Physical properties of the low-mass eclipsing binary NSVS 02502726

Abstract

NSVS 02502726 has been known as a double-lined, detached eclipsing binary that consists of two low-mass stars. We obtained BVRI photometric follow-up observations in 2009 and 2011 to measure improved physical properties of the binary star. Each set of light curves, including the 2008 data given by Çakirli et al., was simultaneously analyzed with the previously published radial velocity curves using the Wilson-Devinney binary code. The conspicuous seasonal light variations of the system are satisfactorily modeled by a two-spot model with one starspot on each component and by changes of the spot parameters with time. Based on 23 eclipse timings calculated from the synthetic model and one ephemeris epoch, an orbital period study of NSVS 02502726 reveals that the period has experienced a continuous decrease of -5.9 × 10-7 day yr-1 or a sinusoidal variation with a period and semi-amplitude of 2.51yr and 0.0011days, respectively. The timing variations could be interpreted as either the light-travel-time effect due to the presence of an unseen third body, or as the combination of this effect and angular momentum loss via magnetic stellar wind braking. Individual masses and radii of both components are determined to be M1 = 0.689 ± 0.016 M·, M·2 = 0.341 ± 0.009 M·, R 1 = 0.707 ± 0.007 R·, and R2 = 0.657 ± 0.008R·. The results are very different from those of Çakirli et al. with the primary's radius (0.674 ± 0.006 R·) smaller the secondary's (0.763 ± 0.007 R ·). We compared the physical parameters presented in this paper with current low-mass stellar models and found that the measured values of the primary star are best fitted to a 79Myr isochrone. The primary is in good agreement with the empirical mass-radius relation from low-mass binaries, but the secondary is oversized by about 85%. © 2013. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.