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We present a catalogue of 1768 eclipsing binary stars (EBs) detected in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) by the second generation of the EROS survey (hereinafter EROS-2); 493 of them are new discoveries located in outer regions (out of the central bar) of the LMC. These sources were originally included in a list of candidate classical Cepheids (CCs) extracted from the EROS-2 catalogue on the basis of the period (0.89 < PEROS < 15.85 d) versus luminosity [13.39 < 〈BEROS〉 < 17.82 mag] diagram. After visual inspection of the light curves we reclassified them as eclipsing binaries. They have blue colours (BEROS − REROS < 0.2 mag) hence we classed them as hot eclipsing binaries (HEBs) containing hot massive components: main sequence (MS) stars or blue giants. We present Ks-band light curves for 999 binaries from our sample that have a counterpart in the VISTA near-infrared ESO public survey of the Magellanic Clouds system (VMC). We provide spectral classifications of 13 HEBs with existing spectroscopy. We divided our sample into contact-like binaries and detached/semi-detached systems based on both visual inspection and the parameters of the Fourier decomposition of the light curves and analysed the period–luminosity (PL) relations of the contact-like systems using the REROS and Ks magnitudes at maximum light. The contact-like binaries in our sample do not follow PL relations. We analysed the sample of contact binaries from the OGLE III catalogue and confirmed that PLI and ${\rm PL}_{K_{\rm s}}$ sequences are defined only by eclipsing binaries containing a red giant component. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Aims. Eclipsing binary systems with pulsating components allow determination of several physical parameters of the stars, such as mass and radius, that can be used to constrain the modeling of stellar interiors and evolution when combined with the pulsation properties. We present the results of the study of CoRoT 105906206, an eclipsing binary system with a pulsating component located in the CoRoT LRc02 field. Methods. The analysis of the CoRoT light curve was complemented by high-resolution spectra from the Sandiford at McDonald Observatory and FEROS at ESO spectrographs, which revealed a double-lined spectroscopic binary. We used an iterative procedure to separate the pulsation-induced photometric variations from the eclipse signals. First, a Fourier analysis was used to identify the significant frequencies and amplitudes due to pulsations. Second, after removing the contribution of the pulsations from the light curve we applied the PIKAIA genetic-algorithm approach to derive the best parameters for describing the system orbital properties. Results. The light curve cleaned for pulsations contains the partial eclipse of the primary and the total eclipse of the secondary. The system has an orbital period of about 3.694 days and is formed by a primary star with mass M1 = 2.25 ± 0.04 M≃, radius R1 = 4.24 ± 0.02 R≃, and effective temperature Teff,1 = 6750 ± 150 K, and a secondary with M2 = 1.29 ± 0.03 M≃, R2 = 1.34 ± 0.01 R≃, and Teff,2 = 6152±162 K. The best solution for the parameters was obtained by taking into account the asymmetric modulation observed in the light curve, known as the O’Connell effect, presumably caused by Doppler beaming. The analysis of the Fourier spectrum revealed that the primary component has p-mode pulsations in the range 5–13 d−1, which are typical of δ Scuti type stars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analysis of eclipsing binaries containing non-radial pulsators allows i) combining two different and independent sources of information on the internal structure and evolutionary status of the components and ii) studying the effects of tidal forces on pulsations. KIC 3858884 is a bright Kepler target whose light curve shows deep eclipses, complex pulsation patterns with pulsation frequencies typical of δ Sct, and a highly eccentric orbit. We present the result of the analysis of Kepler photometry and of high resolution phaseresolved spectroscopy. Spectroscopy yielded both the radial velocity curves and, after spectral disentangling, the primary-component effective temperature and metallicity, and line-of-sight projected rotational velocities. The Kepler light curve was analyzed with an iterative procedure that was devised to disentangle eclipses from pulsations and takes the visibility of the pulsating star into account during eclipses. The search for the best set of binary parameters was performed by combining the synthetic light curve models with a genetic minimization algorithm, which yielded a robust and accurate determination of the system parameters. The binary components have very similar masses (1.88 and 1.86 M☉) and effective temperatures (6800 and 6600 K), but different radii (3.45 and 3.05 R☉). The comparison with the theoretical models showed a somewhat different evolutionary status of the components and the need to introduce overshooting in the models. The pulsation analysis indicates the hybrid nature of the pulsating (secondary) component, where the corresponding high order g-modes might be excited by an intrinsic mechanism or by tidal forces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The investigation of eclipsing spectroscopic binaries provides basic parameters of stars in a direct way. Whereas the measurable absolute masses can be used to calibrate stellar