We present new time-resolved photometry of 74 cataclysmic variables (CVs), 47 of which are eclipsing. Thirteen of these eclipsing systems are newly discovered. For all 47 eclipsing systems, we show ...high cadence (1-20 s) light curves obtained with the high-speed cameras ULTRACAM and ULTRASPEC. We provide new or refined ephemerides, and supply mid-eclipse times for all observed eclipses. We assess the potential for light-curve modelling of all 47 eclipsing systems to determine their system parameters, finding 20 systems that appear to be suitable for future study. Systems of particular interest include V713 Cep, in which we observed a temporary switching-off of accretion; and ASASSN-14mv and CSS111019:233313-155744, which both have orbital periods well below the CV period minimum. The short orbital periods and light-curve shapes suggest that they may be double degenerate (AM CVn) systems or CVs with evolved donor stars.
We present high-speed, three-colour photometry of the eclipsing dwarf nova PHL 1445, which, with an orbital period of 76.3 min, lies just below the period minimum of ∼82 min for cataclysmic variable ...stars (CVs). Averaging four eclipses reveals resolved eclipses of the white dwarf and bright spot. We determined the system parameters by fitting a parametrized eclipse model to the averaged light curve. We obtain a mass ratio of q = 0.087 ± 0.006 and inclination i = 85
$_{.}^{\circ}$
2 ± 0
$_{.}^{\circ}$
9. The primary and donor masses were found to be M
w = 0.73 ± 0.03 M⊙ and M
d = 0.064 ± 0.005 M⊙, respectively. Through multicolour photometry a temperature of the white dwarf of T
w = 13 200 ± 700 K and a distance of 220 ± 50 pc were determined. The evolutionary state of PHL 1445 is uncertain. We are able to rule out a significantly evolved donor, but not one that is slightly evolved. Formation with a brown dwarf donor is plausible, though the brown dwarf would need to be no older than 600 Myr at the start of mass transfer, requiring an extremely low mass ratio (q = 0.025) progenitor system. PHL 1445 joins SDSS 1433 as a sub-period minimum CV with a substellar donor. The existence of two such systems raises an alternative possibility that current estimates for the intrinsic scatter and/or position of the period minimum may be in error.
We present the first results of a dedicated search for pulsating white dwarfs (WDs) in detached WD plus main-sequence (MS) binaries. Candidate systems were selected from a catalogue of WD+MS ...binaries, based on the surface gravities and effective temperatures of the WDs. We observed a total of 26 systems using ULTRACAM mounted on ESO's 3.5 m New Technology Telescope at La Silla. Our photometric observations reveal pulsations in seven WDs of our sample, including the first pulsating WD with an MS companion in a post-common envelope (CE) binary, SDSS J1136+0409. Asteroseismology of these new pulsating systems will provide crucial insight into how binary interactions, particularly the CE phase, affect the internal structure and evolution of WDs. In addition, our observations have revealed the partially eclipsing nature of one of our targets, SDSS J1223−0056.
We present high-speed, three-colour photometry of the eclipsing cataclysmic variables CTCV J1300−3052, CTCV J2354−4700 and SDSS J115207.00+404947.8. These systems have orbital periods of 128.07, ...94.39 and 97.52 min, respectively, placing all three systems below the observed 'period gap' for cataclysmic variables. For each system we determine the system parameters by fitting a parametrized model to the observed eclipse light curve by χ2 minimization.
We also present an updated analysis of all other eclipsing systems previously analysed by our group. The updated analysis utilizes Markov chain Monte Carlo techniques which enable us to arrive confidently at the best fits for each system with more robust determinations of our errors. A new bright-spot model is also adopted, that allows better modelling of bright-spot dominated systems. In addition, we correct a bug in the old code which resulted in the white dwarf radius being underestimated, and consequently both the white dwarf and donor mass being overestimated. New donor masses are generally between 1σ and 2σ of those originally published, with the exception of SDSS 1502 (−2.9σ, ΔM
r=−0.012 M⊙) and DV UMa (+6.1σ, ΔM
r=+0.039 M⊙). We note that the donor mass of SDSS 1501 has been revised upwards by 0.024 M⊙ (+1.9σ). This system was previously identified as having evolved past the minimum orbital period for cataclysmic variables, but the new mass determination suggests otherwise. Our new analysis confirms that SDSS 1035 and SDSS 1433 have evolved past the period minimum for cataclysmic variables, corroborating our earlier studies.
We find that the radii of donor stars are oversized when compared to theoretical models, by approximately 10 per cent. We show that this can be explained by invoking either enhanced angular momentum loss, or by taking into account the effects of star spots. We are unable to favour one cause over the other, as we lack enough precise mass determinations for systems with orbital periods between 100 and 130 min, where evolutionary tracks begin to diverge significantly.
