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| Paper: |
A Triple Eclipsing System as a Test Case for
Close Binary Formation through Kozai Cycles |
| Volume: |
496, Living Together: Planets, Host Stars and Binaries |
| Page: |
99 |
| Authors: |
Conroy, K. E.; Prša, A.; Stassun, K. G. |
| Abstract: |
Kozai cycles and tidal friction of a binary with a tertiary
companion is one of the leading theories for the formation of close
binary systems by tightening the orbit of the inner binary.
According to simulations, such systems should evolve into tight
inner binaries with eccentric tertiary companions on wide orbits,
and importantly, predict the tertiary to have an orbital inclination
misaligned relative to the plane of the inner binary, with an angle
of misalignment that peaks strongly around 40 degrees. KIC 2835289
is a triple system comprising a ∼0.9-day inner binary and a
tertiary on a ∼750-day orbit. The tertiary was identified
through our eclipse timing variations and our finding of a tertiary
eclipse event in the Kepler data. Here we show, using photodynamical
modeling of the system, that the tertiary in this system is on an
eccentric orbit inclined with respect to the inner binary, in
agreement with theoretical prediction. KIC 2835289 is thus the first
known triple system that directly attests to the key predictions of
Kozai cycles and tidal friction as a mechanism to tighten binary
star systems. |
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