Calculations of proximity effects in close binary systems

Abstract

The proximity effects in the light curves of close binary systems are investigated with the aid of facilities provided by a high-speed, digital computer. The treatment follows, to a large extent, that summarized by Kopal (1959) and makes extensive use of the alpha-functions and related integrals provided by that author. The ‘ellipticity’ and ‘reflection’ effects are studied individually and different expressions are checked and compared. Test data are drawn continually from the well known system SZ Cam for which a ‘rectified’ (in a more realistic sense) light curve is ultimately produced.