We also find a strong tendency towards high white dwarf masses within our sample, and no evidence for any He-core white dwarfs. The dominance of high-mass white dwarfs implies that erosion of the white dwarf during the nova outburst must be negligible, or that not all of the mass accreted is ejected during nova cycles, resulting in the white dwarf growing in mass.
We use a combination of X-shooter spectroscopy, ULTRACAM high-speed photometry and SOFI near-infrared photometry to measure the masses and radii of both components of the eclipsing post common ...envelope binaries SDSS J121258.25−012310.1 and GK Vir. For both systems, we measure the gravitational redshift of the white dwarf (WD) and combine it with light-curve model fits to determine the inclinations, masses and radii. For SDSS J1212−0123, we find an inclination of i= 85°.7 ± 0°.5, masses of M
WD= 0.439 ± 0.002 M⊙ and M
sec= 0.273 ± 0.002 M⊙, and radii R
WD= 0.0168 ± 0.0003 R⊙ and R
sec= 0.306 ± 0.007 R⊙. For GK Vir, we find an inclination of i= 89°.5°± 0°.6, masses of M
WD= 0.564 ± 0.014 M⊙ and M
sec= 0.116 ± 0.003 M⊙ and radii R
WD= 0.0170 ± 0.0004 R⊙ and R
sec= 0.155 ± 0.003 R⊙. The mass and radius of the WD in GK Vir are consistent with evolutionary models for a 50 000 K carbon-oxygen (CO) core WD. Although the mass and radius of the WD in SDSS J1212−0123 are consistent with CO core models, evolutionary models imply that a WD with such a low mass and in a short period binary must have a helium core. The mass and radius measurements are consistent with helium core models but only if the WD has a very thin hydrogen envelope (M
H/M
WD≤ 10−6). Such a thin envelope has not been predicted by any evolutionary models. The mass and radius of the secondary star in GK Vir are consistent with evolutionary models after correcting for the effects of irradiation by the WD. The secondary star in SDSS J1212−0123 has a radius ∼9 per cent larger than predicted.
We present time-resolved J-band spectroscopy of the short-period cataclysmic variable SDSS J143317.78+101123.3. We detect absorption lines from the sub-stellar donor star in this system, which ...contributes 38 ± 5 per cent to the J-band light. From the relative strengths of the absorption lines in the J band, we estimate the spectral type of the donor star to be L2 ± 1. These data are the first spectroscopic detection of a donor with a confirmed sub-stellar mass in a cataclysmic variable, and the spectral type is consistent with that expected from semi-empirical evolutionary models.
Using skew mapping, we have been able to derive an estimate for the radial velocity of the donor of K
d = 520 ± 60 km s−1. This value is consistent with, though much less precise than, predictions from mass determinations found via photometric fitting of the eclipse light curves.
A radial velocity study of CTCV J1300−3052 Savoury, C. D. J; Littlefair, S. P; Marsh, T. R ...
Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society,
20/May , Letnik:
422, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
We present time-resolved spectroscopy of the eclipsing, short-period cataclysmic variable CTCV J1300−3052. Using absorption features from the secondary star, we determine the radial velocity ...semi-amplitude of the secondary star to be K
2= 378 ± 6 km s−1, and its projected rotational velocity to be v sin i= 125 ± 7 km s−1. Using these parameters and Monte Carlo techniques, we obtain masses of M
1= 0.79 ± 0.05 M⊙ for the white dwarf primary and M
2= 0.198 ± 0.029 M⊙ for the M-type secondary star. These parameters are found to be in good agreement with previous mass determinations found via photometric fitting techniques, supporting the accuracy and validity of photometric mass determinations in short-period CVs.
ABSTRACT
We present high-speed optical photometry of the soft gamma repeater SGR 0501+4516, obtained with ULTRACAM on two consecutive nights approximately 4 months after the source was discovered via ...its gamma-ray bursts. We detect SGR 0501+4516 at a magnitude of i′= 24.4 ± 0.1. We present the first measurement of optical pulsations from a SGR, deriving a period of 5.7622 ± 0.0003 s, in excellent agreement with the X-ray spin period of the neutron star. We compare the morphologies of the optical pulse profile with the X-ray and infrared pulse profiles; we find that the optical, infrared and harder X-rays share similar double-peaked morphologies, but the softer X-rays exhibit only a single-peaked morphology, indicative of a different origin. The optical pulsations appear to be in phase with the X-ray pulsations and exhibit a root-mean-square pulsed fraction of 52 ± 7 per cent, approximately a factor of 2 greater than in the X-rays. Our results find a natural explanation within the context of the magnetar model for SGRs.
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