Abstract

Purpose. Defined the influence of starspots and pulsation of eclipsing binary components on the possibility of the third body determination in eclipsing binary systems and estimation of orbital parameters errors caused by such factors.

Methods. In this paper method of O-C diagrams was used to detect the eclipsing binary system period change caused by the presence of the third body. Monte Carlo simulations were used to estimate values of third body orbital parameters that correspond to obtained O-C diagrams. This method is compiled in “OCFit” software.

Results. Different cases of starspots and pulsation are considered. The precision of orbital parameters calculated for these cases.

Conclusions. Detached EB systems with spot are not sophisticated objects for 3^rd body detection. Contact EB systems with migrated spots are more complicated systems to search third bodies and detect their orbital parameters. In the case of EB system pulsation most precise results can be obtained with a long period of pulsations. Resolution of the light curve is very important to make good O-C diagram.

Keywords: variable stars, eclipsing binary systems, O-C diagram, starspots, pulsations

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