Variability in the Milky Way: contact binaries as diagnostic tools

Richard de Grijs; Xiaodian Chen; Licai Deng

Variability in the Milky Way: contact binaries as diagnostic tools

Richard de Grijs^*, Xiaodian Chen, Licai Deng

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference proceeding contribution › peer-review

Abstract

We used the 50 cm Binocular Network (50BiN) telescope at Delingha Station (Qinghai Province) of Purple Mountain Observatory (Chinese Academy of Sciences) to obtain simultaneous V- and R-band observations of the old open cluster NGC 188. Our aim was a search for populations of variable stars. We derived light-curve solutions for six W Ursae Majoris (W UMa) eclipsing-binary systems and estimated their orbital parameters. The resulting distance to the W UMas is independent of the physical characteristics of the host cluster. We next determined the current best period–luminosity relations for contact binaries (CBs; scatter σ<0.10 mag). We conclude that CBs can be used as distance tracers with better than 5% uncertainty. We apply our new relations to the 102 CBs in the Large Magellanic Cloud, which yields a distance modulus of (m–M)_V,0=18.41±0.20 mag.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Non-Stable Universe: Energetic Resources, Activity Phenomena, and Evolutionary Processes
Subtitle of host publication	proceedings of an International Symposium dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO) held at National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (NAS RA), Yerevan and Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO), Byurakan, Armenia, 19-23 September 2016
Editors	A. M. Mickaelian, H. A. Harutyunian, E. H. Nikoghosyan
Place of Publication	San Francisco
Publisher	Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Pages	23-27
Number of pages	5
ISBN (Electronic)	9781583819074
ISBN (Print)	9781583819067
Publication status	Published - 2017
Externally published	Yes
Event	International Symposium on Non-Stable Universe: Energetic Resources, Activity Phenomena, and Evolutionary Processes - Yerevan, Armenia Duration: 19 Sept 2016 → 23 Sept 2016

Publication series

Name	Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series
Publisher	Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Volume	511
ISSN (Print)	1050-3390

Conference

Conference	International Symposium on Non-Stable Universe: Energetic Resources, Activity Phenomena, and Evolutionary Processes
Country/Territory	Armenia
City	Yerevan
Period	19/09/16 → 23/09/16

Access to Document

http://www.aspbooks.org/a/volumes/article_details/?paper_id=38310

Cite this

de Grijs, R., Chen, X., & Deng, L. (2017). Variability in the Milky Way: contact binaries as diagnostic tools. In A. M. Mickaelian, H. A. Harutyunian, & E. H. Nikoghosyan (Eds.), Non-Stable Universe: Energetic Resources, Activity Phenomena, and Evolutionary Processes: proceedings of an International Symposium dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO) held at National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (NAS RA), Yerevan and Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO), Byurakan, Armenia, 19-23 September 2016 (pp. 23-27). (Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series; Vol. 511). Astronomical Society of the Pacific. http://www.aspbooks.org/a/volumes/article_details/?paper_id=38310

de Grijs, Richard ; Chen, Xiaodian ; Deng, Licai. / Variability in the Milky Way : contact binaries as diagnostic tools. Non-Stable Universe: Energetic Resources, Activity Phenomena, and Evolutionary Processes: proceedings of an International Symposium dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO) held at National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (NAS RA), Yerevan and Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO), Byurakan, Armenia, 19-23 September 2016. editor / A. M. Mickaelian ; H. A. Harutyunian ; E. H. Nikoghosyan. San Francisco : Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 2017. pp. 23-27 (Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series).

@inproceedings{c4cfab1fe465457e93f84b8855546f97,

title = "Variability in the Milky Way: contact binaries as diagnostic tools",

abstract = "We used the 50 cm Binocular Network (50BiN) telescope at Delingha Station (Qinghai Province) of Purple Mountain Observatory (Chinese Academy of Sciences) to obtain simultaneous V- and R-band observations of the old open cluster NGC 188. Our aim was a search for populations of variable stars. We derived light-curve solutions for six W Ursae Majoris (W UMa) eclipsing-binary systems and estimated their orbital parameters. The resulting distance to the W UMas is independent of the physical characteristics of the host cluster. We next determined the current best period–luminosity relations for contact binaries (CBs; scatter σ<0.10 mag). We conclude that CBs can be used as distance tracers with better than 5% uncertainty. We apply our new relations to the 102 CBs in the Large Magellanic Cloud, which yields a distance modulus of (m–M)V,0=18.41±0.20 mag.",

author = "{de Grijs}, Richard and Xiaodian Chen and Licai Deng",

year = "2017",

language = "English",

isbn = "9781583819067",

series = "Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series",

publisher = "Astronomical Society of the Pacific",

pages = "23--27",

editor = "Mickaelian, {A. M.} and Harutyunian, {H. A.} and Nikoghosyan, {E. H.}",

booktitle = "Non-Stable Universe: Energetic Resources, Activity Phenomena, and Evolutionary Processes",

note = "International Symposium on Non-Stable Universe: Energetic Resources, Activity Phenomena, and Evolutionary Processes ; Conference date: 19-09-2016 Through 23-09-2016",

