Photometric Investigation of Contact Binary DY Cet Based on TESS Data

TL;DR

This study analyzes TESS data of the contact binary DY Cet, determining its physical parameters, orbital period variation, and suggesting a third component, providing new insights into its structure and evolution.

Contribution

First detailed orbital period analysis of DY Cet using TESS data, including mass transfer rate and third component estimation.

Findings

Masses and radii of components determined

Orbital period shows sinus-like variation

Possible third component identified

Abstract

We present a photometric analysis of the TESS light curve of contact binary system DY Cet and the behavior of its orbital period variation. The light curve and published radial velocity data analysis was performed using Wilson-Devinney code. As a result of simultaneous analysis of light curve with radial velocity data, the masses and radii of the system's components were determined as M1=1.55(2)Ms, M2=0.55(1)Ms and R1=1.51(2)Rs, R2=0.95(2)Rs, respectively. The degree of contact (f) and mass ratio (q) of the system were determined as 23% and 0.355(12), respectively. Orbital period analysis of DY Cet was conducted for the first time in this study. It was observed that the orbital period has a sinus-like change with decreasing parabola. To explain the orbital period change, mass transfer between components is proposed with the assumption of conservative mass, and the transfer rate was calculated to be dM/dt=1.1x10^(-7) Ms/yr. A possible third component is suggested for explaining the sinus-like change, and the mass of the unseen component was determined as 0.13 Ms. The age of the DY Cet system was estimated as 3.77 Gyr.