Reflection effect in close binaries. I - Distribution of radiation from a point source

Abstract

The radiation field along an irradiated surface of a component in a binary system is calculated. The source of irradiation is assumed to be a point source. This is done primarily to understand easily how the incident radiation will get changed after it is being scattered by the atmosphere. It is noticed that the maximum radiation comes from intermediate points of the atmosphere, the reason being that here there exists the combined radiation due to the star and incident radiation from the point source outside the star although both are diluted.