Investigation of the shortest period Am type eclipsing binary TYC 6408-989-1

TL;DR

This study presents photometric and spectroscopic analysis of the shortest period Am type eclipsing binary TYC 6408-989-1, revealing its marginal contact binary nature, stellar parameters, and evolutionary stage, challenging existing rotation velocity and period limits for Am stars.

Contribution

First detailed photometric and spectroscopic characterization of TYC 6408-989-1, the shortest period Am eclipsing binary, including stellar parameters and evolutionary insights.

Findings

TYC 6408-989-1 is a marginal contact binary with low mass ratio (q=0.27).

The secondary star's temperature is significantly higher than main sequence stars.

The system is a poor thermal contact binary in the oscillation stage predicted by TRO theory.

Abstract

The first BV bands photometric observations and the low-resolution spectrum of the shortest period Am type eclipsing binary TYC 6408-989-1 have been obtained. The stellar atmospheric parameters of the primary star were obtained through the spectral fitting as follows: $T_{eff}=6990\pm117 K$, $\log g=4.25\pm0.26 cm/s^2$, $[Fe/H]=-0.45\pm0.03 dex$. The original spectra obtained by European Southern Observatory (ESO) were processed with IRAF package by us. Based on the ESO blue-violet spectra, TYC 6408-989-1 was concluded as a marginal Am (Am:) star with a spectral type of kA3hF1mA5 IV-V identified through the MKCLASS program. The observed light curves were analyzed through the Wilson-Devinney code. The final photometric solutions show that TYC 6408-989-1 is a marginal contact binary with a low mass ratio (q=0.27). The temperature of the secondary component derived through the light curve analysis is significantly higher than main sequence stars. In addition, TYC 6408-989-1 is a poor thermal contact binary. The temperature differences between the two components is about 1800K. TYC 6408-989-1 should be located in the oscillation stage predicted by the thermal relaxation oscillations theory (TRO) and will evolve into the shallow contact stage eventually. The very short period (less than one day), marginal Am peculiarity and quit large rotational velocity ($v\sin i \simeq 160 km s^{-1}$) make TYC 6408-989-1 became a challenge to the cut-off of rotation velocities and periods of Am stars. We have collected the well known eclipsing Am binaries with absolute parameters from the literature.