A possible explanation of W-type phenomena in V694 Peg

TL;DR

This study analyzes multi-color light curves of V694 Peg, revealing its conversion from A-type to W-type contact binary likely due to magnetic activity, and investigates its orbital period variations over 17 years.

Contribution

It provides detailed photometric analysis of V694 Peg's type conversion and long-term orbital period behavior, highlighting magnetic activity as a possible cause.

Findings

V694 Peg converted from A-type to W-type contact binary.

Orbital period shows a long-term increase and cyclic variation.

V694 Peg is the shortest-period converting contact binary recorded.

Abstract

Three sets of complete multi-color light curves of V694 Peg observed in 2013, 2015 and 2019 were presented and analyzed. Our photometric solutions show that this system is an A-type shallow contact binary in 2013 and 2015, while it converted to a W-type one in 2019. A large cool spot on the component of this binary could explain the conversion, implying the W-type phenomena may be caused by magnetic activity of the components. We have collected available data of this binary and calculated 505 times of light minimum, which span 17 years. The orbital period investigation based on these timings shows there is a long-term period increase at a rate of $dP/dt$ = 4.3($\pm$ 0.3)$\times$ 10$^{-9}$ d yr$^{-1}$ superposed on a periodic variation with a period of 11.81($\pm$ 0.06) years. The cyclic orbital variation may be the result of magnetic activity cycles or the existence of a third body. Till now, only 8 transformed systems including V694 Peg have been reported. Compared with other converting contact systems between A-type and W-type, V694 Peg is recorded as the shortest-period one. All of these converting systems are late-type (later than F7) contact binaries with O'Connell effect and show cyclic period variation, which indicates that magnetic activity may be the reason for the conversion between the two types of contact binaries. For investigating the nature of A-type and W-type phenomena, the discovery of more converting contact binaries is essential.