# YZ Phe: an active contact binary with variation of the O'Connell effect and orbital period change

## TL;DR

YZ Phe is a short-period contact binary exhibiting the O'Connell effect, long-term period decrease, and cyclic variations likely caused by a third body, indicating ongoing evolution towards a deeper contact state.

## Contribution

This study provides detailed photometric analysis and evidence for a third body in YZ Phe, revealing its evolutionary status and period variation mechanisms.

## Key findings

- YZ Phe is a shallow contact binary with a hot spot and O'Connell effect.
- Long-term period decrease suggests mass transfer and magnetic braking.
- Detection of third light indicates a potential third companion.

## Abstract

YZ Phe is a very short-period contact binary (Sp.= $K2\,V$) with an orbital period of 0.2347 days near the short period limit (0.22 d). We present the complete light curves in $VRI$ bands, which photometric data were obtained with the 0.61-m telescope of PROMPT-8 at CTIO in Chile during June to October 2016 and August 2017. The photometric solutions were determined by using the W-D method and the results reveal that YZ Phe is a W-subtype shallow contact binary ($f\sim$ 10%, $q$ = 2.635 or $1/q$ = 0.379 for W subtype) with rotational motion of a large hot spot on the more massive component, showing a strong O'Connell effect with variation of maxima in photometric time series at period of 4.20 yr and stellar cycle at period of 1.28 yr. By compiling all available eclipse times, the result shows a long-term period decrease at a rate of $\mathrm{d}P/\mathrm{d}t = -2.64(\pm 0.02)\times 10^{-8}$ d $yr^{-1}$, superimposed on a cyclic variation ($A_3$ = 0.0081 days and $P_3$ = 40.76 years). This variation cannot be explained by Applegate mechanism. Thus, the cyclic change may be interpreted as light-travel time effect via the presence of a cool third body. Based on photometric solutions, the third light was detected with 2% contribution of total light in $V$ and $I$ bands. Those support the existence of a third body. For the long-term period decrease, it can be explained by mass transfer from the more massive component ($M_2 \sim 0.74 M_{\odot}$) to the less massive one ($M_1 \sim 0.28 M_{\odot}$) or plus AML via magnetic braking. With $1/q$ $<$ 0.4 and long-term period decrease, all suggest that YZ Phe is on the AML-controlled state and its fill-out factor will increase, as well as the system will evolve into a deeper normal contact binary.