2M17091769+3127589: a mass-transfer binary with an extreme mass ratio


Abstract in English

We present the orbital solution of a peculiar double-lined spectroscopic and eclipsing binary system, 2M17091769+3127589. This solution was obtained by a simultaneous fit of both APOGEE radial velocities and TESS and ASAS-SN light curves to determine masses and radii. This system consists of an $M=0.256^{+0.010}_{-0.006}$ $M_odot$, $R=3.961^{+0.049}_{-0.032}$ $R_{odot}$ red giant and a hotter $M=1.518 ^{+0.057}_{-0.031}$ $M_odot$, $R=2.608^{+0.034}_{-0.321}$ $R_{odot}$ subgiant. Modelling with the MESA evolutionary codes indicates that the system likely formed 5.26 Gyrs ago, with a $M=1.2$ $M_odot$ primary that is now the systems red giant and a $M=1.11$ $M_odot$ secondary that is now a more massive subgiant. Due to Roche-lobe overflow as the primary ascends the red giant branch, the more evolved primary (i.e., originally the more massive star of the pair) is now only one-sixth as massive as the secondary. Such a difference between the initial and the current mass ratio is one of the most extreme detected so far. Evolutionary modelling suggests the system is still engaged in mass transfer, at a rate of $dot{M} sim 10^{-9}$ $M_odot$ yr$^{-1}$, and it provides an example of a less evolved precursor to some of the systems that consist of white dwarfs and blue stragglers.

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