Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Starspot Evolution, Differential Rotation, And Magnetic Cycles In The Chromospherically Active Binaries Lambda Andromedae, Sigma Geminorum, Ii Pegasi, And V711 Tauri, Gregory W. Henry, Joel A. Eaton, Jamesia Hamer, Douglas S. Hall

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

We have analyzed 15-19 yr of photoelectric photometry, obtained manually and with automated telescopes, of the chromospherically active binaries lambda And, sigma Gem, II Peg, and V711 Tau. These observations let us identify individual dark starspots on the stellar surfaces from periodic dimming of the starlight, follow the evolution of these spots, and search for long-term cyclic changes in the properties of these starspots that might reveal magnetic cycles analogous to the Sun's 11 yr sunspot cycle. We developed a computer code to fit a simple two-spot model to our observed light curves that allows us to extract the most …