Long Photometric Cycles in Double Periodic Variables from Nodal Precession of a Tilted Accretion Disk
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arXiv
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| Autores principales: | , , , |
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| Formato: | Preprint |
| Publicado: |
2026
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| _version_ | 1866908895582093312 |
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| author | Jiao, Cheng-Liang Zhao, Er-gang Zhu, Liying Matekov, Azizbek |
| author_facet | Jiao, Cheng-Liang Zhao, Er-gang Zhu, Liying Matekov, Azizbek |
| contents | We investigate whether the long photometric cycles observed in double-periodic variables (DPVs) can arise from nodal precession of a tilted accretion disk driven by the tidal torque of the companion. Within a simple analytical framework, we derive testable relations linking the long-to-orbital period ratio to the binary mass ratio, the normalized disk size, and the disk tilt angle $β$, which itself can be inferred from the long-cycle amplitude, orbital inclination $i$, and disk luminosity fraction. The model naturally reproduces the two observed long-cycle light-curve morphologies -- sinusoidal and double-hump -- distinguished by the geometric criterion $i+β\le 90^\circ$ versus $i+β>90^\circ$. Applying these relations to a sample of DPVs, we find that the inferred disk sizes are physically reasonable and consistent with independent light-curve modeling for a non-negligible subset of systems. Our results show that tidal nodal precession represents a viable and potentially important contributor to the long-period variability of DPVs and provide a quantitative framework for future observational and theoretical studies. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2602_19460 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Long Photometric Cycles in Double Periodic Variables from Nodal Precession of a Tilted Accretion Disk Jiao, Cheng-Liang Zhao, Er-gang Zhu, Liying Matekov, Azizbek Solar and Stellar Astrophysics We investigate whether the long photometric cycles observed in double-periodic variables (DPVs) can arise from nodal precession of a tilted accretion disk driven by the tidal torque of the companion. Within a simple analytical framework, we derive testable relations linking the long-to-orbital period ratio to the binary mass ratio, the normalized disk size, and the disk tilt angle $β$, which itself can be inferred from the long-cycle amplitude, orbital inclination $i$, and disk luminosity fraction. The model naturally reproduces the two observed long-cycle light-curve morphologies -- sinusoidal and double-hump -- distinguished by the geometric criterion $i+β\le 90^\circ$ versus $i+β>90^\circ$. Applying these relations to a sample of DPVs, we find that the inferred disk sizes are physically reasonable and consistent with independent light-curve modeling for a non-negligible subset of systems. Our results show that tidal nodal precession represents a viable and potentially important contributor to the long-period variability of DPVs and provide a quantitative framework for future observational and theoretical studies. |
| title | Long Photometric Cycles in Double Periodic Variables from Nodal Precession of a Tilted Accretion Disk |
| topic | Solar and Stellar Astrophysics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.19460 |