Analysis of the light curves of SZ Cam using automatized fourier techniques

Abstract

UBV light curves of the early type close eclipsing binary system SZ Cam have been investigated using recently developed frequency-domain techniques. The combination of both minima in the analysis results in a distinct methodological improvement over the single minimum method discussed hitherto. This improvement has two aspects: (i) increased accuracy of the determined elements, (ii) agreement of the results of the two-minimum method with those of the single-minimum method provides a criterion whereby the self-consistency of the underlying model with its representation of the light curve in the regions between minima by a cosine series and the empirically determined coefficients of such a series may be assessed. Such a ‘self-consistent’ solution is found, and a further step towards a realistic representation is made by including the ‘photometric perturbations’. It is confirmed from these three light curves that the less massive star is overluminous. A probable tendency for the limb-darkening coefficient of the more massive star to increase with decreasing wavelength is also noted.