A Survey of Eclipsing Binary Stars in the Eastern Spiral Arm of M31

Abstract

Results of an archival survey are presented using B-band imaging of the eastern spiral arm of M31. Focusing on the eclipsing binary star population, a matched-filter technique has been used to identify 280 binary systems. Of these, 127 systems (98 of which are newly discovered) have sufficient phase coverage to allow accurate orbital periods to be determined. At least nine of these binaries are detached systems which could, in principle, be used for distance determination. The light curves of the detached and other selected systems are presented along with a discussion of some of the more interesting binaries. The impact of unresolved stellar blends on these lightcurves is considered.