TESS light curve modeling and period study of four eclipsing binaries

Abstract

Abstract We reported the light curves and orbital period variations of four short-period eclipsing binaries in the Southern Hemisphere. From short-cadence time-series observations of the TESS, the intrinsic light changes rapidly with time. Δmmax and Δmmin exhibit random wave-like variations or quasi-periodicities. We deduced 14 sets of photometric solutions from the truncated light curves using the W-D program. The results imply that V757 Cen and BC Gru are near-contact binaries, whose one or two components almost fill the Roche lobes with $f>98{{\%}}$. Meanwhile, V535 Ara and AQ Tuc are A-subtype contact binaries. The asymmetric light curves were modelled by a cool spot assumed on a more massive component, which was used to track the stellar longitudes of starspots. Based on all available eclipsing times (ETs), including 1495 ones from TESS light curves (LCs), the orbital period variations of four binaries were analysed. The (O − C) curves are coincidentally demonstrated by the light-time effect (LITE) via the presence of the third bodies. The modulation periods approximate to 50 ∼ 60 years. In the coplanar orbit with the central binaries, the third companions’ masses are 0.105 M⊙ for V757 Cen, 0.340 M⊙ for BC Gru, 0.238 M⊙ for V535 Ara, and 0.343 M⊙ for AQ Tuc, whose systems are stable according to Harrington’s criterion. Therefore, the four short-period eclipsing binaries, V757 Cen, BC Gru, V535 Ara and AQ Tuc are hierarchical triple stellar systems.