arXiv subjects

Brad N. Barlow

Publications and source records attributed to Brad N. Barlow.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

BLG723.31.34651 as an eclipsing Roche lobe-filling sdOB+WD binary

We present a detailed observational analysis of BLG723.31.34651, the fourth reported eclipsing member of the class of Roche lobe-filling hot subdwarfs, using time series spectroscopy and multi-band photometric observations from the Goodman High Throughput Spectrograph on the 4.1-m SOAR telescope. Our light curves show periodic photometric variability at $P=64~{\rm min}$ from the tidally-deformed hot subdwarf donor and deep eclipses of the donor by an opaque accretion disc. We report two light curve model solutions that agree with each other to within $2σ$, both suggesting that BLG723.31.34651 contains a typical hot subdwarf donor, a white dwarf accretor, and an irradiated opaque accretion disc. Our spectroscopic analysis identifies statistically significant phase-dependent variations in the effective temperature and surface gravity coinciding with the phase-dependent variations seen in our observed light curves. We attribute these variations to a combination of intrinsic variations in local atmospheric parameters due to tidal deformation of the donor and unmodeled spectroscopic flux contributions from an accretion disc.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2026

Spectroscopic follow-up of hot subdwarf variables found in ZTF -- Atmospheric and fundamental properties of radial-mode sdB pulsators

Hot subdwarf variables (sdBVs) that display large-amplitude ($>$1%), short-period variability, as a result of radial-mode pulsations, have recently become objects of interest as they show unique properties among the sdBV classes. Since the discovery of objects such as Balloon 090100001 and CS 1246, twelve more have been discovered in the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) survey that display similar characteristics. However, due to lack of broad spectroscopic investigations, it remains unclear whether these objects constitute a distinct class of radial-mode dominant sdBVs that share common atmospheric and fundamental properties. Here we aim to spectroscopically define these peculiar sdBVs as a population. We collected low-resolution spectroscopy on a sample of sdBVs discovered in the ZTF survey, including time-series observations. We fitted the spectra to a grid of theoretical models to determine their mean effective temperature, surface gravity and helium abundance and any corresponding variability. We then use these properties to estimate the mass, radius and luminosity using a spectral energy distribution fitting method. We show that the resulting properties are similar to the radial-mode dominant sdBVs, Balloon 090100001 and CS 1246, and that they are distinguishable from other similar radial-mode pulsators, such as blue large-amplitude pulsators. We find that these stars, on average, have mean effective temperatures of 28,300 K and surface gravity measurements of $\log\,g=5.56$, with changes in these parameters on the order of 1000 K and 0.10 dex, respectively. The location of these stars on the $T_{\textrm{eff}}$ -- $\log\,g$ plane places them on the boundary region between the low-amplitude, multi-periodic V361 Hya and V1093 Her stars, where the hybrid DW Lyn pulsators lie. The masses and radii of the majority of the sdBVs in our sample align with canonical-mass sdB properties.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2024

Hot Subdwarfs in Close Binaries Observed from Space III: Reflection Effect Asymmetry Induced by Relativistic Beaming

Detailed studies of hot subdwarf B stars with red dwarf or brown dwarf companions can shed light on the effects of binarity on late stellar evolution. Such systems exhibit a strong, quasi-sinusoidal reflection effect due to irradiation of the cool companion, and some even show primary and secondary eclipses. Here we compute Fourier transforms of TESS light curves of sdB+dM/BD binaries and investigate correlations between the relative amplitudes and phases of their harmonics and system parameters. We show that the reflection effect shape strongly depends on the orbital inclination, with nearly face-on systems having much more sinusoidal shapes than nearly edge-on systems. This information is encoded by the relative strength of the first harmonic in the Fourier transform. By comparing observations of solved systems to synthetic light curves generated by LCURVE, we find that the inclination of non-eclipsing systems with high S/N light curves can be determined to within ~10 degrees simply by measuring their orbital periods and first harmonic strengths. We also discover a slight asymmetry in the reflection effect shape of sdB+dM/BD binaries using the relative phase of the first harmonic. From our analysis of synthetic light curves, we conclude the asymmetry results from relativistic beaming of both stellar components. This marks the first time Doppler beaming has been detected in sdB+dM/BD systems. Although advanced modeling is necessary to quantify the effects of secondary parameters like limb darkening, the temperature ratio, and the radius ratio on the reflection effect shape, our pilot study demonstrates that it might be possible to extract both the inclination angle and cool companion velocity from the light curves of non-eclipsing systems.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2023

