Four bright eclipsing binaries with γ Doradus pulsating components: CM Lac, MZ Lac, RX Dra, and V2077 Cyg

Abstract

ABSTRACT The study of pulsating stars in eclipsing binaries holds the promise of combining two different ways of measuring the physical properties of a star to obtain improved constraints on stellar theory. Gravity (g) mode pulsations such as those found in γ Doradus stars can be used to probe rotational profiles, mixing, and magnetic fields. Until recently few γ Doradus stars in eclipsing binaries were known. We have discovered g-mode pulsations in four detached eclipsing binary systems from light curves obtained by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and present an analysis of their eclipses and pulsational characteristics. We find unresolved g-mode pulsations at frequencies 1–1.5 d−1 in CM Lac, and measure the masses and radii of the component stars from the TESS data and published radial velocities. MZ Lac shows a much richer frequency spectrum, including pressure modes and tidally excited g-modes. RX Dra is in the northern continuous viewing zone of TESS so has a light-curve covering a full year, but shows relatively few pulsation frequencies. For V2077 Cyg we formally measure four pulsation frequencies, but the available data are inadequate to properly resolve the g-mode pulsations. V2077 Cyg also shows total eclipses, with which we obtain the first measurement of the surface gravity of the faint secondary star. All four systems are bright and good candidates for detailed study. Further TESS observations are scheduled for all four systems, with much improved temporal baselines in the cases of RX Dra and V2077 Cyg.