A 0.24+0.18 M$_☉$ double-lined eclipsing binary from the HATSouth survey

Abstract

We report the discovery and characterization of a new M-dwarf binary, with component masses and radii of M1 = 0.244+0.003 −0.003 M, R1 = 0.261+0.006 −0.009 R, M2 = 0.179+0.002 −0.001 M, R2 = 0.218+0.007 −0.011 R, and orbital period of ∼4.1 d. The M-dwarf binary HATS551−027 (LP 837−20) was identified as an eclipsing binary by the HATSouth survey, and characterized by a series of high-precision photometric observations of the eclipse events, and spectroscopic determinations of the atmospheric parameters and radial velocity orbits. HATS551−027 is one of few systems with both stellar components lying in the fully convective regime of very low mass stars, and can serve as a test for stellar interior models. The radius of HATS551−027A is consistent with models to 1σ, whilst HATS551−027B is inflated by 9 per cent at 2σ significance. We measure the effective temperatures for the two stellar components to be Teff, 1 = 3190 ± 100 K and Teff, 2 = 2990 ± 110 K; both are slightly cooler than theoretical models predict, but consistent with other M-dwarfs of similar masses that have previously been studied. We also measure significant H α emission from both components of the binary system, and discuss this in the context of the correlation between stellar activity and the discrepancies between the observed and model temperatures.