OGLE-BLAP-009 -- A Case Study for the Properties and Evolution of Blue Large-Amplitude Pulsators

Blue large-amplitude pulsators (BLAPs) make up a rare class of hot pulsating stars with effective temperatures of $\approx$30,000 K and surface gravities of 4.0 - 5.0 dex (cgs). The evolutionary origin and current status of BLAPs is not well understood, largely based on a lack of spectroscopic observations and no available mass constraints. However, several theoretical models have been proposed that reproduce their observed properties, including studies that identify them as pulsating helium-core pre-white dwarfs (He-core pre-WDs). We present here follow-up high-speed photometry and phase-resolved spectroscopy of one of the original 14 BLAPs, OGLE-BLAP-009, discovered during the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment. We aim to explore its pulsation characteristics and determine stellar properties such as mass and radius in order to test the consistency of these results with He-core pre-WD models. Using the mean atmospheric parameters found using spectroscopy, we fit a spectral energy distribution to obtain a preliminary estimate of the radius, luminosity and mass by making use of the Gaia parallax. We then compare the consistency of these results to He-core pre-WD models generated using MESA, with predicted pulsation periods implemented using GYRE. We find that our mass constraints are in agreement with a low-mass He-core pre-WD of $\approx$0.30 M$_{\odot}$.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2023

TIC 378898110: A Bright, Short-Period AM CVn Binary in TESS

AM CVn-type systems are ultracompact, helium-accreting binary systems which are evolutionarily linked to the progenitors of thermonuclear supernovae and are expected to be strong Galactic sources of gravitational waves detectable to upcoming space-based interferometers. AM CVn binaries with orbital periods $\lesssim$ 20--23 min exist in a constant high state with a permanently ionised accretion disc. We present the discovery of TIC 378898110, a bright ($G=14.3$ mag), nearby ($309.3 \pm 1.8$ pc), high-state AM CVn binary discovered in TESS two-minute-cadence photometry. At optical wavelengths this is the third-brightest AM CVn binary known. The photometry of the system shows a 23.07172(6) min periodicity, which is likely to be the `superhump' period and implies an orbital period in the range 22--23 min. There is no detectable spectroscopic variability. The system underwent an unusual, year-long brightening event during which the dominant photometric period changed to a shorter period (constrained to $20.5 \pm 2.0$ min), which we suggest may be evidence for the onset of disc-edge eclipses. The estimated mass transfer rate, $\log (\dot{M} / \mathrm{M_\odot} \mathrm{yr}^{-1}) = -6.8 \pm 1.0$, is unusually high and may suggest a high-mass or thermally inflated donor. The binary is detected as an X-ray source, with a flux of $9.2 ^{+4.2}_{-1.8} \times 10^{-13}$ erg cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$ in the 0.3--10 keV range. TIC 378898110 is the shortest-period binary system discovered with TESS, and its large predicted gravitational-wave amplitude makes it a compelling verification binary for future space-based gravitational wave detectors.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2023

Discovery of periodic variables in the hot subdwarf catalogue through a systematic search in Zwicky Transient Facility data

We conduct a systematic search for periodic variables in the hot subdwarf catalogue using data from the Zwicky Transient Facility. We present the classification of 67 HW Vir binaries, 496 reflection effect, pulsation or rotation sinusoids, 11 eclipsing signals, and 4 ellipsoidally modulated binaries. Of these, 486 are new discoveries that have not been previously published including a new mass-transferring hot subdwarf binary candidate. These sources were determined by applying the Lomb-Scargle and Box Least Squares periodograms along with manual inspection. We calculated variability statistics on all periodic sources, and compared our results to traditional methods of determining astrophysical variability. We find that $\approx60$\% percent of variable targets, mostly sinusoidal variability, would have been missed using a traditional $varindex$ cut. Most HW Virs, eclipsing systems and all ellipsoidal variables were recovered with a $varindex\,>0.02$. We also find a significant reddening effect, with some variable hot subdwarfs meshing with the main sequence stripe in the Hertzprung-Russell Diagram. Examining the positions of the variable stars in Galactic coordinates, we discover a higher proportion of variable stars within $|b|<25^\circ$ of the Galactic Plane, suggesting that the Galactic Plane may be fertile grounds for future discoveries if photometric surveys can effectively process the clustered field.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2022