evolutionary scenarios, the effective temperatures derived from spectroscopic analysis are an important input to light curve and asteroseismic modelling. We compare different methods for investigating eclipsing SB2 stars focusing on radial velocity determination and spectrum decomposition and analysis. Used methods are the two-dimensional cross-correlation technique TODCOR, spectral disentangling with the Fourier transform-based KOREL program, and a grid search-based method of spectrum analysis using spectrum synthesis. The study is based on the investigation of two eclipsing SB2 stars observed by the Kepler satellite mission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. We present the first binary modelling results for the pulsating, eclipsing binary KIC 11285625 that was discovered by the Kepler mission. An automated method to disentangle the pulsation spectrum and the orbital variability in high quality light curves was developed and applied. The goal was to obtain accurate orbital and component properties in combination with essential information derived from spectroscopy. Methods. A binary model for KIC 11285625 was obtained, using a combined analysis of high-quality space-based Kepler light curves and ground-based high-resolution HERMES echelle spectra. The binary model was used to separate the pulsation characteristics from the orbital variability in the Kepler light curve in an iterative way. We used an automated procedure based on the JKTEBOP binary modelling code to perform this task, and adapted codes for frequency analysis and prewhitening of periodic signals. Using a disentangling technique applied to the composite HERMES spectra, we obtained a higher signal-to-noise mean spectrum for both the primary and the secondary components. A model grid search method for fitting synthetic spectra was used for fundamental parameter determination for both components. Results. Accurate orbital and component properties of KIC 11285625 were derived, and we have obtained the pulsation spectrum of the γ Dor pulsator in the system. Detailed analysis of the pulsation spectrum revealed amplitude modulation on a timescale of a hundred days, and strong indications of frequency splittings at both the orbital frequency and the rotational frequency derived from spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulsating stars in eclipsing binary systems are powerful tools to test stellar models. Binarity enables us to constrain the pulsating component's physical parameters and this knowledge drastically improves the input physics for asteroseismic studies. The study of stellar oscillations then allows us to improve our understanding of stellar interiors and stellar evolution. The space mission CoRoT discovered several promising objects suitable for these studies. They were photometrically observed with unprecedented accuracy, but needed spectroscopic follow-up. A promising target was the relatively bright eclipsing system CoRoT 102918586, which turned out to be a double-lined spectroscopic binary and also showed clear evidence of γ Dor type pulsations. With the aim of combining the information from binarity and pulsation and fully exploiting the potential of CoRoT photometry we obtained phase resolved high-resolution spectroscopy with the Sandiford spectrograph at the McDonald 2.1m telescope and the FEROS spectrograph at the ESO 2.2 m telescope. Spectroscopy yielded both the radial velocity curves and, after spectra disentangling, the component effective temperatures, metallicity, and line-of-sight projected rotational velocities. The CoRoT light curve was analyzed with an iterative procedure, devised to disentangle eclipses from pulsations. The eclipsing binary light curve analysis, combined with the spectroscopic results, provided an accurate determination of the system parameters, and the comparison with evolutionary models provided strict constraints on the system age. Finally, the residuals obtained after subtraction of the best-fitting eclipsing binary model were analyzed to determine the pulsator properties. We achieved a complete and consistent description of the system. The primary star pulsates with typical γ Dor frequencies and shows a splitting in period that is consistent with high order g-mode pulsations in a star of the corresponding physical parameters. The value of the splitting, in particular, is consistent with pulsations in ι = 1 modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an on-going study of CoRoT 102931335. Our preliminary results indicate that the target is an eclipsing binary system with an orbital period of $3{.\!\!\vphantom{0}^{\mathrm{d}}}979$ and a primary component pulsating in the frequency range 0.6–0.8 c/d. The results of a ground-based follow-up program provided four-colour Strömgren photometry and allowed us to infer the spectral class and the primary effective temperature. We devised and applied an iterative procedure to disentangle the effects of binarity from those of pulsations and could test that a detailed binary modelling is essential for the purpose. Our results suggest that the pulsating component of CoRoT 102931335 could be a γ Dor variable, a rare occurrence in an eclipsing system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyses of very accurate CoRoT space photometry, past Johnson V photoelectric photometry and high-resolution echelle spectra led to the determination of improved and consistent fundamental stellar properties of both components of AU