New results on the two low-mass-ratio overcontact binaries V1309 Herculis and AS Coronae Borealis

Abstract

We present new multi-color light curves of V1309 Her and AS CrB, which were observed by the 60 cm telescope located at the Maidanak Astronomical Observatory. Combined with the Large-Sky-Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope atmospheric parameters, we analyzed our BVRCIC light curves for both systems by employing the Wilson–Devinney program. Our results show that both systems are low-mass-ratio overcontact binaries (V1309 Her: q = 0.213, AS CrB: q = 0.16). AS CrB has a high fill-out factor, while that of V1309 Her is moderate. By adding our new times of minimum light, we found the periodic oscillations in their O − C curves, which could be explained by the light travel-time effect of the third bodies. The third lights detected during the light curve analysis support the existence of the third bodies in V1309 Her and AS CrB. Third bodies usually play an important role for the origin and evolution of the central pair by removing their angular momentum. With the angular momentum loss, a moderate-fill-out overcontact binary like V1309 Her will evolve to a deep one like AS CrB. AS CrB lies at the late evolutionary stage of contact binaries. A long-term period increase at a rate of dP/dt = 5.22(± 0.28) × 10−7 d yr−1 was detected in our O − C diagram analysis. When its orbital angular momentum is less than three times the total spin angular momentum, a system may finally evolve into a rapid-rotating single star.