Light curve analysis of six totally eclipsing W UMa binaries

TL;DR

This study presents the first detailed analysis of six totally eclipsing W UMa binary systems, deriving their orbital and stellar parameters using multicolor light curves and an automated q-search method.

Contribution

It introduces a robust automated q-search procedure to determine mass ratios and provides new orbital and stellar parameters for six W UMa binaries.

Findings

Mass ratios range from 0.23 to 0.51

Fillouts are between 10% and 15%

Five stars are W subtype, one is A subtype

Abstract

We analyze multicolor light curves of six totally eclipsing, short-period W UMa binaries and derive, for the first time, their orbital and stellar parameters. The mass ratios are established robustly through an automated q-search procedure that performs a heuristic survey of the parameter space. Five stars belong to the W and one to the A subtype. The mass ratios range from 0.23 to 0.51 and the fillouts from 10 to 15%. We estimate the ages and discuss the evolutionary status of these objects in comparison with a sample of other short-period W UMa binaries from the literature.