New photometric studies of two contact binaries CE Leo and V366 Cas with possible tertiary companions

Abstract

We present new photometry for CE Leo and V366 Cas, performed using three small telescopes in China from 2008 December to 2012 March. Using the updated Wilson–Devinney program, the photometric solutions of two binaries were deduced from new BVR light curves. Their photometric mass ratios and geometric fill-out factors are q=0.533(±0.002) and f=15.8%(±0.3%) for CE Leo, q=0.887(±0.007) and f=38.7%(±1.0%) for V366 Cas, respectively. By analyzing the O–C curves, it is found that their orbital periods show a long-time increase with a light-time orbit due to a third body. The periods of the tertiary components are P3=39.7(±0.9)yr for CE Leo and P3=16.7(±0.4)yr for V366 Cas, respectively. With the existence of addition companion, those two binaries appear to be triple systems. The period increase rates are dP/dt=1.63(±0.05)×10-7dyr-1 for CE Leo and dP/dt=+5.55(±0.03)×10-7dyr-1 for V366 Cas, respectively. This kind of period increase may be interpreted by the conservative mass transfer from the secondary component to the primary one. With periods increasing, CE Leo and V366 Cas will evolve into broken-contact configurations as predicted by the thermal relaxation oscillation theory.