The shortest-period M-dwarf eclipsing system BW3 V38

Abstract

The photometric data for a short-period (0.1984 day) eclipsing binary V38 discovered by the OGLE micro-lensing team in Baade's W indow field BW3 have been analyzed. The de-reddened color (V-I_C)_0=2.3 and the light-curve synthesis solution of the I-filter light curve suggest a pair of strongly-distorted M-dwarfs, with parameters between those of YY Gem and CM Dra, revolving on a tightest known orbit among binaries consisting of Main Sequence stars. The primary, more massive and hotter, component maybe filling its Roche lobe. The very small amount of angular momentum in the orbital motion makes the system particularly important for studies of angular momentum loss at the faint end of the Main Sequence. Spectroscopic observations of the orbital radial velocity variations as well as of activity indicators are urgently needed for a better understanding of the angular-momentum and internal-structure evolutionary state of the system.