Pulse Timing Discovery of a Three-Day Companion to the Hot Subdwarf BPM 36430

Hot subdwarf B stars are core-helium burning objects that have undergone envelope stripping, likely by a binary companion. Using high-speed photometry from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, we have discovered the hot subdwarf BPM 36430 is a hybrid sdBV_rs pulsator exhibiting several low-amplitude g-modes and a strong p-mode pulsation. The latter shows a clear, periodic variation in its pulse arrival times. Fits to this phase oscillation imply BPM 36430 orbits a barycenter approximately 10 light-seconds away once every 3.1 d. Using the CHIRON echelle spectrograph on the CTIO 1.5-m telescope, we confirm the reflex motion by detecting a radial velocity variation with semi-amplitude, period, and phase in agreement with the pulse timings. We conclude that a white dwarf companion with minimum mass of 0.42 Msun orbits BPM 36430. Our study represents only the second time a companion orbiting a pulsating hot subdwarf or white dwarf has been detected from pulse timings and confirmed with radial velocities.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2021

New Variable Hot Subdwarf Stars Identified from Anomalous Gaia Flux Errors, Observed by TESS, and Classified via Fourier Diagnostics

Hot subdwarf stars are mostly stripped red giants that can exhibit photometric variations due to stellar pulsations, eclipses, the reflection effect, ellipsoidal modulation, and Doppler beaming. Detailed studies of their light curves help constrain stellar parameters through asteroseismological analyses or binary light curve modeling and generally improve our capacity to draw a statistically meaningful picture of this enigmatic stage of stellar evolution. From an analysis of Gaia DR2 flux errors, we have identified around 1200 candidate hot subdwarfs with inflated flux errors for their magnitudes - a strong indicator of photometric variability. As a pilot study, we obtained 2-min cadence TESS Cycle 2 observations of 187 candidate hot subdwarfs with anomalous Gaia flux errors. More than 90% of our targets show significant photometric variations in their TESS light curves. Many of the new systems found are cataclysmic variables, but we report the discovery of several new variable hot subdwarfs, including HW Vir binaries, reflection effect systems, pulsating sdBVs stars, and ellipsoidally modulated systems. We determine atmospheric parameters for select systems using follow-up spectroscopy from the 3-m Shane telescope. Finally, we present a Fourier diagnostic plot for classifying binary light curves using the relative amplitudes and phases of their fundamental and harmonic signals in their periodograms. This plot makes it possible to identify certain types of variables efficiently, without directly investigating their light curves, and may assist in the rapid classification of systems observed in large photometric surveys.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2021

The binary central star of the bipolar pre-planetary nebula IRAS 08005-2356 (V510 Pup)

Current models predict that binary interactions are a major ingredient for the formation of bipolar planetary nebulae (PNe) and pre-planetary nebulae (PPNe). Despite years of radial velocity (RV) monitoring, the paucity of known binaries amongst the latter systems is insufficient to examine this relationship in detail. In this paper, we report on the discovery of a long period (P=2654$\pm$124 d) binary at the centre of the Galactic bipolar PPN, IRAS 08005-2356 (V510 Pup) determined from long-term spectroscopic and near-infrared time series data. The spectroscopic orbit is fit with an eccentricity of 0.36$\pm$0.05 that is similar to other long period post-AGB binaries. Time resolved H$α$ profiles reveal high-velocity outflows (jets) with de-projected velocities up to 231$_{-27}^{+31}$ km s$^{-1}$ seen at phases when the luminous primary is behind the jet. The outflow traced by H$α$ is likely produced via accretion onto a main sequence companion for which we calculate a mass of 0.63$\pm$0.13 M$_\odot$. This discovery is one of the first cases of a confirmed binary PPN and demonstrates the importance of high-resolution spectroscopic monitoring surveys on large telescopes in revealing binarity among these systems.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2021

Eclipsing Binaries Found by the EREBOS Project: Gaia DR2 6097540197980557440 -- A Deeply Eclipsing sdB+dM System

