THE PROPOSED QUADRUPLE SYSTEM SZ HERCULIS: REVISED LITE MODEL AND ORBITAL STABILITY STUDY
- Advanced Astronomy and Space Science Division, Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, Daejeon 305-348 (Korea, Republic of)
- Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun Centre for Astronomy, PL-87-100 Torun (Poland)
- Institute for Astronomy and NASA Astrobiology Institute, University of Hawaii, 96822 HI (United States)
In a recent study, Lee et al. presented new photometric follow-up timing observations of the semidetached binary system SZ Herculis and proposed the existence of two hierarchical cirumbinary companions. Based on the light-travel time effect, the two low-mass M-dwarf companions are found to orbit the binary pair on moderate to high eccentric orbits. The derived periods of these two companions are close to a 2:1 mean-motion orbital resonance. We have studied the stability of the system using the osculating orbital elements as presented by Lee et al. Results indicate an orbit-crossing architecture exhibiting short-term dynamical instabilities leading to the escape of one of the proposed companions. We have examined the system's underlying model parameter space by following a Monte Carlo approach and found an improved fit to the timing data. A study of the stability of our best-fitting orbits also indicates that the proposed system is generally unstable. If the observed anomalous timing variations of the binary period is due to additional circumbinary companions, then the resulting system should exhibit a long-term stable orbital configuration much different from the orbits suggested by Lee et al. We, therefore, suggest that based on Newtonian-dynamical considerations, the proposed quadruple system cannot exist. To uncover the true nature of the observed period variations of this system, we recommend future photometric follow-up observations that could further constrain eclipse-timing variations and/or refine light-travel time models.
- OSTI ID:
- 22034408
- Journal Information:
- Astronomical Journal (New York, N.Y. Online), Vol. 144, Issue 2; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1538-3881
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
THE ALGOL SYSTEM SZ HERCULIS: PHYSICAL NATURE AND ORBITAL BEHAVIOR
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF THE LOW-MASS ECLIPSING BINARY NSVS 02502726