An advanced N-body model for interacting multiple stellar systems

Abstract

We construct an advanced model for interacting multiple stellar systems in which we compute all trajectories with a numerical N-body integrator, namely the Bulirsch--Stoer from the SWIFT package. We can then derive various observables: astrometric positions, radial velocities, minima timings (TTVs), eclipse durations, interferometric visibilities, closure phases, synthetic spectra, spectral-energy distribution, and even complete light curves. We use a modified version of the Wilson--Devinney code for the latter, in which the instantaneous true phase and inclination of the eclipsing binary are governed by the N-body integration. If one has all kinds of observations at disposal, a joint ${\chi }^2$ metric and an optimisation algorithm (a~simplex or simulated annealing) allows to search for a global minimum and construct very robust models of stellar systems. At the same time, our N-body model is free from artefacts which may arise if mutual gravitational interactions among all components are not self-consistently accounted for. Finally, we present a number of examples showing dynamical effects that can be studied with our code and we discuss how systematic errors may affect the results (and how to prevent this from happening).

References in corpus (10)

• A Grid of NLTE Line-Blanketed Model Atmospheres of Early B-type Stars
• Physics Of Eclipsing Binaries. II. Towards the Increased Model Fidelity
• KOI-126: A Triply-Eclipsing Hierarchical Triple with Two Low-Mass Stars
• Long-term tidal evolution of short-period planets with companions
• Analytic Approximations for Transit Light Curve Observables, Uncertainties, and Covariances
• First Results from the CHARA Array VII: Long-Baseline Interferometric Measurements of Vega Consistent with a Pole-On, Rapidly Rotating Star
• HD 181068: A Red Giant in a Triply-Eclipsing Compact Hierarchical Triple System
• VW LMi: tightest quadruple system known. Light-time effect and possible secular changes of orbits
• The unusual quadruple system HD 91962 with a "planetary" architecture
• Combining astrometry with the light-time effect: The case of VW Cep, zeta Phe and HT Vir

Cited by in corpus (1)

• Improved model of the triple system V746 Cas that has a bipolar magnetic field associated with the tertiary