Survey of Hα mass transfer structures in classical Algol-type binaries

Five years of H alpha survey data for 37 classical Algol-type binaries are presented. All these systems have primaries with a spectral type of A or B, have a period of less than 5 days, and are visible in the Northern Hemisphere. Data were collected with the 1.02 m reflector at the US Naval Observatory, Flagstaff Station. The survey consists of over 460 system spectra. Each system was observed at least once during the 5 years, with many systems observed several times over several epochs. Difference profiles are calculated for most spectra by modeling and subtracting the spectrum of the photospheres of the stellar components. We examined each spectrum for the presence of mass transfer, stream-star and stream-disk interaction, a disk or circumstellar bulge, and chromospheric emission. We present information on the prevalence of mass transfer activity, disk presence, and system states associated with particular mass transfer structures. We show that no currently published study, including this one, has enough data for a rigorous statistical identification of system states.