Detection of unresolved binaries with multicolor photometry

TL;DR

This paper presents a method to detect unresolved binary stars using multicolor photometry, estimating the critical distance for detection and demonstrating the potential to distinguish binaries from single stars with photometric data.

Contribution

The paper introduces a novel method for estimating the detection limits of unresolved binaries using multicolor photometry, specifically applied to the Lyra-B spaceborne experiment.

Findings

Some unresolved binaries can be identified solely through photometric observations.

The method estimates the maximum distance at which binaries of certain mass and age are detectable.

Application to Lyra-B demonstrates practical detection capabilities.

Abstract

The principal goal of this paper is to specify conditions of detection of unresolved binaries by multicolor photometry. We have developed a method for estimating the critical distance at which an unresolved binary of given mass and age can be detected. The method is applied to the photometric system of the planned Lyra-B spaceborne experiment. We have shown that some types of unresolved binary stars can be discovered and distinguished from single stars solely by means of photometric observations.