We present time-series spectroscopy and photometry of Gaia DR2 6097540197980557440, a new deeply-eclipsing hot subdwarf B (sdB) + M dwarf (dM) binary. We discovered this object during the course of the Eclipsing Reflection Effect Binaries from Optical Surveys (EREBOS) project, which aims to find new eclipsing sdB+dM binaries (HW Vir systems) and increase the small sample of studied systems. In addition to the primary eclipse, which is in excess of $\sim$5 magnitudes in the optical, the light curve also shows features typical for other HW Vir binaries such as a secondary eclipse and strong reflection effect from the irradiated, cool companion. The orbital period is 0.127037 d ($\sim$3 hr), falling right at the peak of the orbital period distribution of known HW Vir systems. Analysis of our time-series spectroscopy yields a radial velocity semi-amplitude of $K_{\rm sdB}=100.0\pm2.0\,{\rm km\,s}^{-1}$, which is amongst the fastest line-of-sight velocities found to date for an HW Vir binary. State-of-the-art atmospheric models that account for deviations from local thermodynamic equilibrium are used to determine the atmospheric parameters of the sdB. Although we cannot claim a unique light curve modeling solution, the best-fitting model has an sdB mass of $M_{\rm sdB} = 0.47\pm0.03\,M_{\odot}$ and a companion mass of $M_{\rm dM} = 0.18\pm0.01\,M_{\odot}$. The radius of the companion appears to be inflated relative to theoretical mass-radius relationships, consistent with other known HW Vir binaries. Additionally, the M dwarf is one of the most massive found to date amongst this type of binary.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2021

I Spy Transits and Pulsations: Empirical Variability in White Dwarfs Using Gaia and the Zwicky Transient Facility

We present a novel method to detect variable astrophysical objects and transient phenomena using anomalous excess scatter in repeated measurements from public catalogs of Gaia DR2 and Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) DR3 photometry. We first provide a generalized, all-sky proxy for variability using only Gaia DR2 photometry, calibrated to white dwarf stars. To ensure more robust candidate detection, we further employ a method combining Gaia with ZTF photometry and alerts. To demonstrate the efficacy, we apply this latter technique to a sample of roughly $12,100$ white dwarfs within 200 pc centered on the ZZ Ceti instability strip, where hydrogen-atmosphere white dwarfs are known to pulsate. Through inspecting the top $1\%$ samples ranked by these methods, we demonstrate that both the Gaia-only and ZTF-informed techniques are highly effective at identifying known and new variable white dwarfs, which we verify using follow-up, high-speed photometry. We confirm variability in all 33 out of 33 ($100\%$) observed white dwarfs within our top $1\%$ highest-ranked candidates, both inside and outside the ZZ Ceti instability strip. In addition to dozens of new pulsating white dwarfs, we also identify five white dwarfs highly likely to show transiting planetary debris; if confirmed, these systems would more than triple the number of white dwarfs known to host transiting debris.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2020

EVR-CB-004: An Inflated Hot Subdwarf O star + Unseen WD Companion in a Compact Binary Discovered with the Evryscope

We present the discovery of EVR-CB-004, a close binary with a remnant stellar core and an unseen white dwarf companion. The analysis in this work reveals the primary is potentially an inflated hot subdwarf (sdO) and more likely is a rarer post-blue horizontal branch (post-BHB) star. Post-BHBs are the short-lived shell-burning final stage of a blue horizontal star or hot subdwarf before transitioning to a WD. This object was discovered using Evryscope photometric data in a southern-all-sky hot subdwarf variability survey. The photometric light curve for EVR-CB-004 shows multi-component variability from ellipsoidal deformation of the primary and from Doppler boosting as well as gravitational limb darkening. EVR-CB-004 is one of just a handful of known systems, and has a long period (6.08426 hours) and large amplitude ellipsoidal modulation (16.0 $\%$ change in brightness from maximum to minimum) for these extremely close binary systems, while the properties of the primary make it a truly unique system. EVR-CB-004 also shows a peculiar low-amplitude (less than $1\%$) sinusoidal light curve variation with a period that is a 1/3 resonance of the binary period. We tentatively identify this additional variation source as a tidally-induced resonant pulsation, and we suggest followup observations that could verify this interpretation. From the evolutionary state of the system, its components, and its mass fraction, EVR-CB-004 is a strong merger candidate to form a single high-mass ($\approx1.2M_{\odot}$) WD. EVR-CB-004 offers a glimpse into a brief phase of a remnant core evolution and secondary variation, not seen before in a compact binary.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2020

