Study of ultra short period variable binary stars

Study of ultra short period variable binary starsJ/MNRAS/516/2540ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/MNRAS/516/2540doi:10.26093/cds/vizier.75162540CDSKoen C.2026-08-03T07:31:49Z2025-10-03T17:18:07ZCDS support team

CDS, Observatoire de Strasbourg, 11 rue de l'Universite, F-67000 Strasbourg, France

cds-question@unistra.frvariable-starseclipsing-binary-starsastrometryphotometryvisible-astronomyastronomical-reference-materialsextinctioneffective-temperatureabsolute-magnitudestellar-spectral-typesThe lower tail of the period distribution of main-sequence binary stars is poorly constrained due to the small number of such systems known. This paper deals with candidate binary stars with periods shorter than 0.2 d and colour indices consistent with them being M dwarfs. Three sources of candidates are considered - a catalogue of TESS eclipsing binaries, the ATLAS catalogue of variable stars, and binary stars from the 'International Variable Star Index' (VSX) website. The TESS eclipsing binary catalogue contains five new candidates satisfying the period and colour criteria. New photometry confirms one as a bona fide main-sequence system, and another as a white dwarf/red dwarf pair. New multicolour light curves of 10 ATLAS stars are presented: 7 of these are main sequence binaries with confirmed ultrashort periods (P < 0.2 d). There are 328 red VSX binary candidates with short periods. Literature searches for 77 of these with P < 0.17 d were performed: only 6 are previously studied main sequence systems, and another 14 are known red dwarf/white dwarf systems.2022MNRAS.516.2540Khttps://cdsarc.cds.unistra.fr/viz-bin/cat/J/MNRAS/516/2540CatalogResearchIsServedByTAP VizieR generic serviceIsServedByConesearch servicerelated-toB/vsx : AAVSO International Variable Star Index VSX (Watson+, 2006-)I/350 : Gaia EDR3 (Gaia Collaboration, 2020)II/312 : GALEX-DR5 (GR5) sources from AIS and MIS (Bianchi+ 2011)II/349 : The Pan-STARRS release 1 (PS1) Survey - DR1 (Chambers+, 2016)II/328 : AllWISE Data Release (Cutri+ 2013)II/336 : AAVSO Photometric All Sky Survey (APASS) DR9 (Henden+, 2016)II/358 : SkyMapper Southern Sky Survey. DR1.1 (Wolf+, 2018)II/379 : SkyMapper Southern Sky Survey. DR4 (Onken+, 2024)V/147 : The SDSS Photometric Catalogue, Release 12 (Alam+, 2015)VII/233 : 2MASS All-Sky Extended Source Catalog (XSC)J/A+A/513/L7 : Post common envelope binaries from SDSS. VIIIJ/A+A/588/A103 : Second ROSAT all-sky survey (2RXS) source catalogJ/A+A/610/A66 : Equivalent widths of 7 stars in NGC 6705 (Casamiquela+, 2018)J/A+A/614/A125 : Stellar content of the XMM-Newton slew survey (Freund+, 2018)J/A+A/648/A44 : Large-amplitude variables in Gaia DR2 (Mowlavi+, 2021)J/ApJ/731/17 : Variability of low-mass stars in SDSS Stripe 82J/ApJ/877/60 : YMGs. I. Young binaries & lithium-rich stars (Bowler+, 2019)J/ApJS/249/18 : The ZTF catalog of periodic variable stars (Chen+, 2020)J/ApJS/208/9 : Intrinsic colors and temperatures of PMS stars (Pecaut+, 2013)J/ApJS/213/9 : Catalina Surveys periodic variable stars (Drake+, 2014)J/ApJS/237/28 : WISE catalog of periodic variable stars (Chen+, 2018)J/ApJS/246/4 : Catalog of ultrawide binary stars from Gaia DR2 (Tian+, 2020)J/ApJS/247/66 : SUPERWIDE: wide binaries in Gaia & SUPERBLINK (Hartman+, 2020)J/ApJS/258/16 : TESS Eclipsing Binary stars. I. Sectors 1-26 (Prsa+, 2022)J/ApJS/254/10 : Compilation of W UMa stars (Latkovic+, 2021)J/AJ/153/231 : BVR photometry of EPIC 211957146 (Sriram+, 2017)J/AJ/157/85 : The CIDA Variability Survey of Orion OB1. II. (Briceno+, 2019)J/AJ/156/241 : A first catalog of variable stars measured by ATLASJ/AJ/141/97 : SDSS DR7 M dwarfs (West+, 2011)J/AJ/142/60 : Palomar Transient Factory Orion Project (Van Eyken+, 2011)J/AJ/145/102 : Spectroscopy of bright M dwarfs in the northern skyJ/AJ/156/84 : APOGEE-2 survey of Orion Complex. II. (Kounkel+, 2018)J/AcA/63/115 : OGLE-III Galactic disk eclipsing binaries (Pietrukowicz+,2013)J/AcA/65/39 : OGLE Galactic Bulge ultra-short-period binarieshttps://cds.unistra.fr/vizier-org/licences_vizier.htmlhttps://vizier.cds.unistra.fr/viz-bin/VizieR-2?-source=J/MNRAS/516/2540https://vizier.iucaa.in/viz-bin/VizieR-2?-source=J/MNRAS/516/2540http://vizieridia.saao.ac.za/viz-bin/VizieR-2?-source=J/MNRAS/516/2540https://vizier.cds.unistra.fr/viz-bin/votable?-source=J/MNRAS/516/2540https://vizier.iucaa.in/viz-bin/votable?-source=J/MNRAS/516/2540http://vizieridia.saao.ac.za/viz-bin/votable?