Subscribe to the gold package and get unlimited access to Shamra Academy
Register a new userDwarf nova oscillations and quasi-periodic oscillations in cataclysmic variables -- VI. Spin rates, propellering, and coherence
108
0
0.0
(
0
)
Added by
Magaretha Pretorius
Publication date
2007
fields
Physics
and research's language is
English
Ask ChatGPT about the research
No Arabic abstract
We examine published observations of dwarf nova oscillations (DNOs) on the rise and decline of outbursts and show that their rates of change are in reasonable agreement with those predicted from the magnetic accretion model. We find evidence for propellering in the late stages of outburst of several dwarf novae, as shown by reductions in EUVE fluxes and from rapid increases of the DNO periods. Reanalysis of DNOs observed in TY PsA, which had particularly large amplitudes, shows that the apparent loss of coherence during late decline is better described as a regular switching between two nearby periods. It is partly this and the rapid deceleration in some systems that make the DNOs harder to detect. We suggest that the 28.95 s periodicity in WZ Sge, which has long been a puzzle, is caused by heated regions in the disc, just beyond the corotation radius, which are a consequence of magnetic coupling between the primary and gas in the accretion disc. This leads to a possible new interpretation of the `longer period DNOs (lpDNOs) commonly observed in dwarf novae and nova-like variables.
rate research
Read More
We have observed dwarf nova oscillations (DNOs) in OY Car during outburst, down through decline and beyond; its behaviour is similar to what we have previously seen in VW Hyi, making it only the second dwarf nova to have DNOs late in outburst that continue well into quiescence. There are also occasional examples of DNOs in deep quiescence, well away from outburst - they have properties similar to those during outburst, indicating similar physical causes and structures. We discuss the occurrence of DNOs in other dwarf novae and conclude that DNOs during quiescence are more common than often supposed and exhibit properties similar to those seen in outburst.
We analyse four light curves obtained at high time resolution (~ 0.1 s) with the 11-m Southern African Large Telescope, at the ends of two normal outbursts and one superoutburst of the dwarf nova VW Hyi. All of these contain at least some Dwarf Nova Oscillations (DNOs), which, when at their highest amplitudes, are seen in unprecedented detail. In addition to the expected DNOs with periods > 20 s we find a previously unknown modulation at 13.39 s, but none at shorter periods. The various DNOs and their interaction with the longer period Quasi-periodic Oscillations are interpreted in terms of the model of magnetically controlled flow from an accretion disc proposed earlier in this series of papers. Our observations include rare DNOs very late in outburst; we find that the fundamental period does not increase beyond ~ 90 s, which is the same value that the independent ``longer period DNOs converge on.
Our photometric monitoring revealed that DW Cnc, which was originally classified as a dwarf nova (V=15--17.5), remained at a bright state of Rc=14.68+/-0.07 for 61 days. In conjunction with optical spectra lacking a strong He II emission line, we propose that the object is not a dwarf nova, but a non-magnetic nova-like variable. Throughout our monitoring, the object showed strong quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) with amplitudes reaching about 0.3 mag. Our period analysis yielded a power spectrum with two peaks of QPOs, whose center periods are 37.5+/-0.1 and 73.4+/-0.4 min and, furthermore, with a significant power in frequencies lower than the QPOs. DW Cnc is a unique cataclysmic variable in which kilo-second QPOs were continuously detected for 61 days. We propose two possible interpretations of DW Cnc: (i) A permanent superhumper below the period minimum of hydrogen-rich cataclysmic variables. (ii) A nova-like variable having an orbital period over 3 hours. In this case, the QPOs may be caused by trapped disk oscillations.
New and archived observations of VW Hyi in outburst show the occasional presence of optical Dwarf Nova Oscillations (DNOs) over the range of 18 - 40 s. There is a rapid increase in period near the end of outburst, at the same time that the EUV falls almost to zero, which we attribute to propellering. The DNOs return to a shorter period after this phase, but are very incoherent. The DNOs show some modulation by the Quasi-Periodic Oscillations (QPOs) that are also occasionally present in the light curve. We interpret the QPOs as a prograde travelling wave in the inner disc, which obscures and/or reprocesses radiation from the central region. The model is applied to observations of OY Car and WZ Sge.
We report photometry and spectroscopy of the novalike variable DW Cancri. The spectra show the usual broad H and He emission lines, with an excitation and continuum slope characteristic of a moderately high accretion rate. A radial-velocity search yields strong detections at two periods, 86.1015(3) min and 38.58377(6) min. We interpret these as respectively the orbital period P_orb of the binary, and the spin period P_spin of a magnetic white dwarf. The light curve also shows the spin period, plus an additional strong signal at 69.9133(10) min, which coincides with the difference frequency 1/P_spin-1/P_orb. These periods are stable over the 1 year baseline of measurement. This triply-periodic structure mimics the behavior of several well-credentialed members of the DQ Herculis (intermediate polar) class of cataclysmic variables. DQ Her membership is also suggested by the mysteriously strong sideband signal (at nu_spin-nu_orb), attesting to a strong pulsed flux at X-ray/EUV/UV wavelengths. DW Cnc is a new member of this class, and would be an excellent target for extended observation at these wavelengths.
Log in to be able to interact and post comments
comments
Fetching comments
Sign in to be able to follow your search criteria
