A Model for the Totally Eclipsing W Ursae Majoris System AW UMa

A method for the synthesis of theoretical light curves and line profiles for close binary systems is outlined, considering Roche geometry, non-linear limb-darkening and convective envelopes with irradiation and gravity-darkening. A scaled blackbody approximation is used for calculating fluxes. Theoretical internal eclipse contact angles have been computed for common envelope configurations, providing an approximate constraint upon the solution of observed light curves. The method is applied to the totally eclipsing system AW UMa, for which the unusually low mass ratio of 0·079 is obtained.