Eclipsing Binary Stars: the Royal Road to Stellar Astrophysics

Taylor

Eclipsing Binary Stars: the Royal Road to Stellar Astrophysics

Taylor

Authors

Dr John Taylor j.k.taylor@keele.ac.uk

Abstract

Russell (1948) famously described eclipses as the "royal road" to stellar astrophysics. From photometric and spectroscopic observations it is possible to measure the masses and radii (to 1% or better!), and thus surface gravities and mean densities, of stars in eclipsing binary systems using nothing more than geometry. Adding an effective temperature subsequently yields luminosity and then distance (or vice versa) to high precision. This wealth of directly measurable quantities makes eclipsing binaries the primary source of empirical information on the properties of stars, and therefore a cornerstone of stellar astrophysics. In this review paper I summarise the current standing of eclipsing binary research, present an overview of useful analysis techniques, and conclude with a glance to the future.

Conference Name	Pas De Deux conference 2011
Conference Location	Observatoire de Paris, France
Start Date	Oct 10, 2011
End Date	Oct 12, 2011
Acceptance Date	Jan 6, 2012
Publication Date	Jan 6, 2012
Pages	51-58
Book Title	Proceedings of the workshop "Orbital Couples: Pas de Deux in the Solar System and the Milky Way"
ISBN	2-910015-64-5
Keywords	astrophysics
Publisher URL	http://arxiv.org/abs/1201.1388
Related Public URLs	https://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/2012ocpd.conf...51S