L. L. Chinarova

Nova-like cataclysmic variable TT Arietis - QPO behaviour coming back from positive superhumps

Aims. We study the variability of the nova-like cataclysmic variable TT Ari, on time-scales of between minutes and months. Methods. The observations in the filter R were obtained at the 40-cm telescope of the Chungbuk National University (Korea), 51 observational runs cover 226 h. The table of individual observations is available electronically. In our analysis, we applied several methods: periodogram, wavelet, and scalegram analysis. Results. TT Ari remained in a “negative superhump” state after its return from the “positive superhump” state, which lasted for 8 years. The ephemeris for 12 of the best pronounced minima is Tmin = BJD 2 453 747.0700(47) + 0.132322(53)E. The phases of minima may reach 0.2, which reflects the non-eclipse nature of these minima. The quasi-periodic oscillations (QPO) are present with a mean “period” of 21.6 min and mean semi-amplitude of 36 mmag. This value is consistent with the range 15−25 min reported for previous “negative superhump” states and does not support the hypothesis of secular decrease in the QPO period. Either the period, or the semi-amplitude show significant night-to-night variations. According to the position at the two-parameter diagrams (i.e. diagrams of pairs of parameters: time, mean brightness of the system, brightness of the source of QPO, amplitude, and timescale of the QPOs), the interval of observations was divided into 5 parts, showing different characteristics: 1) the “pre-outburst” stage; 2) the “rise to outburst”; 3) “top of the outbursts”; 4) “post-outburst QPO” state; and 5) “slow brightening”. The the QPO source was significantly brighter during the 10-day outburst, than during the preceding interval. However, after the outburst, the large brightness of the QPO source still existed for about 30 days, producing the stage “4”. The diagram for mQPO (¯ m) exhibits two groups in the brightness range 10. m 6−10. 8, which correspond to larger and smaller amplitudes of the QPO. For the group “5” only, statistically significant correlations were found, for which, with increasing mean brightness, the period, amplitude, and brightness of the of QPO source also increase. The mean brightness at the “negative superhump state” varies within 10. 3−11. m 2, so the system is brighter than at the “positive superhump” (11. m 3), therefore the “negative superhump” phenomenon may be interpreted by a larger accretion rate. The system is an excellent laboratory for studying processes resulting in variations on timescales of between seconds and decades and needs further monitoring at various states of activity.

Idling magnetic white dwarf in the synchronizing polar BY Cam. The Noah-2 project

A multi-color study of the variability of the magnetic cataclysmic variable BY Cam is presented. The observations were obtained at the Korean 1.8 m and Ukrainian 2.6 m, 1.2 m and 38 cm telescopes in 2003–2005, 56 observational runs cover 189 hours. The variations of the mean brightness in different colors are correlated with a slope dR/dV = 1:29(4), where the number in brackets denotes the error estimates in the last digits. For individual runs, this slope is much smaller ranging from 0.98(3) to 1.24(3), with a mean value of 1.11(1). Near the maximum, the slope becomes smaller for some nights, indicating more “blue” spectral energy distribution, whereas the night-to-night variability has an “infrared” character. For the simultaneous UBVRI photometry, the slopes increase with wavelength from dU/dR = 0:23(1) to dI/dR = 1:18(1). Such wavelength dependence is the opposite of that observed in non-magnetic cataclysmic variables, in agreement with the model of cyclotron emission. The principal component analysis shows two components of variablitity with different spectral energy distributions (with a third at the limit of detection), which possibly correspond to different regions of emission. The highest peak in the scalegram analysis corresponds to the 200 min spin variability, its quarter and to the 30 min and 8 min QPOs. The amplitudes of these components are dependent on wavelength and luminosity state. The light curves were fitted by a statistically optimal trigonometrical polynomial (up to 4th order) to take into account a 4-hump structure. The dependences of these parameters on the phase of the beat period and on mean brightness are discussed. The amplitude of spin variations increases with an increasing wavelength and with decreasing brightness. The linear ephemeris based on 46 mean minima for 2003–2005 is HJD 2453213:010(3) + 0:137123(3)E: The extensive tables of the original observations and of results of analysis are published in an electronic form. The nearby star GSC 4081–1562 was found to be an eclipsing red variable.

Comparative Analysis of Phenomenological Approximations for the Light Curves of Eclipsing Binary Stars with Additional Parameters

A comparative analysis is made of special profiles of eclipses used for phenomenological modelling of the light curves of eclipsing binary stars. Families of functions which generalize local approximations and functions which are theoretically unlimited in width and based on a Gaussian are examined. The light curve of the classical Algol subtype (β Persei) star V0882 Car=2MASS J11080308-6145589 is used for the analysis. Dozens of modified functions with additional parameters are analyzed and 14 of these are chosen based on the criterion of a minimum sum of the squares of the deviations. The best are functions with an additional parameter which describe a profile that which is limited in phase.

TWO-COLOR CCD PHOTOMETRY OF THE INTERMEDIATE POLAR 1RXS J180340.0+401214

We present results of two-color VR photometry of the intermediate polar RXS J1803. The data were aquired using the Korean 1-m telescope located at Mt. Lemmon, USA. Different “high” and “low” luminosity states, similar to other intermediate polars, were discovered. No statistically significant variability of the color index with varying luminosity was detected. The orbital variability was found to be not statistically significant. Spin maxima timings were determined, as well as the photometric ephemeris for the time interval of our observations. The spin period variations, caused by interaction of the accretion structure with the rotating magnetic white dwarf, were also detected. These variations are of complicated character, and their study requires further observations. We determine the color transformation coefficients for our photometric systems, and improve on the secondary photometric standards.