Comparative Analysis of Phenomenological Approximations of the Light Curves of Eclipsing Binary Stars with Additional Parameters

TL;DR

This paper compares various phenomenological functions for modeling eclipsing binary star light curves, identifying the most accurate ones with additional parameters that describe profiles limited in phase.

Contribution

It introduces a comparative analysis of different function families for light curve modeling, highlighting the effectiveness of functions with additional phase-limited parameters.

Findings

Functions with additional parameters provide better fits.

14 best functions identified based on least squares criterion.

Profile-limited functions outperform others.

Abstract

A comparative analysis of the special shapes (patterns, profiles) of the eclipses applied for the phenomenological modeling of the light curves of eclipsing binary stars is conducted. Families of functions are considered, generalizing local approximations (Andronov, 2010, 2012) and the functions theoretically unlimited in a width, based on a Gaussian (Mikulasek, 2015). For an analysis, the light curve of the star V0882 Car = 2MASS J11080308 - 6145589 of the classic Algol - subtype (\beta Persei) is used. By analyzing dozens of modified functions with additional parameters, it was chosen the 14 best ones according to the criterion of the least sum of squares of deviations. The best are the functions with an additional parameter, describing profiles, which are limited in phase.