Fundamental parameters of the eclipsing binary DD CMa and evidence for mass exchange

Abstract

We present a detailed photometric and spectroscopic analysis of DD CMa, based on published survey photometry and new spectroscopic data. We find an improved orbital period of $P_\mathrm{o}= 2.0084530 \pm 0.0000006 ~\mathrm{d}$. Our spectra reveal H$\beta$ and H$\alpha$ absorptions with weak emission shoulders and we also find color excess in the WISE multiband photometry, interpreted as signatures of circumstellar matter. We model the $V$-band orbital light curve derived from the ASAS and ASAS-SN surveys, assuming a semidetached configuration and using the mass ratio and temperature of the hotter star derived from our spectroscopic analysis. Our model indicates that the system consists of a B 2.5 dwarf and a B 9 giant of radii 3.2 and 3.7 $\mathrm{R_{\odot}}$, respectively, orbiting in a circular orbit of radius 6.75 $\mathrm{R_{\odot}}$. We also found $M_{\mathrm{c}} = 1.7 \pm 0.1 ~\mathrm{M_{\odot}}$, $T_{\mathrm{c}} = 11350 \pm 100 ~\mathrm{K}$ and $M_{\mathrm{h}} = 6.4 \pm 0.1 ~\mathrm{M_{\odot}}$, $T_{\mathrm{h}} = 20000 \pm 500 ~\mathrm{K}$, for the cooler and hotter star, respectively. We find broad single emission peaks in H$\alpha$ and H$\beta$ after subtracting the synthetic stellar spectra. Our results are consistent with mass exchange between the stars, and suggest the existence of a stream of gas being accreted onto the early B-type star.