-source=J/MNRAS/516/2540GETtext/xml+votablehttps://tapvizier.cds.unistra.fr/TAPVizieR/tapCone search capability for table J/MNRAS/516/2540/table2 (Short period (P<0.2 d) and red (GB-GR>1.84mag) periodic variables from the TESS EB catalogue)https://vizier.cds.unistra.fr/viz-bin/conesearch/J/MNRAS/516/2540/table2?https://vizier.iucaa.in/viz-bin/conesearch/J/MNRAS/516/2540/table2?http://vizieridia.saao.ac.za/viz-bin/conesearch/J/MNRAS/516/2540/table2?GETtext/xml+votable180.050000true199.6731-31.71890.005555555555555556Cone search capability for table J/MNRAS/516/2540/table5 (Properties of ATLAS stars studied in the paper)https://vizier.cds.unistra.fr/viz-bin/conesearch/J/MNRAS/516/2540/table5?https://vizier.iucaa.in/viz-bin/conesearch/J/MNRAS/516/2540/table5?http://vizieridia.saao.ac.za/viz-bin/conesearch/J/MNRAS/516/2540/table5?GETtext/xml+votable180.050000true27.4894910.214760.005555555555555556Cone search capability for table J/MNRAS/516/2540/table8 (Short period (P<0.17d) red (G_B_-G_R_>1.84mag) periodic variables from the VSX catalogue)https://vizier.cds.unistra.fr/viz-bin/conesearch/J/MNRAS/516/2540/table8?https://vizier.iucaa.in/viz-bin/conesearch/J/MNRAS/516/2540/table8?http://vizieridia.saao.ac.za/viz-bin/conesearch/J/MNRAS/516/2540/table8?GETtext/xml+votable180.050000true24.7147-0.27270.005555555555555556Cone search capability for table J/MNRAS/516/2540/table8ex (including all periodic variables stars from the VSX catalogue with P<0.2d)https://vizier.cds.unistra.fr/viz-bin/conesearch/J/MNRAS/516/2540/table8ex?https://vizier.iucaa.in/viz-bin/conesearch/J/MNRAS/516/2540/table8ex?http://vizieridia.saao.ac.za/viz-bin/conesearch/J/MNRAS/516/2540/table8ex?GETtext/xml+votable180.050000true319.2942-0.52810.0055555555555555566/1 58 69 335 964 1022 1079 1103 1126 1334 1407 1612 1661 1726 1745 1768 1812 1815 1861 1937 1944 1948 1958 1969 2258 2269 2311 2460 2486 2549 2748 2811 2889 2897 2900 2915 2952 3030 3098 3171 3186 3207 3232 3236 3245 3396 3642 3646 3669 3716 3742 3988 4154 4255 4291 4293 4305 4433 4524 4872 4909 4933 5406 5445 6182 6226 6259 6342 6402 6409 6422 6638 6752 7090 7187 7277 7456 7774 7795 8448 8703 8964 9301 9341 9487 9536 9554 9675 9686 9702 9715 9749 9755 9898 9944 10239 10277 10533 10669 11041 11374 11457 11463 11557 11672 11772 11816 11862 11991 12012 12056 12101 12187 12418 12432 12475 12530 12572 12617 12712 12735 12861 12878 12931 12978 13001 13032 13090 13145 13234 13287 13340 13354 13421 13516 13636 13816 13818 13835 13840 13899 13993 14023 14045 14053 14070 14146 14196 14208 14269 14297 14395 14399 14421 14444 14483 14510 14556 14558 14689 14752 14754 14831 14863 14970 14986 14997 14999 15101 15120 15122 15127 15203 15210 15221 15292 15370 15376 15391 15419 15435 15446 15454 15459 15467 15479 15553 15600 15662 15687 15692 15734 15768 15843 15890 15931 15936 16020-16021 16098 16125 17347 17833 18288 18377 18402 18937 19101 19108-19109 19113 19638 19665 19717 19737 19881 20081 20089 20140 21390 21829 22700 22924 22928 23120 23150 23202 23333 23389 23684 23771 23781 23951 24079 24232 24367-24368 24480 24542 25330 25544 25578 25666 25674 25898 25949 26379 26418 27249 27260 28129 28403 28462 28586 28590 28624 28645 28686 28702 28706 28712 28714 28719 28728 28732-28733 28777 28792 28817 28820 28826 28844-28845 28851 28857 28860 28864 28868 28897 28902 28908 28910 28912 29515 29847 29884 30039 30073 30107 30235 30268 30305 30349 30398 30401 30435 30459 30572 30597 30622 30702 30714 30898 31134 31151 31183 31302 31387 31455 31811 31824 31988 32017 32021 32068-32069 32082 32430 32439 32630 32683 32733 32760 35459 36288 36648 36863 37052 37247 37328 37922 38427 40406 41629 42365 43920 44618 44659 48038 48041 490131.9867573869263685e-19 3.916500758235022e-19https://cdsarc.cds.unistra.fr/viz-bin/moc/J/MNRAS/516/2540?format=asciiOpticaldefaultJ/MNRAS/516/2540/table2Short period (P<0.2 d) and red (GB-GR>1.84mag) periodic variables from the TESS EB cataloguerecnoRecord number assigned by the VizieR team. Should Not be used for identification.meta.recordintMoreLink to table3meta.ref.urlcharTICTIC number from TESS EB catalogue of Prsa et al. 2022ApJS..258...16P, Cat. J/ApJS/258/16 (TIC)meta.id;meta.mainlongprimaryRAJ2000Right ascension from TESS EB catalogue of Prsa et al. 2022ApJS..258...16P, Cat. J/ApJS/258/16 (J2000) (RA)degpos.eq.ra;meta.mainDEJ2000Declination from TESS EB catalogue of Prsa et al. 2022ApJS..258...16P, Cat. J/ApJS/258/16 (J2000) (Dec)degpos.eq.dec;meta.mainGmagG-band mean magnitude (Vega) from Gaia Collaboration Cat. I/350 (G)magphot.mag;em.optfloatBP-RPBP-RP colour from Gaia Collaboration Cat. I/350 (GB-GR)magphot.color;em.opt.B;em.opt.RfloatPShort period from TESS EB catalogue of Prsa et al. 2022ApJS..258...16P, Cat. J/ApJS/258/16 (Period)dtime.perioddoubleONameOther name (Other_name)meta.idcharr_OName? Literature reference for previously studied variables (Reference) (1)meta.ref;pos.frameintnullableTESS-EBDisplay the TESS EB catalogue of Prsa et al. 2022ApJS..258...16P, Cat. J/ApJS/258/16meta.ref.urlcharSimbadSimbad column added by the CDSmeta.ref.urlchar

