K. Beuermann

Far-Ultraviolet Spectroscopy of Magnetic Cataclysmic Variables*

Abstract HST and FUSE have provided high signal-to-noise, high-resolution spectra of a variety of cataclysmic variables and have allowed a detailed characterization of FUV emission sources in both high and low states. Here, I describe how this has advanced our understanding of non-magnetic CVs. In the high state, the FUV spectra are dominated by disk emission that is modified by scattering in high and low velocity material located above the disk photosphere. Progress is being made towards reproducing the high-state spectra using kinematic prescriptions of the velocity field and new ionization and radiative transfer codes. In conjunction with hydrodynamical simulations of the outflows, accurate estimates of the mass loss rates and determination of the launching mechanism are likely forthcoming. In quiescence, the FUV spectra reveal contributions from the WD and the disk. Quantitative analyses have lead to solid measurements of the temperatures and abundances of a number of WDs in CVs, and of a determination of the response of the WD to an outburst. Basic challenges exist in terms of understanding the other components of the emission in quiescence, however, and these are needed to better understand the structure of the disk and the physical mechanisms resulting in ongoing accretion in quiescence.

Anomalous Ultraviolet Line Flux Ratios in the Cataclysmic Variables 1RXS J232953.9+062814, CE 315, BZ Ursae Majoris, and EY Cygni, Observed with the Hubble Space Telescope Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph*

Brief HST/STIS spectroscopic snapshot exposures of the cataclysmic variables 1RXSJ232953.9+062814, CE315, BZ UMa and EY Cyg reveal very large NV/CIV line flux ratios, similar to those observed in AE Aqr. Such anomalous line flux ratios have so far been observed in 10 systems, and presumably reflect a different composition of the accreted material compared to the majority of cataclysmic variables. We discuss the properties of this small sample in the context of the recent proposal by Schenker et al. (2002) that a significant fraction of the present-day population of cataclysmic variables may have passed through a phase of thermal time-scale mass transfer.Brief Hubble Space Telescope Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph spectroscopic snapshot exposures of the cataclysmic variables 1RXS J232953.9+062814, CE 315, BZ UMa, and EY Cyg reveal very large N V/C IV line flux ratios, similar to those observed in AE Aqr. Such anomalous line flux ratios have so far been observed in 10 systems and presumably reflect a different composition of the accreted material compared to the majority of cataclysmic variables. We discuss the properties of this small sample in the context of the recent proposal by Schenker et al. that a significant fraction of the present-day population of cataclysmic variables may have passed through a phase of thermal timescale mass transfer.

X-ray variability in a complete sample of Soft X-ray selected AGN

We present ROSAT All-Sky Survey and ROSAT pointed observations (PSPC and HRI) of a complete sample of 113 bright soft X-ray AGN selected from the ROSAT Bright Source Catalog. We compare these observations in order to search for extreme cases of flux and spectral X-ray variability - X-ray transient AGN. Three definite transients and one transient candidate are found. The other sources show amplitude variations typically by factors of 2-3 on timescales of years. We found that the variability strength on timescales of days is a function of the steepness of the X-ray spectrum: steeper X-ray objects show stronger variability than flat X-ray spectrum sources. We also present new HRI measurements of our extreme X-ray transients IC 3599 and WPVS007. We discuss possible models to explain the X-ray transience and the variabilities observed in the non-transient sources.

On the HU Aquarii planetary system hypothesis

In this paper, we investigate the eclipse timing of the polar binary HU Aquarii that has been observed for almost two decades. Recently, Qian et al. attributed large (O–C) deviations between the eclipse ephemeris and observations to a compact system of two massive Jovian companions. We improve the Keplerian, kinematic model of the light travel time effect and re-analyse the whole currently available data set. We add almost 60 new, yet unpublished, mostly precision light curves obtained using the time high-resolution photopolarimeter Optical Timing Analyzer (OPTIMA), as well as photometric observations performed at the Monitoring Network of Telescopes/North, Physics Innovations Robotic Astronomical Telescope Explorer and Carlos Sanchez Telescope. We determine new mid-egress times with a mean uncertainty at the level of 1 s or better. We claim that because the observations that currently exist in the literature are non-homogeneous with respect to spectral windows (ultraviolet, X-ray, visual and polarimetric mode) and the reported mid-egress measurements errors, they may introduce systematics that affect orbital fits. Indeed, we find that the published data, when taken literally, cannot be explained by any unique solution. Many qualitatively different and best-fit two-planet configurations, including self-consistent, Newtonian N-body solutions may be able to explain the data. However, using high-resolution, precision OPTIMA light curves, we find that the (O–C) deviations are best explained by the presence of a single circumbinary companion orbiting at a distance of ∼4.5 au with a small eccentricity and having ∼7 Jupiter masses. This object could be the next circumbinary planet detected from the ground, similar to the announced companions around close binaries HW Vir, NN Ser, UZ For, DP Leo, FS Aur or SZ Her, and planets of this type around Kepler-16, Kepler-34 and Kepler-35.

Zeeman tomography of magnetic white dwarfs - I. Reconstruction of the field geometry from synthetic spectra

We have computed optical Zeeman spectra of magnetic white dwarfs for field strengths between 10 and 200 MG and eective temperatures between 8000 and 40 000 K. They form a database containing 20 628 sets of flux and circular polarization spectra. A least-squares optimization code based on an evolutionary strategy can recover relatively complex magnetic field topologies from phase-resolved synthetic Zeeman spectra of rotating magnetic white dwarfs. We consider dipole and quadrupole components which are non-aligned and shifted o-centre. The model geometries include stars with a single high-field spot and with two spots separated by90. The accuracy of the recovered field structure increases with the signal-to-noise ratio of the input spectra and is significantly improved if circular polarization spectra are included in addition to flux spectra. We discuss the strategies proposed so far to unravel the field geometries of magnetic white dwarfs.

