Spotted stars in eclipsing binary systems allow us to gather significant
information about the stellar surface inhomogeneities that is otherwise
impossible from only photometric data. Starspots can be scanned using the
eclipse (or transit) mapping technique, which takes advantage of the passage of
a companion star (or planet) in front of a spotted giant star in a binary
system. Based on the characteristics of their ultra-precise space photometric
light curves, we compile a list of eclipsing binaries whose primary component
is a spotted subgiant or giant star, with the aim of applying the eclipse
mapping technique to them. Eclipsing binaries with giant primaries were
selected from Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) light curves by
visual inspection. Spots showing up as bumps during eclipses are modeled with
an eclipse mapping technique specialized for two stars, and the number of spots
are found with the help of Bayes factors. The full light curves themselves were
analyzed with time series spot modeling, and the results of the two approaches
were compared. We present a catalog of 29 eclipsing close binaries with active
giant components and analyze TIC 235934420, TIC 271892852 and TIC 326257590
from the Continuous Viewing Zones (CVZ) of TESS. Remarkable agreement is found
between the starspot temperatures, sizes, and longitudes from the eclipse
mapping results and the corresponding full light curve solutions. Spots are
always present at the substellar points of the tidally locked binaries. Data
from the TESS CVZ allow us to follow the changes of spot patterns on yearly
timescales.
Cet article explore les excursions dans le temps et leurs implications.
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2504.15389v1