An Algol type binary with aδ Scuti component: RZ Cassiopeiae revisited

Abstract

We present new BV photometry and spectroscopic observations of RZ Cassiopeiae. The light and radial velocity curves were formed by the new observations which have been analyzed simultaneously by using theWilson-Dewinney code. The non-synchronous rotational velocity v 1 sin i = 76 ± 6 km s–1, deduced for the primary component from the new spectroscopic observations, was also incorporated in the analysis. A time-series analysis of the residual light curves revealed the multi-periodic pulsations of the primary component of RZ Cas. The main peak in the frequency spectrum was observed at about 64.197 c d–1 in both B and V bands. The pulsational constant was calculated to be 0.0116 days. This value corresponds to high overtones (n ∼ 6) of non-radial mode oscillations.We find significant changes in the pulsational amplitude of the primary component from year to year. The peak-to-peak pulsational amplitude of the main frequency displays a decrease from 0.m013 in 2000 to 0.m002 in 2001 and thereafter we have found an increase again in the amplitude to 0.m01 in the year 2002. We propose the mass transfer from the cool secondary to the pulsating primary as a possible explanation for such remarkable changes in the pulsational behavior of the primary component. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)