Modeling non-radial oscillations on components of close binaries

Abstract

We developed an advanced binary system model that includes stellar oscillations on one or both stars, with the goal of mode identification by fitting of the photometric light curves. The oscillations are modeled as perturbations of the local surface temperature and the local gravitational potential. In the case of tidally distorted stars, it is assumed that the pulsation axis coincides with the direction connecting the centers of the components rather than with the rotation axis. The mode identification method, originally devised by B. Bíró, is similar to eclipse mapping in that it utilizes the amplitude, phase and frequency modulation of oscillations during the eclipse; but the identification is achieved by grid-fitting of the observed light curve rather than by image reconstruction. The proposed model and the mode identification method have so far been tested on synthetic data with encouraging results.