J/MNRAS/516/2540/table3Physical properties of the five new ultrashort period binariesrecnoRecord number assigned by the VizieR team. Should Not be used for identification.meta.recordintTICTIC number from TESS EB catalogue of Prsa et al. 2022ApJS..258...16P, Cat. J/ApJS/258/16 (TIC)meta.id;meta.mainlongAVExtinction values fixed at 0 mag (A_V_)magphys.absorptioninte_AVStandard error of AV (errA_V_)magstat.errorintTeffEffective temperature estimated (T_eff_)Kphys.temperature.effectiveinte_TeffStandard error of Teff (errT_eff_)Kstat.error;phys.temperature.effectiveintSpType2Spectral types value estimated based on bolometric magnitude estimates (Sp2)src.spType;meta.modelledcharSpType3Spectral types values (Sp3) (1)src.spType;meta.modelledcharo_TICNumber of photometric measurements taken into account (n)meta.numberintloggSurface gravity estimated (logg)log(cm.s**-2)phys.gravityfloate_loggStandard error of logg (errlogg)log(cm.s**-2)stat.errorfloatMbolAbsolute bolometric magnitude estimated (M_bol_)magphys.magAbs.bol;meta.modelledfloate_MbolStandard error of Mbol (errM_bol_)magstat.errorfloatSpType1Spectral types value estimated based on temperature estimates (Sp1)src.spType;meta.modelledchar

