 eclipsing binaries. Of these, 97 are new discoveries that were not previously identified. Our pixel-level analysis of these objects has also resulted in identification of several false positives (observed targets contaminated by neighboring eclipsing binaries), as well as the serendipitous discovery of two short period exoplanet candidates. We provide catalog cross-matched source identifications, orbital periods, morphologies and ephemerides for these eclipsing systems. We also describe the incorporation of the K2 sample into the Kepler Eclipsing Binary Catalog\footnote{\url{keplerebs.villanova.edu/k2}}, present spectroscopic follow-up observations for a limited selection of nine systems, and discuss prospects for upcoming {\it K2} campaigns.