No Arabic abstract
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.
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.
Results of the CCD observations of CzeV404 Her are displayed. During the season of June-August 2014 we detected one outburst and one superoutburst of the star. Clear superhumps with the period of P_sh=0.10472(2) days were observed. The superhump period was decreasing with a high value of P_dot=-2.43(8) x 10^(-4). For 17 eclipses, we calculated an orbital period with the value of P_orb=0.0980203(6) days which indicates that CzeV404 Her belongs to period gap objects and it is the longest orbital period eclipsing SU UMa star. Based on superhump and orbital period determinations, the period excess 6.8 % +/- 0.02 % and the mass ratio q ~ 0.32 of the system were obtained.
Aims. NSV 13983 is catalogued as a dwarf nova based on a reported outburst from 2005. The system has not yet been studied spectroscopically. We attempt to confirm its nature as a dwarf nova and determine its orbital period. Methods. We derive the orbital period by using time-resolved spectroscopic data to measure radial velocities. Results. The average spectrum shows evidence that the system is a dwarf nova in quiescence. The radial velocity curves derived from measurements of the spectral lines Halpha and Hbeta, show a clear modulation with a period of 2.76 h. This places NSV 13983 below the upper edge of the gap in the period distribution of cataclysmic variables, implying that it is the 14th dwarf nova in the gap.
The post-outburst rebrightening phenomenon in dwarf novae and X-ray novae is still one of the most challenging subjects for theories of accretion disks. It has been widely recognized that post-outburst rebrightenings are a key feature of WZ Sge-type dwarf novae, which predominantly have short ($lesssim$0.06 d) orbital periods. I found four post-outburst rebrightenings in ASASSN-14ho during its 2014 outburst, whose orbital period has recently measured to be exceptionally long [0.24315(10) d]. Using the formal solution of the radial velocity study in the literature, I discuss the possibility that this object can be an SU UMa-type dwarf nova near the stability border of the 3:1 resonance despite its exceptionally long orbital period. Such objects are considered to be produced if mass transfer occurs after the secondary has undergone significant nuclear evolution and they may be hidden in a significant number among dwarf novae showing multiple post-outburst rebrightenings.
A CCD photometry of the dwarf nova MASTER OT J172758.09 +380021.5 was carried out in 2019 during 134 nights. Observations covered three superoutbursts, five normal outbursts and quiescence between them. The available ASASSN and ZTF data for 2014-2020 were also examined. Spectral observations were done in 2020 when the object was in quiescence. Spectra and photometry revealed that the star is an H-rich active ER UMa-type dwarf nova with a highly variable supercycle of ~50-100 d that implies a high and variable mass-transfer rate. This object demonstrated peculiar behaviour: short-lasted superoutbursts (a week); a slow superoutburst decline and cases of rebrightenings; low frequency (from none to a few) of the normal outbursts during the supercycle. In 2019 a mean period of positive superhumps was found to be 0.05829 d during the superoutbursts. Late superhumps with a mean period of 0.057915 d which lasted about ~20 d after the end of superoutburst and were replaced by an orbital period of 0.057026 d or its orbital-negative superhump beat period were detected. An absence of eclipse in the orbital light curve and its moderate amplitude are consistent with the orbital inclination of about 40 degr found from spectroscopy. The blue peaks of the V-Ic and B-Rc of superhumps during the superoutburst coincided with minima of the light curves, while B-Rc of the late superhumps coincided with a rising branch of the light curves. We found that a low mass ratio q=0.08 could explain most of the peculiarities of this dwarf nova. The mass-transfer rate should be accordingly higher than what is expected from gravitational radiation only, this assumes the object is in a post-nova state and underwent a nova eruption relatively recently -- hundreds of years ago. This object would provide probably the first observational evidence that a nova eruption can occur even in CVs near the period minimum.