arXiv subjects

M. Masek

Publications and source records attributed to M. Masek.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Six new doubly eclipsing quadruples in a 2+2 architecture

The study presents a confirmation of six quadruples with two sets of eclipses that have the 2+2 architecture. These so-called doubly eclipsing systems still present a quite rare group of stars. We collected all available photometric data and carried out a detailed analysis of them. In addition to the precise TESS photometry used to model the light curves for both inner eclipsing binaries, photometric survey data were also used, and more than 100 nights of our own dedicated observations were carried out. These were mainly used for the detection of the long-term evolution of orbital periods. Thanks to these data, we were able to derive the mutual orbits of the inner doubles via eclipse timing variations. The systems studied are: CzeV1254 (periods 0.715348 d + 0.362593 d, mutual period 15.6 yr); ASASSN-V J070838.27-171952.9 (4.300490 d + 3.767235 d, 4 yr); ASASSN-V J091951.17-593306.9 (2.668674 d + 14.342218 d, 0.95 yr); WISE J100820.07-731554.0 (0.368315 d + 7.945339 d, 3.8 yr); ASASSN-V J143536.01-721459.4 (7.353842 d + 6.368567 d, 27.4 yr); and Corot 310284765 (1.875418 d + 2.371126 d, 22.6 yr). Some of the binaries show significantly eccentric orbits. We also estimated their apsidal motion periods. With our six new systems, the number of confirmed orbits of 2+2 quadruples has been increased to 64 in total.

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arXiv2025

Limits on the Ejecta Mass During the Search for Kilonovae Associated with Neutron Star-Black Hole Mergers: A case study of S230518h, GW230529, S230627c and the Low-Significance Candidate S240422ed

Neutron star-black hole (NSBH) mergers, detectable via their gravitational-wave (GW) emission, are expected to produce kilonovae (KNe). Four NSBH candidates have been identified and followed-up by more than fifty instruments since the start of the fourth GW Observing Run (O4), in May 2023, up to July 2024; however, no confirmed associated KN has been detected. This study evaluates ejecta properties from multi-messenger observations to understand the absence of detectable KN: we use GW public information and joint observations taken from 05.2023 to 07.2024 (LVK, ATLAS, DECam, GECKO, GOTO, GRANDMA, SAGUARO, TESS, WINTER, ZTF). First, our analysis on follow-up observation strategies shows that, on average, more than 50% of the simulated KNe associated with NSBH mergers reach their peak luminosity around one day after merger in the $g,r,i$- bands, which is not necessarily covered for each NSBH GW candidate. We also analyze the trade-off between observation efficiency and the intrinsic properties of the KN emission, to understand the impact on how these constraints affect our ability to detect the KN, and underlying ejecta properties for each GW candidate. In particular, we can only confirm the kilonova was not missed for 1% of the GW230529 and S230627c sky localization region, given the large sky localization error of GW230529 and the large distance for S230627c and, their respective KN faint luminosities. More constraining, for S230518h, we infer the dynamical ejecta and post-merger disk wind ejecta $m_{dyn}, m_{wind}$ $<$ $0.03$ $M_\odot$ and the viewing angle $\theta>25^\circ$. Similarly, the non-astrophysical origin of S240422ed is likely further confirmed by the fact that we would have detected even a faint KN at the time and presumed distance of the S240422ed event candidate, within a minimum 45% credible region of the sky area, that can be larger depending on the KN scenario.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2023