J/MNRAS/516/2540/table5Properties of ATLAS stars studied in the paperrecnoRecord number assigned by the VizieR team. Should Not be used for identification.meta.recordintNameCatalogue name from ATLAS variable star cat of Heinze et al. 2018AJ....156..241H, Cat. J/AJ/156/241 (Catalogue_name)meta.id;meta.maincharONameShort name (Short_name)meta.idcharPPeriod from ATLAS variable star cat of Heinze et al. 2018AJ....156..241H, Cat. J/AJ/156/241 (Period)dtime.perioddoublee_P? Mean uncertainty of P (errP)dstat.errordoublenullablef_PPeriods marked with a d are double the ATLAS catalogue values (flag)meta.codechargmagMagnitude in g filter and AB system from Pan-STARRS survey of Chambers et al. 2016arXiv161205560C, Cat. II/349 (g)magphot.mag;em.opt.Bfloatg-ig-i colour in AB system from Pan-STARRS survey of Chambers et al. 2016arXiv161205560C, Cat. II/349 (g-i)magphot.color;em.opt.B;em.opt.Ifloatr-zr-z colour in AB system from Pan-STARRS survey of Chambers et al. 2016arXiv161205560C, Cat. II/349 (r-z)magphot.color;em.opt.R;em.opt.IfloatSimbadNameSimbad column added by the CDSmeta.idcharnullableHeinze18Display the ATLAS variable star cat of Heinze et al. 2018AJ....156..241H, Cat. J/AJ/156/241meta.ref.urlchar_RARight Ascension (J2000) from SIMBAD (not part of the original data)degpos.eq.ra;meta.main_DEDeclination (J2000) from SIMBAD (not part of the original data)degpos.eq.dec;meta.main

J/MNRAS/516/2540/table6*Derived physical parameters and spectral types ATLAS stars studiedloggDerived surface gravity values from first and second case for each ATLAS object (logg)log(cm.s**-2)phys.gravityfloatrecnoRecord number assigned by the VizieR team. Should Not be used for identification.meta.recordintONameShort name (Short_name)meta.id;meta.maincharAVExtinction values fixed from Green et al. 2018MNRAS.478..651G for the first line and as free parameter for the second line (A_V_)magphys.absorptionfloate_AV? Mean uncertainty of AV (errA_V_)magstat.errorfloatnullableTeffDerived effective temperature values from first and second case for each ATLAS object (T_eff_)Kphys.temperature.effectiveinte_TeffMean uncertainty of Teff (errT_eff_)Kstat.error;phys.temperature.effectiveinte_loggMean uncertainty of logg (errlogg)log(cm.s**-2)stat.errorfloatMbolDerived absolute bolometric magnitude from first and second case for each ATLAS object (M_bol_)magphys.magAbs.bol;meta.modelledfloate_MbolMean uncertainty of Mbol (errM_bol_)magstat.errorfloatSpType1Spectral types values deduced based on temperature estimates (Sp1)src.spType;meta.modelledcharSpType2Spectral types values deduced based on bolometric magnitude estimates (Sp2)src.spType;meta.modelledcharSpType3Spectral types values (Sp3) (1)src.spType;meta.modelledcharo_OName? Number of photometric measurements taken into account from first and second case for each ATLAS object (n)meta.numberintnullable

J/MNRAS/516/2540/table8Short period (P<0.17d) red (G_B_-G_R_>1.84mag) periodic variables from the VSX catalogueNameStar name (Name)meta.id;meta.maincharrecnoRecord number assigned by the VizieR team. Should Not be used for identification.meta.recordintf_NameNotes on star classes (flag) (1)meta.codecharRAJ2000Right ascension (J2000) (RA)degpos.eq.ra;meta.mainDEJ2000Declination (J2000) (Dec)degpos.eq.dec;meta.mainGmagG-band mean magnitude (Vega) from Gaia archive (G)magphot.mag;em.optfloatBP-RPBP-RP colour (GB-GR)magphot.color;em.opt.B;em.opt.RfloatPShort period (Period)dtime.periodfloatr_NameLiterature reference (Reference) (2)meta.ref;pos.framechar

J/MNRAS/516/2540/table8exincluding all periodic variables stars from the VSX catalogue with P<0.2dVSXDisplay the VSX catalog from Watson et al. 2006SASS...25...47W, Cat. B/vsxmeta.ref.urlcharSimbadNameSimbad column added by the CDSmeta.idcharnullablerecnoRecord number assigned by the VizieR team. Should Not be used for identification.meta.recordintMoreLink to table8meta.ref.urlcharNameStar name (Name)meta.id;meta.maincharprimaryRAJ2000Right ascension (J2000) (RA)degpos.eq.ra;meta.mainDEJ2000Declination (J2000) (Dec)degpos.eq.dec;meta.mainGmagG-band mean magnitude (Vega) from Gaia archive (G)magphot.mag;em.optfloatBP-RPBP-RP colour (GB-GR)magphot.color;em.opt.B;em.opt.RfloatPShort period (Period)dtime.periodfloat