A search for SB2 systems among selected Am binaries

We report on the detection of secondary spectra in five spectroscopic binary systems: HD 434, HD 861, HD 108642, HD 178449, and HD 216608. High signal-to-noise high resolution spectroscopic observations were carried out at the Bulgarian NAO Rozhen as part of an extended project concerned mainly with Am stars in binary systems. Our knowledge about early type binaries has serious gaps. This is true especially when it is only based on older photographic techniques. We concluded that photographic data involving longer orbital periods (where Doppler shifts due to the orbital motion are comparable or even less than the rotational broadening of the spectral lines) and early type stars (that have only a few and usually broad lines) should be revisited or at least used with caution. We demonstrate that for the five systems how CCD observations made with 2-m class telescopes can discover the binary nature or secondary spectra of many currently unresolved SB1 systems. Important astrophysical information such as the atmospheric parameters and the mass ratios are used to unravel previous misinterpretations of the data leading often to spurious orbits.