Multi-band analyses of the bright GRB 230812B and the associated SN2023pel

GRB~230812B is a bright and relatively nearby ($z =0.36$) long gamma-ray burst (GRB) that has generated significant interest in the community and has thus been observed over the entire electromagnetic spectrum. We report over 80 observations in X-ray, ultraviolet, optical, infrared, and sub-millimeter bands from the GRANDMA (Global Rapid Advanced Network for Multi-messenger Addicts) network of observatories and from observational partners. Adding complementary data from the literature, we then derive essential physical parameters associated with the ejecta and external properties (i.e. the geometry and environment) of the GRB and compare with other analyses of this event. We spectroscopically confirm the presence of an associated supernova, SN2023pel, and we derive a photospheric expansion velocity of v $\sim$ 17$\times10^3$ km s$^{-1}$. We analyze the photometric data first using empirical fits of the flux and then with full Bayesian Inference. We again strongly establish the presence of a supernova in the data, with a maximum (pseudo-)bolometric luminosity of $5.75 \times 10^{42}$ erg/s, at $15.76^{+0.81}_{-1.21}$ days (in the observer frame) after the trigger, with a half-max time width of 22.0 days. We compare these values with those of SN1998bw, SN2006aj, and SN2013dx. Our best-fit model favours a very low density environment ($\log_{10}({n_{\rm ISM}/{\rm cm}^{-3}}) = -2.38^{+1.45}_{-1.60}$) and small values for the jet's core angle $\theta_{\rm core} = 1.54^{+1.02}_{-0.81} \ \rm{deg}$ and viewing angle $\theta_{\rm obs} = 0.76^{+1.29}_{-0.76} \ \rm{deg}$. GRB 230812B is thus one of the best observed afterglows with a distinctive supernova bump.

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arXiv2023

Detection of seven 2+2 doubly eclipsing quadruple systems

In this work, we study a heterogeneous group of seven stellar systems for the first time. Despite their different distances or spectral types, all of them belong to a very rare group of quadruple systems of 2+2 architecture, where both of the inner pairs harbor eclipsing binaries. These systems are: ASASSN-V J102911.57-522413.6 (inner periods 0.57272, and 3.79027 days), V1037 Her (0.78758 and 5.80348 days), WISE J181904.2+241243 (0.36713 and 0.41942 days), V2894 Cyg (2.57434 and 1.30579 days), NSVS 5725040 (1.79368 and 0.76794 days), WISE J210230.8+610816 (1.84324 and 0.57159 days), and ZTF J220518.78+592642.1 (2.79572 and 3.34615 days). Their outer mutual periods are: 9.3, 25.4, 18.7, 27.5, 2.6, 2.2, and 14.0 yr, respectively. These outer periodicities were derived using longer time span of photometric observations of these systems and analysing their period changes of both inner pairs via ETVs (eclipse-timing variations). Most of these studied systems are detached, as evidenced by the proper modelling of their light curves. A few of them show significant eccentric orbits with apsidal motion (e.g. V2894 Cyg, and NSVS 5725040). Further spectroscopic follow-up observations would offer a better characterization of the component star's parameters (for e.g. NSVS 5725040), as well as a potential interferometric detection of the systems as real doubles on their mutual orbits (for e.g. V1037 Her). A rather interesting excess of systems close to a 3:2 mean motion resonance is seen only for early spectral-type stars with higher temperatures.

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arXiv2022

GRANDMA Observations of ZTF/Fink Transients during Summer 2021

We present our follow-up observations with GRANDMA of transient sources revealed by the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF). Over a period of six months, all ZTF triggers were examined in real time by a dedicated science module implemented in the Fink broker, which will be used for the data processing of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory. In this article, we present three selection methods to identify kilonova candidates. Out of more than 35 million candidates, a hundred sources have passed our selection criteria. Six were then followed-up by GRANDMA (by both professional and amateur astronomers). The majority were finally classified either as asteroids or as supernovae events. We mobilized 37 telescopes, bringing together a large sample of images, taken under various conditions and quality. To complement the orphan kilonova candidates (those without associated gamma-ray bursts, which were all), we included three additional supernovae alerts to conduct further observations of during summer 2021. We demonstrate the importance of the amateur astronomer community that contributed images for scientific analyzes of new sources discovered in a magnitude range r'=17-19 mag. We based our rapid kilonova classification on the decay rate of the optical source that should exceed 0.3 mag/day. GRANDMA's follow-up determined the fading rate within 1.5+/-1.2 days post-discovery, without waiting for further observations from ZTF. No confirmed kilonovae were discovered during our observing campaign. This work will be continued in the coming months in the view of preparing for kilonova searches in the next gravitational-wave observing run O4.