Monocerotis. We derived new, accurate ephemerides for both the orbital motion (with a period of ) and the long-term, overall brightness variation (with a period of ) of this strongly interacting Be + G semi-detached binary. It is shown that this long-term variation must be due to attenuation of the total light by some variable circumbinary material. We derived the binary mass ratio based on the assumption that the G-type secondary fills its Roche lobe and rotates synchronously. Using this value of the mass ratio as well as the radial velocities of the G-star, we obtained a consistent light curve model and improved estimates of the stellar masses, radii, luminosities and effective temperatures. We demonstrate that the observed lines of the B-type primary may not be of photospheric origin. We also discover rapid and periodic light changes visible in the high-quality residual CoRoT light curves. AU Mon is put into perspective by a comparison with known binaries exhibiting long-term cyclic light changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present and discuss the Hα (λ = 6563Å) observations of the contact (W UMa type) binaries AE Phoenicis and YY Eridani, obtained in 1989, 1990 and 1995 with the CAT/CES telescope of the Southern European Observatory (ESO). In particular, we compare the intrinsic equivalent widths of both components with the NextGen theoretical models and the saturation limit. We find that the average Hα equivalent widths are close to the saturation border and that the primary components have excess Hα-emission, indicating enhanced chromospheric activity. This is compatible with both theoretical and observational suggestions that the primary is the more magnetically active component and is filled with (mostly unresolvable) dark spots and associated chromospheric plages. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We explore the possible evolutionary status of the primary component of the binary 85 Pegasi, listed as a target for asteroseismic observations by the MOST satellite. In spite of the assessed ‘subdwarf’ status, and of the accurate distance determination from the Hipparcos data, the uncertainties in the metallicity and age, coupled with the uncertainty in the theoretical models, lead to a range of predictions on the oscillation frequency spectrum. Nevertheless, the determination of the ratio between the small separation in frequency modes, and the large separation as suggested by Roxburgh, provides a very good measure of the star age, quite independent of the metallicity in the assumed uncertainty range. In this range, the constraint on the dynamical mass and the further constraint provided by the assumption that the maximum age is 14 Gyr limits the mass of 85 Peg A to the range from 0.75 to . This difference of a few hundredths of a solar mass leads to well detectable differences both in the evolutionary stage (age) and in the asteroseismic properties. We show that the age determination which will be possible through the asteroseismic measurements for this star is independent either of the convection model adopted or the microscopic metal diffusion. The latter conclusion is strengthened by the fact that, although metal diffusion is still described in an approximate way, recent observations suggest that real stars suffer a smaller metal sedimentation compared with the models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HR 6902 was the first target of a systematic study by Griffin (1986, JApA , 7, 195) of binaries showing composite spectra. It is also a well-studied member of the ζ Aur class. ζ Aur systems are long-period eclipsing binaries that are comprised of an evolved giant primary and a hot dwarf companion. Although those component stars have very different effective temperatures they have similar luminosities in the blue and near-UV regions, and hence display a composite spectrum at those wavelengths. In principle the ζ Aur systems are excellent tests of evolutionary and structural stellar models. In recent years the somewhat fragmentary eclipse photometry of HR 6902 has been out-classed by the high-precision continuous monitoring by the space mission CoRoT. HR 6902 was selected as a primary target of its seismology field, because the possible detection of solar-like pulsations in a giant component of a double-lined eclipsing binary could help to calibrate the scaling relation of giant pulsators. Our poster reported the results of a new analysis based on the CoRoT observations and follow-up spectroscopy with HARPS at the ESO 3.6-m telescope at La Silla. The unprecedented accuracy of the CoRoT photometry enabled us to: improve drastically the accuracy of the binary orbit and stellar parameters (by a factor ~10 for the radii) extend the test of validity/calibration of the scaling relations to high stellar mass and radius, and put constraints on the evolutionary state (particularly since this binary is certainly free from tidal effects). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the results of analysis of 1764 eclipsing binary stars (EBs) in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) contaminating the sample of candidate Classical Cepheids (CCs) from the EROS-2 survey. These binaries have the same periods and luminosities as Classical Cepheids, but their colors are bluer. These EBs contain hot massive Main Sequence components and could be used as tracers of regions of recent star formation activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]