Photometric Observations of Eccentric Accretion in Algol-type Binary Stars

Abstract

Some Algol-type interacting binary stars exhibit strange photometric variations that can be phase-dependent and/or secular. This paper discusses the possibility of explaining these observed variations as resulting from an accretion structure eclipsing one or both of the stars. Some previous studies are reviewed and suggestions for future work are made, including the prospective of incorporating data from the Kepler Observatory.

Keywords

• interacting binaries
• accretion
• photometry
• R Arae