Detached Post-Algol Eclipsing Binaries Caught Between Case A and Case AB Mass Transfer

Abstract

For sixty years, stellar evolutionary models have predicted that intermediate-mass stars slightly contract on the terminal-age main-sequence (TAMS) as they exhaust hydrogen in their convective cores, producing the main-sequence (MS) hook on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram. Contraction along the TAMS has not previously been observationally verified, but an evolved eclipsing binary (EB) with a component on the TAMS can test this prediction. In a very close binary with an orbital period of less than a week, the primary star initially fills its Roche lobe on the MS (Case A mass transfer), and the binary can invert mass ratios, producing a classical Algol. The subgiant donor then contracts on the TAMS and detaches slightly from its Roche lobe. The subgiant subsequently re-expands and refills its Roche lobe as it evolves toward the Hertzsprung Gap (Case AB mass transfer). We report the discovery of detached post-Algol EB candidates in the LMC caught between Case A and Case AB mass transfer. Their OGLE light curves feature strong reflection effects as the hot primary (former mass gainer) irradiates the cool subgiant secondary. We analyze multi-epoch echelle spectra of four post-Algol candidates taken with the MIKE spectrograph at the 6.5m Magellan-Clay telescope. The primaries have mid-B MS atmospheres (M1 = 6 - 8 Msun). We measure dynamical masses of the subgiant secondaries to be M2 = 0.9 - 1.2 Msun. Detailed fitting of the OGLE light curves with PHOEBE reveals that the subgiants have Roche lobe fill factors of RLF F2 = 73% - 89%, consistent with binary evolution models. Our discovery of detached post-Algol candidates provides the first empirical evidence that intermediate-mass stars contract along the TAMS.