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arXiv2022

The GRANDMA network in preparation for the fourth gravitational-wave observing run

GRANDMA is a world-wide collaboration with the primary scientific goal of studying gravitational-wave sources, discovering their electromagnetic counterparts and characterizing their emission. GRANDMA involves astronomers, astrophysicists, gravitational-wave physicists, and theorists. GRANDMA is now a truly global network of telescopes, with (so far) 30 telescopes in both hemispheres. It incorporates a citizen science programme (Kilonova-Catcher) which constitutes an opportunity to spread the interest in time-domain astronomy. The telescope network is an heterogeneous set of already-existing observing facilities that operate coordinated as a single observatory. Within the network there are wide-field imagers that can observe large areas of the sky to search for optical counterparts, narrow-field instruments that do targeted searches within a predefined list of host-galaxy candidates, and larger telescopes that are devoted to characterization and follow-up of the identified counterparts. Here we present an overview of GRANDMA after the third observing run of the LIGO/VIRGO gravitational-wave observatories in $2019-2020$ and its ongoing preparation for the forthcoming fourth observational campaign (O4). Additionally, we review the potential of GRANDMA for the discovery and follow-up of other types of astronomical transients.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2022

Multiply eclipsing candidates from the TESS satellite

We present the catalogue of the TESS targets showing multiple eclipses. It means that in all of these stars we detected two sets of eclipses, for which their two distinctive periods can be derived. These multiple stellar systems can be either doubly eclipsing quadruples, or triple-star coplanar systems showing besides the inner eclipses also the eclipses on the outer orbit. In total, 116 systems were found as doubly eclipsing, while 25 stars were identified as triply eclipsing triples. Several confirmed blends of two close sources were not included into our analysis. All these systems were identified scanning the known eclipsing systems taken from VSX database checking their TESS light curves. The average period of the dominant pair A is 2.7 days in our sample, while for the second pair B the average period is 5.3 days. Several systems show evident ETV changes even from the short interval of the TESS data, indicating possible period changes and short mutual orbit. We also present an evidence that the system V0871 Cen is probably a septuple-star system of architecture (Aa-Ab)-B-C-D. Most of the presented systems are adequately bright and showing deep enough eclipses, hence we call for new ground-based observations for these extremely interesting multiples. Owing to this motivation our catalog contains besides the ephemerides for both pairs also their depths of eclipses and the light curve shapes as extracted from the TESS data. These new ground based observations would be very useful for further derivation of the mutual movement of both pairs on their orbit via detection of the ETVs of both pairs for example.

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arXiv2021

Hunt for extremely eccentric eclipsing binaries

We report the very first analysis of 27 eclipsing binary systems with high eccentricities that sometimes reach up to 0.8. The orbital periods for these systems range from 1.4 to 37 days, and the median of the sample is 10.3 days. Star CzeV3392 (= UCAC4 623 022784), for example, currently is the eclipsing system with the highest eccentricity (e = 0.22) of stars with a period shorter than 1.5 days. We analysed the light curves of all 27 systems and obtained the physical parameters of both components, such as relative radii, inclinations, or relative luminosities. The most important parameters appear to be the derived periods and eccentricities. They allow constructing the period-eccentricity diagram. This eccentricity distribution is used to study the tidal circularisation theories. Many systems have detected third-light contributions, which means that the Kozai-Lidov cycles might also be responsible for the high eccentricities in some of the binaries.

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arXiv2020

Light-time effect detected in fourteen eclipsing binaries

The available minima timings of 14 selected eclipsing binaries (V1297 Cas, HD 24105, KU Aur, GU CMa, GH Mon, AZ Vel, DI Lyn, DK Her, GQ Dra, V624 Her, V1134 Her, KIC 6187893, V1928 Aql, V2486 Cyg) were collected and analyzed. Using the automatic telescopes, surveys, and satellite data, we derived more than 2500 times of eclipses, accompanied with our own ground-based observations. These data were used to detect the period variations in these multiple systems. The eclipse timing variations were described using the third-body hypothesis and the light-time effect. Their respective periods were derived as 2.5, 16.2, 27, 20, 64, 5.6, 22, 115, 27, 42, 6.9, 11.2, 4.1, and 8.4 years for these systems, respectively. The predicted minimal mass of the third body was calculated for each of the systems, and we discuss here their prospective detectability. The light curves of HD 24105, GH Mon, DK Her, V1134 Her, KIC 6187893, V1928 Aql, and V2486 Cyg were analyzed using the PHOEBE program, resulting in physical parameters of the components. Significant fractions of the third light were detected during the light-curve analysis, supporting our hypothesis of the triple-star nature of all these systems. The majority of these systems (nine out of 14) were already known as visual doubles. Our study shifts them to possible quadruples, what makes them even more interesting.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2020

