The properties of close multiple stars.

A reexamination of the properties of close multiple systems is conducted, taking into account recent numerical, analytical, and observational results. The orbital elements of 43 spectroscopic multiple systems are presented in a table. Tables with photometry data of the systems and data describing their properties are also provided. Attention is given to period ratios, mass ratios, orbital coplanarity, stability, lithium abundances and age estimates, and prospects of future observations. Numerical studies indicate that fragmentation produces binary components with mass ratios usually close to 1.0, while fission usually produces mass ratios in the range 0.1-0.5. Using analytical stability criteria, all 27 close multiple systems considered are stable if they are corotating. If they are counter-rotating, four systems are possibly unstable. However, other factors suggest that even these four are probably stable. The solar-type close multiple systems ranged in age from 100 million years to 2,000 million years.