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Register a new userDwarf nova outbursts in intermediate polars
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The disc instability model (DIM) has been very successful in explaining the dwarf nova outbursts observed in cataclysmic variables. When, as in intermediate polars (IP), the accreting white dwarf is magnetized, the disc is truncated at the magnetospheric radius, but for mass-transfer rates corresponding to the thermal-viscous instability such systems should still exhibit dwarf-nova outbursts. Yet, the majority of intermediate polars in which the magnetic field is not large enough to completely disrupt the accretion disc, seem to be stable, and the rare observed outbursts, in particular in systems with long orbital periods, are much shorter than normal dwarf-nova outbursts. We investigate the predictions of the disc instability model for intermediate polars in order to determine which of the observed properties of these systems can be explained by the DIM. We use our numerical code for the time evolution of accretion discs, modified to include the effects of the magnetic field, with constant or variable mass transfer from the secondary star. We show that intermediate polars have mass transfer low enough and magnetic fields large enough to keep the accretion disc stable on the cold equilibrium branch. We show that the infrequent and short outbursts observed in long period systems, such as e.g., TV Col, cannot be attributed to the thermal-viscous instability of the accretion disc, but instead have to be triggered by an enhanced mass-transfer from the secondary, or, more likely, by some instability coupling the white dwarf magnetic field with that generated by the magnetorotational instability operating in the accretion disc. Longer outbursts (a few days) could result from the disc instability.
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Context. Although the disc instability model is widely accepted as the explanation for dwarf nova outbursts, it is still necessary to confront its predictions to observations because much of the constraints on angular momentum transport in accretion discs are derived from the application of this model to real systems. Aims. We test the predictions of the model concerning the multicolour time evolution of outbursts for two well--observed systems, SS Cyg and VW Hyi. Methods. We calculate the multicolour evolution of dwarf nova outbursts using the disc instability model and taking into account the contribution from the irradiated secondary, the white dwarf and the hot spot. Results. Observations definitely show the existence of a hysteresis in the optical colour-magnitude diagram during the evolution of dwarf nova outbursts. We find that the disc instability model naturally explains the existence and the orientation of this hysteresis. For the specific cases of SS Cyg and VW Hyi, the colour and magnitude ranges covered during the evolution of the system are in reasonable agreement with observations. However, the observed colours are bluer than observed near the peak of the outbursts -- as in steady systems, and the amplitude of the hysteresis cycle is smaller than observed. The predicted colours significantly depend on the assumptions made for calculating the disc spectrum during rise, and on the magnitude of the secondary irradiation for the decaying part of the outburst. Conclusions. Improvements of the spectral disc models are strongly needed if one wishes to address the system evolution in the UV.
The disc instability model accounts well for most of the observed properties of dwarf novae and soft X-ray transients, but the rebrightenings, reflares, and echoes occurring at the end of outbursts or shortly after in WZ Sge stars or soft X-ray transients have not yet been convincingly explained by any model. We determine the additional ingredients that must be added to the DIM to account for the observed rebrightenings. We analyse in detail a recently discovered system, TCP J21040470+4631129, which has shown very peculiar rebrightenings, model its light curve using our numerical code including mass transfer variations from the secondary, inner-disc truncation, disc irradiation by a hot white dwarf and, in some cases, the mass-transfer stream over(under)flow. We show that the luminosity in quiescence is dominated by a hot white dwarf that cools down on time scales of months. The mass transfer rate from the secondary has to increase by several orders of magnitudes during the initial superoutburst for a reason that remains elusive, slowly returning to its secular average, causing the observed succession of outbursts with increasing quiescence durations, until the disc can be steady, cold, and neutral; its inner parts being truncated either by the white dwarf magnetic field or by evaporation. The very short, quiescence phases between reflares are reproduced when the mass-transfer stream overflows the disc. Using similar additions to the DIM, we have also produced light curves close to those observed in two WZ Sge stars, the prototype and EG Cnc. Our model successfully explains the reflares observed in WZ Sge systems. It requires, however, the inner disc truncation in dwarf novae to be due not (only) to the white dwarf magnetic field but, as in X-ray binaries, rather to evaporation of the inner disc. A similar model could also explain reflares observed in soft X-ray transients.
The phenomenological Disc Instability Model has been successful in reproducing the observed light curves of dwarf nova outbursts by invoking an enhanced Shakura-Sunyaev $alpha$ parameter $sim0.1-0.2$ in outburst compared to a low value $sim0.01$ in quiescence. Recent thermodynamically consistent simulations of magnetorotational (MRI) turbulence with appropriate opacities and equation of state for dwarf nova accretion discs have found that thermal convection enhances $alpha$ in discs in outburst, but only near the hydrogen ionization transition. At higher temperatures, convection no longer exists and $alpha$ returns to the low value comparable to that in quiescence. In order to check whether this enhancement near the hydrogen ionization transition is sufficient to reproduce observed light curves, we incorporate this MRI-based variation in $alpha$ into the Disc Instability Model, as well as simulation-based models of turbulent dissipation and convective transport. These MRI-based models can successfully reproduce observed outburst and quiescence durations, as well as outburst amplitudes, albeit with different parameters from the standard Disc Instability Models. The MRI-based model lightcurves exhibit reflares in the decay from outburst, which are not generally observed in dwarf novae. However, we highlight the problematic aspects of the quiescence physics in the Disc Instability Model and MRI simulations that are responsible for this behavior.
We present a review of the results of long-term photometric monitoring of selected magnetic cataclysmic binary systems, which belong to a class named Intermediate polars. We found a spin period variability in the V2306 Cygni system. We confirm the strong negative superhump variations in the intermediate polar RX J2133.7+5107 and improved a characteristic time of white dwarf spin-up in this system. We have investigated the periodic modulation of the spin phases with the orbital phase in MU Camelopardalis. We can propose simple explanation as the influence of orbital sidebands in the periodic signal produced by intermediate polar.
We construct a complete, hard X-ray flux-limited sample of intermediate polars (IPs) from the Swift-BAT 70-month survey, by imposing selection cuts in flux and Galactic latitude ($F_X > 2.5 times 10^{-11},mathrm{erg,cm^{-2}s^{-1}}$ at 14--195~keV, and $|b|>5^circ$). We then use it to estimate the space density ($rho$) of IPs. Assuming that this sample of 15 long-period systems is representative of the intrinsic IP population, the space density of long-period IPs is $1^{+1}_{-0.5} times 10^{-7},mathrm{pc^{-3}}$. The Swift-BAT data also allow us to place upper limits on the size of a hypothetical population of faint IPs that is not included in the flux-limited sample. While most IPs detected by BAT have 14--195~keV luminosities of $sim 10^{33} {rm erg s^{-1}}$, there is evidence of a fainter population at $L_X sim 10^{31} {rm erg s^{-1}}$. We find that a population of IPs with this luminosity may have a space density as large as $5times 10^{-6},mathrm{pc^{-3}}$. Furthermore, these low-luminosity IPs, despite appearing rare in observed samples, are probably at least as intrinsically common as the brighter systems that are better represented in the known IP sample.
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