CzeV1731: The unique doubly eclipsing quadruple system

We report the discovery of the relatively bright (V = 10.5 mag), doubly eclipsing 2+2 quadruple system CzeV1731. This is the third known system of its kind, in which the masses are determined for all four stars and both the inner and outer orbits are characterized. The inner eclipsing binaries are well-detached systems moving on circular orbits: pair A with period PA = 4.10843 d and pair B with PB = 4.67552 d. The inner binaries contain very similar components (q = 1.0), making the whole system a so-called double twin. The stars in pair B have slightly larger luminosities and masses and pair A shows deeper eclipses. All four components are main-sequence stars of F/G spectral type. The mutual orbit of the two pairs around the system barycenter has a period of about 34 yr and an eccentricity of about 0.38. However, further observations are needed to reveal the overall architecture of the whole system, including the mutual inclinations of all orbits. This is a promising target for interferometry to detect the double at about 59 mas and dMbol < 1 mag. (The RV and ETV data available via CDS)

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2019

Doubly eclipsing systems

Aims: Our goal was to increase number of known doubly eclipsing systems such that the resulting dataset would allow to study them via statistical means, as well as prove that they constitute gravitationally bound 2+2 quadruple system. Methods: We analysed photometric data for eclipsing binaries provided by the OGLE survey in the LMC fields. We found a large number of new doubly eclipsing systems (our discoveries are 3x more numerous than previous studies). With a typical orbital period of days for the binaries, we sought eclipse time variations (ETVs) on the timescale of years. In the cases where we were able to detect the ETV period, the difference between the inner and outer periods in the quadruple system is large enough. This allows us to interpret ETVs primarily as the light-time effect, thus providing an interesting constraint on masses of the binaries. Results: In addition to significantly enlarging the database of known doubly eclipsing systems, we performed a thorough analysis of 72 cases. ETVs for 28 of them (39% of the studied cases) showed evidence of relative motion. We note OGLE BLG-ECL-145467 as the most interesting case; it is bright (I=12.6 mag), consists of two detached binaries with periods of about 3.3 d and 4.9 d (making it a candidate for a 3:2 resonant system), mutual period about 1538 d. Distribution of the orbital period ratio P_A/P_B of binaries in 2+2 quadruples shows statistically significant excess at 1 and 1.5. The former is likely a natural statistical preference in weakly interacting systems with periods within the same range. The latter is thought to be evidence of a capture in the 3:2 mean motion resonance of the two binaries. This sets important constraints on evolutionary channels in these systems. The total number of doubly eclipsing systems increased to 146, more than 90% of which are at low declinations on the southern sky.

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arXiv2018

The first study of 54 new eccentric eclipsing binaries in our Galaxy

We present an analysis of the apsidal motion and light curve parameters of 54 never-before-studied galactic Algol-type binaries. This is the first analysis of such a large sample of eccentric eclipsing binaries in our Galaxy, and has enabled us to identify several systems that are worthy of further study. Bringing together data from various databases and surveys, supplemented with new observations, we have been able to trace the long-term evolution of the eccentric orbit over durations extending back up to several decades. Our present study explores a rather different sample of stars to those presented in the previously published catalogue of eccentric eclipsing binaries, sampling to fainter magnitudes, covering later spectral types, sensitive to different orbital periods with more than 50% of our systems having periods longer than six days. The typical apsidal motion in the sample is rather slow (mostly of order of centuries long), although in some cases this is less than 50 yr. All of the systems, except one, have eccentricities less than 0.5, with an average value of 0.23. Several of the stars also show evidence for additional period variability. In particular we can identify three systems in the sample, HD 44093, V611 Pup, and HD 313631, which likely represent relativistic apsidal rotators.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2018

The search for roAp stars: null results and new candidates from Stroemgren-Crawford photometry