Multi-wavelength Photometry and Progenitor Analysis of the Nova V906 Car

We present optical and infrared photometry of the classical nova V906 Car, also known as Nova Car 2018 and ASASSN-18fv, discovered by ASASS-SN survey on 16.32 March 2018 UT (MJD 58193.0). The nova reached its maximum on MJD 58222.56 at $V_{\rm{max}} = 5.84 \pm 0.09$ mag and had decline times of $t_{2,V} = 26.2 $ d and $t_{3,V} = 33.0 $ d. The data from Evryscope shows that the nova had already brightened to $g'\simeq 13$\,mag five days before discovery, as compared to its quiescent magnitude of $g=$20.13$\pm$0.03. The extinction towards the nova, as derived from high resolution spectroscopy, shows an estimate consistent with foreground extinction to the Carina Nebula of $A_V = 1.11_{-0.39}^{+0.54}$. The light curve resembles a rare C (cusp) class nova with a steep decline slope of $α=-3.94$ post cusp flare. From the lightcurve decline rate, we estimate the mass of white dwarf to be $M_{WD}$ = $ < 0.8$M\textsubscript{$\odot$}, consistent with $M_{WD}=0.71^{+0.23}_{-0.19}$ derived from modelling the accretion disk of the system in quiescence. The donor star is likely a K-M dwarf of 0.23-0.43\,\Msun, which is being heated by its companion.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2019

Hot Subdwarf All Southern Sky Fast Transit Survey with the Evryscope

We have conducted a survey of candidate hot subdwarf stars in the southern sky searching for fast transits, eclipses, and sinusoidal like variability in the Evryscope light curves. The survey aims to detect transit signals from Neptune size planets to gas-giants, and eclipses from M-dwarfs and brown dwarfs. The other variability signals are primarily expected to be from compact binaries and reflection effect binaries. Due to the small size of hot subdwarfs, transit and eclipse signals are expected to last only twenty minutes, but with large signal depths (up to completely eclipsing if the orientation is edge on). With its 2-minute cadence and continuous observing Evryscope is well placed to recover these fast transits and eclipses. The very large field of view (8150 sq. deg.) is critical to obtain enough hot subdwarf targets, despite their rarity. We identified 11,000 potential hot subdwarfs from the 9.3M Evryscope light curves for sources brighter than mg = 15. With our machine learning spectral classifier, we flagged high-confidence targets and estimate the total hot subdwarfs in the survey to be 1400. The light curve search detected three planet transit candidates, shown to have stellar companions from followup analysis. We discovered several new compact binaries (including two with unseen degenerate companions, and several others with potentially rare secondaries), two eclipsing binaries with M-dwarf companions, as well as new reflection effect binaries and others with sinusoidal like variability. The hot subdwarf discoveries identified here are spectroscopically confirmed and we verified the Evryscope discovery light curve with TESS light curves when available. Four of the discoveries are in the process of being published in separate followup papers, and we discuss the followup potential of several of the other discoveries.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2019

EVR-CB-001: An evolving, progenitor, white dwarf compact binary discovered with the Evryscope

We present EVR-CB-001, the discovery of a compact binary with an extremely low mass ($.21 \pm 0.05 M_{\odot}$) helium core white dwarf progenitor (pre-He WD) and an unseen low mass ($.32 \pm 0.06 M_{\odot}$) helium white dwarf (He WD) companion. He WDs are thought to evolve from the remnant helium-rich core of a main-sequence star stripped during the giant phase by a close companion. Low mass He WDs are exotic objects (only about .2$\%$ of WDs are thought to be less than .3 $M_{\odot}$), and are expected to be found in compact binaries. Pre-He WDs are even rarer, and occupy the intermediate phase after the core is stripped, but before the star becomes a fully degenerate WD and with a larger radius ($\approx .2 R_{\odot}$) than a typical WD. The primary component of EVR-CB-001 (the pre-He WD) was originally thought to be a hot subdwarf (sdB) star from its blue color and under-luminous magnitude, characteristic of sdBs. The mass, temperature ($T_{\rm eff}=18,500 \pm 500 K$), and surface gravity ($\log(g)=4.96 \pm 0.04$) solutions from this work are lower than values for typical hot subdwarfs. The primary is likely to be a post-RGB, pre-He WD contracting into a He WD, and at a stage that places it nearest to sdBs on color-magnitude and $T_{\rm eff}$-$\log(g)$ diagrams. EVR-CB-001 is expected to evolve into a fully double degenerate, compact system that should spin down and potentially evolve into a single hot subdwarf star. Single hot subdwarfs are observed, but progenitor systems have been elusive.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2019