}

de Grijs, R, Chen, X & Deng, L 2017, Variability in the Milky Way: contact binaries as diagnostic tools. in AM Mickaelian, HA Harutyunian & EH Nikoghosyan (eds), Non-Stable Universe: Energetic Resources, Activity Phenomena, and Evolutionary Processes: proceedings of an International Symposium dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO) held at National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (NAS RA), Yerevan and Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO), Byurakan, Armenia, 19-23 September 2016. Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series, vol. 511, Astronomical Society of the Pacific, San Francisco, pp. 23-27, International Symposium on Non-Stable Universe: Energetic Resources, Activity Phenomena, and Evolutionary Processes, Yerevan, Armenia, 19/09/16. <http://www.aspbooks.org/a/volumes/article_details/?paper_id=38310>

Variability in the Milky Way: contact binaries as diagnostic tools. / de Grijs, Richard; Chen, Xiaodian; Deng, Licai.
Non-Stable Universe: Energetic Resources, Activity Phenomena, and Evolutionary Processes: proceedings of an International Symposium dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO) held at National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (NAS RA), Yerevan and Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO), Byurakan, Armenia, 19-23 September 2016. ed. / A. M. Mickaelian; H. A. Harutyunian; E. H. Nikoghosyan. San Francisco: Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 2017. p. 23-27 (Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series; Vol. 511).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference proceeding contribution › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Variability in the Milky Way

T2 - International Symposium on Non-Stable Universe: Energetic Resources, Activity Phenomena, and Evolutionary Processes

AU - de Grijs, Richard

AU - Chen, Xiaodian

AU - Deng, Licai

PY - 2017

Y1 - 2017

N2 - We used the 50 cm Binocular Network (50BiN) telescope at Delingha Station (Qinghai Province) of Purple Mountain Observatory (Chinese Academy of Sciences) to obtain simultaneous V- and R-band observations of the old open cluster NGC 188. Our aim was a search for populations of variable stars. We derived light-curve solutions for six W Ursae Majoris (W UMa) eclipsing-binary systems and estimated their orbital parameters. The resulting distance to the W UMas is independent of the physical characteristics of the host cluster. We next determined the current best period–luminosity relations for contact binaries (CBs; scatter σ<0.10 mag). We conclude that CBs can be used as distance tracers with better than 5% uncertainty. We apply our new relations to the 102 CBs in the Large Magellanic Cloud, which yields a distance modulus of (m–M)V,0=18.41±0.20 mag.

AB - We used the 50 cm Binocular Network (50BiN) telescope at Delingha Station (Qinghai Province) of Purple Mountain Observatory (Chinese Academy of Sciences) to obtain simultaneous V- and R-band observations of the old open cluster NGC 188. Our aim was a search for populations of variable stars. We derived light-curve solutions for six W Ursae Majoris (W UMa) eclipsing-binary systems and estimated their orbital parameters. The resulting distance to the W UMas is independent of the physical characteristics of the host cluster. We next determined the current best period–luminosity relations for contact binaries (CBs; scatter σ<0.10 mag). We conclude that CBs can be used as distance tracers with better than 5% uncertainty. We apply our new relations to the 102 CBs in the Large Magellanic Cloud, which yields a distance modulus of (m–M)V,0=18.41±0.20 mag.

M3 - Conference proceeding contribution

SN - 9781583819067

T3 - Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series

SP - 23

EP - 27

BT - Non-Stable Universe: Energetic Resources, Activity Phenomena, and Evolutionary Processes

A2 - Mickaelian, A. M.

A2 - Harutyunian, H. A.

A2 - Nikoghosyan, E. H.

PB - Astronomical Society of the Pacific

CY - San Francisco

Y2 - 19 September 2016 through 23 September 2016

ER -

de Grijs R, Chen X, Deng L. Variability in the Milky Way: contact binaries as diagnostic tools. In Mickaelian AM, Harutyunian HA, Nikoghosyan EH, editors, Non-Stable Universe: Energetic Resources, Activity Phenomena, and Evolutionary Processes: proceedings of an International Symposium dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO) held at National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (NAS RA), Yerevan and Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO), Byurakan, Armenia, 19-23 September 2016. San Francisco: Astronomical Society of the Pacific. 2017. p. 23-27. (Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series).

Variability in the Milky Way: contact binaries as diagnostic tools

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