The multi-site photometric observations of MN Dra were made over 77 nights in August-November, 2009. The total exposure was 433 hours. During this time the binary underwent two superoutbursts and five normal outbursts. During the course of first superoutburst period of positive superhumps decreased with extremely large $dot P = -1.5 times 1.0^{-4}$ for SU UMa-like dwarf novae, confirming known behavior of MN Dra [1]. Between the superoutbursts MN Dra displayed negative superhumps. Their period changed cyclically around 0.096-day value.
Context: We present results of an extensive world-wide observing campaign of MN Draconis. Aims: MN Draconis is a poorly known active dwarf nova in the period gap and is one of the only two known cases of period gap SU UMa objects showing the negative superhumps. Photometric behaviour of MN Draconis poses a challenge for existing models of the superhump and superoutburst mechanisms. Therefore, thorough investigation of peculiar systems, such as MN Draconis, is crucial for our understanding of evolution of the close binary stars. Methods: To measure fundamental parameters of the system, we collected photometric data in October 2009, June-September 2013 and June-December 2015. Analysis of the light curves, $O-C$ diagrams and power spectra was carried out. Results: During our three observational seasons we detected four superoutburts and several normal outbursts. Based on the two consecutive superoutbursts detected in 2015, the supercycle length was derived P_sc = 74 +/- 0.5 days and it has been increasing with a rate of P_dot = 3.3 x 10^(-3) during last twelve years. Based on the positive and negative superhumps we calculated the period excess epsilon = 5.6% +/- 0.1%, the period deficit epsilon_ = 2.5% +/- 0.6%, and in result, the orbital period P_orb = 0.0994(1) days (143.126 +/- 0.144 min). We updated the basic light curve parameters of MN Draconis. Conclusions: MN Draconis is the first discovered SU UMa system in the period gap with increasing supercycle length.
We report K2 observations of the eclipsing cataclysmic variable V729 Sgr which covered nearly 80 days in duration. We find five short outbursts and two long outbursts, one of which shows a clear plateau phase in the rise to maximum brightness. The mean time between successive short outbursts is ~10 d while the time between the two long outbursts is ~38 d. The frequency of these outbursts are unprecedented for a CV above the orbital period gap. We find evidence that the mid-point of the eclipse occurs systematically earlier in outburst than in quiescence. During five of the six quiescent epochs we find evidence for a second photometric period which is roughly 5 percent shorter than the 4.16 h orbital period which we attribute to negative superhumps. V729 Sgr is therefore one of the longest period CVs to show negative superhumps during quiescence.
We analyzed the Kepler long cadence data of KIC 7524178 (=KIS J192254.92+430905.4), and found that it is an SU UMa-type dwarf nova with frequent normal outbursts. The signal of the negative superhump was always the dominant one even during the superoutburst, in contrast to our common knowledge about superhumps in dwarf novae. The signal of the positive superhump was only transiently seen during the superoutburst, and it quickly decayed after the superoutburst. The frequency variation of the negative superhump was similar to the two previously studied dwarf novae in the Kepler field, V1504 Cyg and V344 Lyr. This is the first object in which the negative superhumps dominate throughout the supercycle. Nevertheless, the superoutburst was faithfully accompanied by the positive superhump, indicating that the tidal eccentric instability is essential for triggering a superoutburst. All the pieces of evidence strengthen the thermal-tidal instability as the origin of the superoutburst and supercycle, making this object the third such example in the Kepler field. This object had unusually small (~1.0 mag) outburst amplitude and we discussed that the object has a high mass-transfer rate close to the thermal stability limit of the accretion disk. The periods of the negative and positive superhumps, and that of the candidate orbital period were 0.07288 d (average, variable in the range 0.0723-0.0731 d), 0.0785 d (average, variable in the range 0.0772-0.0788 d) and 0.074606(1) d, respectively.
An intensive photometric-observation campaign of the recently discovered SU UMa-type dwarf nova, Var73 Dra was conducted from 2002 August to 2003 February. We caught three superoutbursts in 2002 October, December and 2003 February. The recurrence cycle of the superoutburst (supercycle) is indicated to be $sim$60 d, the shortest among the values known so far in SU UMa stars and close to those of ER UMa stars. The superhump periods measured during the first two superoutbursts were 0.104885(93) d, and 0.10623(16) d, respectively. A 0.10424(3)-d periodicity was detected in quiescence. The change rate of the superhump period during the second superoutburst was $1.7times10^{-3}$, which is an order of magnitude larger than the largest value ever known. Outburst activity has changed from a phase of frequent normal outbursts and infrequent superoutbursts in 2001 to a phase of infrequent normal outbursts and frequent superoutbursts in 2002. Our observations are negative to an idea that this star is an related object to ER UMa stars in terms of the duty cycle of the superoutburst and the recurrence cycle of the normal outburst. However, to trace the superhump evolution throughout a superoutburst, and from quiescence more effectively, may give a fruitful result on this matter.
We present simultaneous $g$, $R_{rm c}$, and $I_{rm c}$ photometry of the notable dwarf nova ER UMa during the 2011 season. Our photometry revealed that the brightness maxima of negative superhumps coincide with the bluest peaks in $g - I_{rm c}$ colour variations. We also found that the amplitudes of negative superhumps are the largest in the $g$ band. These observed properties are significantly different from those observed in early and positive superhumps. Our findings are consistent with a tilted disk model as the light source of negative superhumps.