A Study of Twelve Potential Merger Candidate Contact Binary Systems

TL;DR

This study analyzes twelve contact binary systems with low mass ratios and signs of orbital instability, revealing their potential for future mergers and increased magnetic activity.

Contribution

It provides detailed photometric analysis of twelve poorly studied contact binaries, highlighting their low mass ratios and instability features.

Findings

All systems show total eclipses and low mass ratios (0.072 to 0.15).

Most systems exhibit signs of increased chromospheric and magnetic activity.

All systems display characteristics of orbital instability.

Abstract

Photometric observations and analysis of twelve previously poorly studied contact binary systems is presented. All show total eclipses and have extremely low mass ratios ranging from 0.072 to 0.15. Also, all show characteristics of orbital instability with mass ratios within the theoretical orbital instability range. Although none demonstrate a significant O'Connell effect at least nine of the systems have other indicators of increased chromospheric and magnetic activity.