The rapidly oscillating Ap (roAp) stars exhibit pulsational photometric and/or radial velocity variations on time scales of several minutes, which are essential to test current pulsation models as well as our assumptions of atmospheric structure characteristics. In addition, their chemical peculiarity makes them very interesting for probing stellar formation and evolution in the presence of a global magnetic field. To date, a limited number of only 61 roAp stars are known to show photometric variability. On the other hand, a literature survey yields 619 unique stars that have unsuccessfully been searched for variability of this kind. Stroemgren-Crawford uvbybeta photometry of stars from both subgroups were used to investigate whether there is a selection bias of the investigated stars. We also present new photometric measurements (202 hours in 59 different nights) of 55 roAp candidates.We did not detect any new roAp star. Although our detection limits are comparable to other surveys, we also did not find pulsations in the known roAp star HD 12098, which may be a consequence of temporal amplitude changes. On the other hand, we do find some evidence for photometric variability of beta CrB at its spectroscopically derived pulsation period. From the uvbybeta photometry we conclude that the blue border of the roAp instability strip appears observationally well defined, whereas the red border is rather poorly known and studied. Within these boundaries, a total of 4646 candidates were identified which appear worthwhile to be investigated for short-term pulsational variability.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2017

V773 Cas, QS Aql, and BR Ind: Eclipsing Binaries as Parts of Multiple Systems

Eclipsing binaries remain crucial objects for our understanding of the universe. In particular, those that are components of multiple systems can help us solve the problem of the formation of these systems. Analysis of the radial velocities together with the light curve produced for the first time precise physical parameters of the components of the multiple systems V773 Cas, QS Aql, and BR Ind. Their visual orbits were also analyzed, which resulted in slightly improved orbital elements. What is typical for all these systems is that their most dominant source is the third distant component. The system V773 Cas consists of two similar G1-2V stars revolving in a circular orbit and a more distant component of the A3V type. Additionally, the improved value of parallax was calculated to be 17.6 mas. Analysis of QS Aql resulted in the following: the inner eclipsing pair is composed of B6V and F1V stars, and the third component is of about the B6 spectral type. The outer orbit has high eccentricity of about 0.95, and observations near its upcoming periastron passage between the years 2038 and 2040 are of high importance. Also, the parallax of the system was derived to be about 2.89 mas, moving the star much closer to the Sun than originally assumed. The system BR Ind was found to be a quadruple star consisting of two eclipsing K dwarfs orbiting each other with a period of 1.786 days; the distant component is a single-lined spectroscopic binary with an orbital period of about 6 days. Both pairs are moving around each other on their 148 year orbit.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2015

The study of triple systems V949 Cen, V358 Pup, and V1055 Sco

The systems V949 Cen, V358 Pup, and V1055 Sco are triples comprised of an eclipsing binary orbiting with a distant visual component on a much longer orbit. The first detailed photometric analysis of these interesting systems was performed using also the archival data from Hipparcos, ASAS, SuperWASP, OMC, and Pi Of The Sky surveys. The system V358~Pup was also analysed using the archival ESO spectra and the radial velocities were derived. The analyses of their light curves revealed the physical properties of the eclipsing components, while the interferometric data for these systems obtained during the last century show that the binaries are also weakly gravitationally bounded with the third components on much longer orbits. The photometry was carried out with the robotic telescope FRAM (part of the Pierre Auger Cosmic Ray Observatory), located in Argentina. The BVRI light curves were analysed with the PHOEBE program, yielding the basic physical parameters of the systems and their orbits. V949 Cen and V358 Pup were found to be detached systems, while V1055 Sco is probably a semi-detached one. V358 Pup shows a slow apsidal motion, while for V1055 Sco we detected some period variation probably due to the third body in the system, which cannot easily be attributed to the close visual companion. Therefore, we speculate that V1055 Sco can be a quadruple system. For V949 Cen a new orbit was computed, having the orbital period of about 855 yr.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2015

Ten Kepler Eclipsing Binaries Containing the Third Components

Analyzing the available photometry from the Kepler satellite and other databases, we performed detailed light curve modeling of 10 eclipsing binary systems that were found to exhibit a periodic modulation of their orbital periods. All of the selected systems are detached Algol type, with orbital periods from 0.9 to 2.9 days. In total, 9448 times of minimum for these binaries were analyzed in an attempt to identify the period variations caused by the third bodies in these systems. The well-known method of the light-travel time effect was used for the analysis. The orbital periods of the outer bodies were found to be between 1 and 14 years. This hypothesis makes such systems interesting for future prospective detections of these components, despite their low predicted masses. Considering the dynamical interaction between the orbits, the system KIC 3440230 seems to be the most interesting, in which one would expect the detection of some effects (i.e., changing the inclination) even after a few years or decades of observations.

astro-ph.SR↗