A SIMPLE DESCRIPTION OF LIGHT CURVES OF W-UMA SYSTEMS

Fourier cosine coefficients a1 to a6 are tabulated and shown graphical ly for light curves of contact binary stars of one (solar) effective t emperature, with orbital inclinations, 30-degrees less-than-or-equal-t o i less-than-or-equal-to 90-degrees, mass ratios, 0.05 less-than-or-e qual-to q less-than-or-equal-to 1, and three values of the degree of c ontact, f=0, 0.5, 1. The coefficients, combined with additional tables of depths of minima, can be used for statistical estimates of ensembl e properties of light curves of contact systems in stellar systems or for approximate determinations of orbital elements of individual conta ct binaries. Tables of all eleven coefficients a0 to a10 for all combi nations of i and q are accessible using the ftp file-transfer mechanis m.