The Mass-Temperature Relation for B and Early A Stars Based on International Ultraviolet Explorer Spectra of Detached Eclipsing Binaries

Abstract

Ultraviolet spectra were taken of 25 detached eclipsing binaries (DEBs) with spectral types O, B, and early A with the International Ultraviolet Explorer satellite in the 1150-1900 Å region. The spectra were compared with BOSZ model atmospheres. The composite spectra of the DEBs were modeled by a combination of models representing the hot and cool components, and the temperatures of the hottest components of the systems were determined. From these temperatures a direct mass-temperature relation was obtained for stars close to the main sequence with solar metallicity for B and early A stars: log M/M _⊙ = -5.90 ± 0.27 + (1.56 ± 0.07) × log T. This relation allows a mass to be inferred for comparable stars from an ultraviolet spectrum. The five chemically peculiar Am stars in the sample have larger radii than normal A stars of the same mass.