Orbital period changes and the higher-order multiplicity fraction amongst SuperWASP eclipsing binaries

Lohr, M. E.; Norton, A. J.; Payne, S. G.; West, R. G. and Wheatley, P. J. (2015). Orbital period changes and the higher-order multiplicity fraction amongst SuperWASP eclipsing binaries. Astronomy & Astrophysics, 578, article no. A136.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201525747

Abstract

Orbital period changes of binary stars may be caused by the presence of a third massive body in the system. Here we have searched the archive of the Wide Angle Search for Planets (SuperWASP) project for evidence of period variations in 13 927 eclipsing binary candidates. Sinusoidal period changes, strongly suggestive of third bodies, were detected in 2% of cases; however, linear period changes were observed in a further 22% of systems. We argue on distributional grounds that the majority of these apparently linear changes are likely to reflect longer-term sinusoidal period variations caused by third bodies, and thus estimate a higher-order multiplicity fraction of 24% for SuperWASP binaries, in good agreement with other recent figures for the fraction of triple systems amongst binary stars in general.

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About

• Item ORO ID
• 43513
• Item Type
• Journal Item
• ISSN
• 0004-6361
• Project Funding Details

• Funded Project Name	Project ID	Funding Body
  PhD studentship	Not Set	STFC/OU
  Consolidated Grant project (post-doc with Simon Clark)	Not Set	STFC

• Keywords
• stars; close binaries; eclipsing binaries; archival research; multiple star systems
• Academic Unit or School
• Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) > Physical Sciences
  Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
• Copyright Holders
• © 2015 ESO
• Depositing User
• Marcus Lohr