Synthetic Spectra of Cool, Roche Lobe-filling Stars in Close Binary Systems

Abstract

We present the details of LinBrod, a program that calculates synthetic spectra of cool Roche lobe-filling stars in close binary systems. The program has two modes of operation. In the primary mode it calculates the spectra by adding wavelength-dependent, velocity-shifted specific intensities from the distorted and gravity-darkened surface of the lobe-filling star. The wavelength-dependent specific intensities are calculated externally using the ATLAS9 stellar atmosphere program and a modified version of the MOOG spectrum synthesis program. In its secondary mode LinBrod calculates phase-dependent line-broadening functions that can be convolved with the spectra of nonrotating single stars to yield approximate synthetic spectra. We use the line-broadening functions to isolate and assess the effects of the physical processes that broaden the absorption lines in the spectra of lobe-filling stars. The synthetic spectra can be used to extract radial velocities, mass ratios, and chemical abundances from observed spectra of lobe-filling stars. Originally written to analyze observations of the secondary stars in X-ray binaries containing black holes, the program can also be used to analyze observations of the secondary stars in Algol systems, cataclysmic variables, and low-mass X-ray binaries containing neutron stars.