Deep, Low Mass Ratio Overcontact Binaries. II. IK Persei

Abstract

BV photometric light curves of the eclipsing binary IK Per were obtained during three nights in 2002 December. The photometric elements were computed using the Wilson-Devinney code. The results reveal that IK Per is an A-type overcontact binary system with a low mass ratio of q = 0.17 and a large degree of overcontact of 60%. The asymmetry of the light curves (i.e., the O'Connell effect) is explained by spot models. The observed long-term orbital period decrease [dP/dt = - (2.5 +/- 0.09) x 10(-7) days yr(-1)] is probably influenced by the presence of a third body in the system. The low mass ratio, high degree of overcontact, and secular orbital decrease all indicate that the situation of IK Per resembles those of FG Hya, GR Vir, and AW UMa. Because of the decrease of their orbital periods, the shrinking of the inner and outer critical Roche lobes will lead the common envelopes to overlap more, and finally the systems will evolve into single rapid-rotation stars.