Variables in the Southern Polar Region Evryscope 2016 Dataset

The regions around the celestial poles offer the ability to find and characterize long-term variables from ground-based observatories. We used multi-year Evryscope data to search for high-amplitude (~5% or greater) variable objects among 160,000 bright stars (Mv < 14.5) near the South Celestial Pole. We developed a machine learning based spectral classifier to identify eclipse and transit candidates with M-dwarf or K-dwarf host stars - and potential low-mass secondary stars or gas giant planets. The large amplitude transit signals from low-mass companions of smaller dwarf host stars lessens the photometric precision and systematics removal requirements necessary for detection, and increases the discoveries from long-term observations with modest light curve precision. The Evryscope is a robotic telescope array that observes the Southern sky continuously at 2-minute cadence, searching for stellar variability, transients, transits around exotic stars and other observationally challenging astrophysical variables. In this study, covering all stars 9 < Mv < 14.5, in declinations -75 to -90 deg, we recover 346 known variables and discover 303 new variables, including 168 eclipsing binaries. We characterize the discoveries and provide the amplitudes, periods, and variability type. A 1.7 Jupiter radius planet candidate with a late K-dwarf primary was found and the transit signal was verified with the PROMPT telescope network. Further followup revealed this object to be a likely grazing eclipsing binary system with nearly identical primary and secondary K5 stars. Radial velocity measurements from the Goodman Spectrograph on the 4.1 meter SOAR telescope of the likely-lowest-mass targets reveal that six of the eclipsing binary discoveries are low-mass (.06 - .37 solar mass) secondaries with K-dwarf primaries, strong candidates for precision mass-radius measurements.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2018

The orbital period -- mass ratio relation of wide sdB+MS binaries and its application to the stability of RLOF

Wide binaries with hot subdwarf-B (sdB) primaries and main sequence companions are thought to form only through stable Roche lobe overflow (RLOF) of the sdB progenitor near the tip of the red giant branch (RGB). We present the orbital parameters of eleven new long period composite sdB binaries based on spectroscopic observations obtained with the UVES, FEROS and CHIRON spectrographs. Using all wide sdB binaries with known orbital parameters, 23 systems, the observed period distribution is found to match very well with theoretical predictions. A second result is the strong correlation between the orbital period (P) and the mass ratio (q) in the observed wide sdB binaries. In the P-q plane two distinct groups emerge, with the main group (18 systems) showing a strong correlation of lower mass ratios at longer orbital periods. The second group are systems that are thought to be formed from higher mass progenitors. Based on theoretical models, a correlation between the initial mass ratio at the start of RLOF and core mass of the sdB progenitor is found, which defines a mass-ratio range at which RLOF is stable on the RGB.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2017

New Pulse Timing Measurements of the sdBV Star CS 1246

CS 1246 is a hot subdwarf B star discovered in 2009 to exhibit a single, large-amplitude radial pulsation. An O-C diagram constructed from this mode revealed reflex motion due to the presence of a low-mass M dwarf, as well as a long-term trend consistent with a decrease in the pulsational period. The orbital reflex motion was later confirmed with radial velocity measurements. Using eight years of data collected with the Skynet Robotic Telescope Network, we show that the pulsation amplitude of CS 1246 is decaying nonlinearly. We also present an updated O-C diagram, which might now indicate a positive $\dot P$ and a new $2.09 \pm 0.05$ yr oscillation consistent with orbital reflex motion of the entire inner sdB+dM binary, possibly due to the gravitational influence of a circumbinary planet with minimum mass $m\sin i = 3.3 \, \pm \, ^{2.1}_{1.2}$ $M_{\rm Jup}$. However, unlike the presence of the M dwarf, we hesitate to claim this object as a definitive detection since intrinsic variability of the pulsation phase could theoretically produce a similar effect.

astro-ph.SR↗