Distortion wave characteristics and starspot modelling in the RS CVn eclipsing binary SV Camelopardalis

Abstract

Four migrating groups of wave minima are identified in the light curves of SV Cam of which two show direct motion with period 3.02 and 1.6 yr while the other two display retrograde motion with periods 3.04 and 0.6 yr. Based on the methodology of Budding, the four groups of spots are modeled to fit the distortion wave modulations. It is noticed that two of the spot groups, direct I and retrograde I, have preferred quadrature positions while the other two, direct II and retrograde II, are found to be at random positions. The sizes of starspots generally tended to diminish with time