The optical light curve of the low-mass X-ray binary XB 1254-690

The discovery of periodic optical variations from the counterpart of the low-mass X-ray binary XB 1254-690 is reported. The period is 0.163890 + or - 0.000009 days, identical to the recurrence period of X-ray dips. The full amplitude of the light curve is 0.4 mag and the mean V-magnitude is 19.1. From spectrophotometric observations the authors derive a B-V color index of 0.31 + or - 0.05 and an interstellar reddening of E(B-V) = 0.4 + or - 0.1. The optical minimum occurs 0.15 in phase after X-ray dips. Most of the optical light curve is probably due to varying aspect of the X-ray-heated secondary atmosphere. The contribution of the X-ray-heated bulge does not dominate the optical variability. The X-ray-heated secondary explanation supports the interpretation that the X-ray dips are due to eclipses by a bulge located on the edge of the accretion disk and indicates that at least in the case of XB 1254-690 the accretion disk does not shadow completely the companion star. 37 references.

Multi-epoch Doppler tomography and polarimetry of QQ Vul ⋆

ABSTRA C T We present multi-epoch high-resolution spectroscopy and photoelectric polarimetry of the long-period polar (AM Herculis star) QQ Vul. The blue emission lines show several distinct components, the sharpest of which can unequivocally be assigned to the illuminated hemisphere of the secondary star and used to trace its orbital motion. This narrow emission line can be used in combination with Na i absorption lines from the photosphere of the companion to build a stable long-term ephemeris for the star: inferior conjunction of the companion occurs at HJDa 244 8446:4710O5UaE 0: 154 520 11O11U: The polarization curves are dissimilar at different epochs, thus supporting the idea of fundamental changes of the accretion geometry, e.g., between one- and two-pole accretion modes. The linear polarization pulses display a random scatter by 0.2 phase units and are not suitable for the determination of the binary period. The polarization data suggest that the magnetic (dipolar) axis has a colatitude of 238, an azimuth of 2508, and an orbital inclination between 508 and 708. Doppler images of blue emission and red absorption lines show a clear separation between the illuminated and non-illuminated hemispheres of the secondary star. The absorption lines on their own can be used to determine the mass ratio of the binary by Doppler tomography with an accuracy of 15‐20 per cent. The narrow emission lines of different atomic species show remarkably different radial velocity amplitudes: Ka 85‐130 km s 21 : Emission lines from the most highly ionized species, He ii, originate closest to the inner Lagrangian point L1. We can discern two kinematic components within the accretion stream; one is associated with the ballistic part, and the other with the magnetically threaded part of the stream. The location of the emission component associated with the ballistic accretion stream appears displaced between different epochs. Whether this displacement indicates a dislocation of the ballistic stream, e.g. by a magnetic drag, or emission from the magnetically threaded part of the stream with near-ballistic velocities, remains unsolved.

Observations of the late superhump in VW Hydri

This paper presents the results of simultaneous optical and near-IR photometry, optical fast spectroscopy, and Exosat X-ray observations of the dwarf nova VW Hyi, obtained simultaneously during three consecutive orbital cycles, approximately two days after the 1983 November superoutburst terminated. The optical data show clear evidence for a late superhump, which is shifted + 0.7 in phase relative to the orbital modulation. An attempt is made to derive from the observed spectral distribution the contribution of the late superhump. The orbital hump and the late superhump apparently are not related to each other. This important effect excludes all models, in which the late superhump phenomenon is interpreted in terms of variations in the bright-spot brightness. 43 references.

Multi-wavelength spectrophotometry of EX Hydrae

We present phase-resolved infrared and optical spectrophotometry of the intermediate polar EX Hya supplemented by archival ultraviolet data. The spin-modulated emission from the accretion funnel and the emission from the accretion disk or ring contain substantial optically thin components. The white dwarf dominates the unmodulated flux in the ultraviolet and is identied by numerous absorption lines. Metal absorption in the accretion curtain may add to the observed spectral features. The secondary star is of spectral type M4 1 and is detected by its ellipsoidal modulation. We derive a distance of 65 11 pc which makes EX Hydrae one of the closest cataclysmic variables with a known distance. The luminosity derived from the integrated overall spectral energy distribution is 3 10 32 erg s 1 . The accretion rate of 3 10 15 gs 1 (for an 0.6M white dwarf) is in reasonable agreement with the rates expected from angular momentum loss by gravitational radiation and from the observed spin-up of the white dwarf.

A new soft X-ray mode in the AM Herculis object E2003 + 225

Exosat observations of the AM Her object E2003 + 225 made in June and September 1985, are presented together with optical and ultraviolet observations. The averages of soft X-ray count rate doubled between October 1983 and June 1985; the simultaneously measured V band intensity fell by a factor of 3 and the UV flux by 20 percent. The medium-energy X-ray flux did not increase significantly. In September 1985, E2003 + 225 was observed to have a radically different soft X-ray light curve from that seen previously, but an average intensity similar to that of June 1985. The new soft X-ray light curve showed two similar peaks and two unequal minima separated by half a period. The optical light curve observed 2 days earlier showed no major change in shape. These observations provide a serious challenge to the standard model of AM Her objects. 18 references.