ejaavso36.1.9

How to Understand the Light Curves of Symbiotic Stars

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Augustin Skopal

Astronomical Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, SK-059 60 Tatranska Lomnica, Slovakia

Received August 13, 2007; revised September 3, 2007; accepted September 4, 2007

Abstract
I introduce fundamental types of variations observed in the light curves of symbiotic stars: the orbitally-related wave-like modulation during quiescent phases, eclipses during active phases, and apparent orbital changes indicated during transitions between quiescence and activity. I explain their nature with the aid of the spectral energy distribution of the composite spectrum of symbiotic stars and their simple ionization model.