Detection of dark companions via the combination of eclipse timing variation, Hipparcos and/or Gaia astrometry: the cases of V Puppis and CY Ari

TL;DR

This paper introduces a method combining eclipse timing, Hipparcos, and Gaia astrometry to detect and characterize dark companions in binary systems, successfully applied to V Puppis and CY Ari, revealing a black-hole candidate and a white dwarf.

Contribution

The paper develops a novel combined analysis technique to determine the true mass and inclination of tertiary companions in eclipsing binaries, improving detection of dark objects.

Findings

Confirmed a 14-year period for V Pup's tertiary, revising its mass and orbit.

Supported the white dwarf hypothesis for CY Ari's tertiary with derived parameters.

Identified a promising stellar-mass black-hole candidate in V Pup.

Abstract

The third body is expected to shape the formation and evolution of close binary systems. In this work, we develop a method to detect and characterize the tertiary companion around eclipsing binaries through the combined analysis of eclipse timing variation, Hipparcos and/or Gaia astrometry. This method allows us to determine both the true mass and the inclination of the tertiary body that inferred from light-travel time effect. For the massive B-type binary V Pup, we do not confirm the previously reported 5.47-yr signal; instead, we identify a longer period of 14 yr. The orbital semi-major axis and mass of the outer body are revised to $a_C={17.88}_{-0.15}^{+0.15}$\,au and $M_C={7.73}_{-0.14}^{+0.14}\,M_\odot$, confirming it as a promising stellar-mass black-hole candidate for further follow-up study. For the tertiary of the contact binary CY Ari, we obtain $P_C=5.406_{-0.016}^{+0.017}$ yr, $e_C=0.526_{-0.027}^{+0.032}$, $I_C={85.6}_{-6.5}^{+7.8}$$^\circ$, and a true mass of $M_C=0.640_{-0.029}^{+0.029}\,M_\odot$, supporting the white dwarf hypothesis proposed in previous study. The orbits of both systems are nearly edge-on ($I=90^{\circ}$), implying that they may form in a coplanar environment. We highlight the advantages of our method for detecting dark companions in binary and triple systems.