Stellar properties of an actively accreting Algol-type eclipsing binary 2M16212643+2136590

Abstract

ABSTRACT Interacting binary stars undergo evolution that is significantly different from single stars, thus, a larger sample of such systems with precisely determined stellar parameters is needed to understand the complexities of this process. We present an analysis of a hierarchical triple containing a spectroscopically double-lined eclipsing binary, 2M16+21. Our calculations show that this system has undergone significant mass transfer, with the current mass and radius of the donor of 0.33 M⊙ and 2.55 R⊙, as well as the accretor of 1.37 M⊙ and 2.20 R⊙, resulting in a mass ratio of 4.2. Despite the already significant mass loss from the donor, shedding well over half its initial gas, mass transfer remains active. The shock from the accretion has produced a spot on the surface of the accretor that is ∼2 times hotter than the photosphere, reaching temperatures of ∼10 000 K and producing significant UV excess. This shock temperature is comparable to what is seen in the pre-main sequence stars that undergo active accretion. The compactness of the hot spot of just ∼2° is one of the smallest observed in systems exhibiting binary mass transfer, pointing to the recency of its formation, as such it can be used to explicitly trace the point of impact of the accretion stream. The donor of this system may be a sub-sub-giant; comparing it with systems with similar initial conditions may help with understanding the formation processes of such stars.