Photometry of Binary Stars: T T T T R R R R

Two stars rotating around their center of mass form a binary star system.
Almost half of the stars

in our galaxy are binary star systems. It is not easy to realize the binary nature of most of these
star systems from Earth, since the distance between the two stars is much less than their distance
from us and thus the stars cannot be resolved with telescopes. Therefore, we have to use either
photometry or spectrometry to observe the variations in the intensity or the spectrum of a
particular star to find out whether it is a binary system or not.
Photometry of Binary Stars

If we are exactly on the plane of motion of the two stars, then one star will occult (pass in front
of) the other star at certain times and the intensity of the whole system will vary with time from
our observation point. These binary systems are called ecliptic binaries.
Assume that two stars are moving on circular orbits around their common center of mass with
a constant angular speed and we are exactly on the plane of motion of the binary system.
Also assume that the surface temperatures of the stars are T1 and T2 (T1 > T2 ) , and the
corresponding radii are R1 and R2 (R1 > R2 ) , respectively.

measured on Earth, is plotted in Figure 1 as a function of
indicate that the intensities of the incident light from the stars
are respectively 90 and 63 percent of the maximum intensity,
(I
The total intensity of light,

time. Careful measurements
corresponding to the minima
I 0 , received from both stars
= 4.8 10 -9 W/m 2 . The vertical axis in Figure 1 shows the ratio I I 0 and the
horizontal axis is marked in days.
I/I0
1.0
I I 0 = 0.90
I I 0 = 0.63
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
1.0
3.0
2.0
4.0
5.0
6.0 Time (days)
Figure 1. The relative intensity received from the binary star system as a
function of time. The vertical axis has been scaled by I 0 = 4.8 10 -9 W/m 2 .
Time is given in days.
1.1
Find the period of the orbital motion. Give your answer in seconds up to two
significant digits.
What is the angular frequency of the system in rad/sec?
0.8
To a good approximation, the receiving radiation from a star is a uniform black body radiation
from a flat disc with a radius equal to the radius of the star. Therefore, the power received from
the star is proportional to AT 4 where A is area of the disc and T is the surface temperature of
the star.
1.2
Use the diagram in Figure 1 to find the ratios T1 T2 and R1 R2 .
1.6
Spectrometry of Binary Systems

In this section, we are going to calculate the astronomical properties of a binary star by using
experimental spectrometric data of the binary system.
Atoms absorb or emit radiation at their certain characteristic wavelengths. Consequently, the
observed spectrum of a star contains absorption lines due to the atoms in the stars atmosphere.
Sodium has a characteristic yellow line spectrum (D1 line) with a wavelength 5895.9 (10 = 1
nm). We examine the absorption spectrum of atomic Sodium at this wavelength for the binary
system of the previous section. The spectrum of the light that we receive from the binary star is
Doppler-shifted, because the stars are moving with respect to us. Each star has a different speed.
Accordingly the absorption wavelength for each star will be shifted by a different amount. Highly
accurate wavelength measurements are required to observe the Doppler shift since the speed of
the stars is much less than the speed of light. The speed of the center of mass of the binary system
we consider in this problem is much smaller than the orbital velocities of the stars. Hence all the
Doppler shifts can be attributed to the orbital velocity of the stars. Table 1 shows the measured
spectrum of the stars in the binary system we have observed.
Table 1: Absorption spectrum of the binary star system for the Sodium D1 line
t/days
1 ()
2 ()
t/days
1 ()
2 ()
0.3
5897.5
0.6
5897.7
0.9
5897.2
1.2
5896.2
1.5
5895.1
1.8
5894.3
2.1
5894.1
2.4
5894.6
5893.1
5892.8
5893.7
5896.2
5897.3
5898.7
5899.0
5898.1
2.7
5895.6
3.0
5896.7
3.3
5897.3
3.6
5897.7
3.9
5897.2
4.2
5896.2
4.5
5895.0
4.8
5894.3
5896.4
5894.5
5893.1
5892.8
5893.7
5896.2
5897.4
5898.7
(Note: There is no need to make a graph of the data in this table)
2
2.1
2.2
2.3
Using Table 1,
Let v1 and v2 be the orbital velocity of each star. Find v1 and v2 .
The speed of light c = 3.0 108 m/s . Ignore all relativistic effects.
Find the mass ratio of the stars (m1 m2 ) .
1.8
0.7
Let r1 and r2 be the distances of each star from their center of mass.
Find r1 and r2 .
0.8
2.4
3
3.1
Let r be the distance between the stars. Find r .
0.2
The gravitational force is the only force acting between the stars.
Find the mass of each star up to one significant digit.
The universal gravitational constant G = 6.7 10 11 m 3 kg 1s 2 .
1.2
General Characteristics of Stars

4
Most of the stars generate energy through the same mechanism. Because of this, there is an
empirical relation between their mass, M , and their luminosity, L , which is the total
radiant power of the star. This relation could be written in the form L LSun = (M M Sun ) .
Here, M Sun = 2.0 10 30 kg is the solar mass and, LSun = 3.9 10 26 W is the solar
luminosity. This relation is shown in a log-log diagram in Figure 2.
Figure 2. The luminosity of a star versus its mass varies as a power law. The diagram is loglog. The star-symbol represents Sun with a mass of 2.0 10 30 kg and luminosity of
3.9 10 26 W .
4.1
4.2
4.3
0.6
Find up to one significant digit.

Let L1 and L2 be the luminosity of the stars in the binary system studied in the
previous sections. Find L1 and L2 .
What is the distance, d , of the star system from us in light years?
To find the distance you can use the diagram of Figure 1. One light year is the
distance light travels in one year.
0.6
0.9
4.4
What is the maximum angular distance, , between the stars from our observation
point?
0.4
4.5
What is the smallest aperture size for an optical telescope, D , that can resolve these
two stars?
0.4

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Two stars rotating around their center of mass form a binary star system.

Almost half of the stars

Photometry of Binary Stars

corresponding radii are R1 and R2 (R1 > R2 ) , respectively.

The total intensity of light,

horizontal axis is marked in days.

6.0 Time (days)

Use the diagram in Figure 1 to find the ratios T1 T2 and R1 R2 .

Spectrometry of Binary Systems

(Note: There is no need to make a graph of the data in this table)

Let r be the distance between the stars. Find r .

General Characteristics of Stars

Find up to one significant digit.

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