A Photometric Study of the Contact Binary System FU Draconis

Volume 34 number 2 (2006)

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Ronald H. Kaitchuck

Robert L. Hill

Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ball State

Alexander Patrick Corn

Daleville High School, Daleville, IN 47334

Joshua Gevirtz

Central High School, Muncie, IN 47302

Kara L. Levell

Daleville High School, Daleville, IN 47334

Theanomous Leviatha Valenti

Abstract

paper reports new four-filter CCD observations of the contact binary FU Dra. The Wilson and Devinney model was used to simultaneously fit these light curves and published radial velocity data. The stellar masses, sizes, and densities were calculated. Five additional models involving dark spots, hot spots, and accretion heating were considered as explanations for the light curve asymmetry known as the "O'Connell effect" in FU Dra. No conclusive spot model choice could be made but the Liu and Yang model for accretion heating is an unlikely explanation for the O'Connell effect in FU Dra. Datasets B-Filter data V-Filter data R-Filter data I-Filter data Link to article on ADS