We report on the detection of very stable modulations with periods unexpectedly (~0.5%) longer than superhump periods during the slowly fading stage of WZ Sge-type superoutbursts in three systems, GW Lib, V455 And and WZ Sge. These periods are naturally explained by assuming that these modulations are superhumps arising from matter near the tidal truncation radius. This finding provides an additional support to the hypothetical idea of expansion of the accretion disk well beyond the 3:1 orbital resonance in some low mass-ratio systems. Combined with the effect of 2:1 resonance, we present an explanation of the origin of positive period derivatives in certain short-period SU UMa-type dwarf novae.
We report on time-resolved photometric observations of the WZ Sge-type dwarf nova, EG Cnc (Huruhata's variable, see also http://www.kusastro.kyoto-u.ac.jp/vsnet/DNe/egcnc.html), during its superoutburst in 1996-1997. EG Cnc, after the main superoutburst accompanied with development of superhumps typical of a WZ Sge-type dwarf nova, exhibited a series of six major rebrightenings. During these rebrightenings and the following long fading tail, EG Cnc persistently showed superhumps having a period equal to the superhump period observed during the main superoutburst. The persistent superhumps had …
We report on our time-resolved CCD photometry during the 2005 June superoutburst of a WZ Sge-type dwarf nova candidate, ASAS 160048-4846.2. The ordinary superhumps underwent a complex evolution during the superoutburst. The superhump amplitude experienced a regrowth, and had two peaks. The superhump period decreased when the superhump amplitude reached to the first maximum, successively gradually increased until the second maximum of the amplitude, and finally decreased again. Investigating other SU UMa-type dwarf novae which show an increase of the superhump period, we found the same trend of…
After 10 years of quiescence, HV Vir underwent a superoutburst in January 2002. We report time-series observations clearly revealing the period change of ordinary superhumps during the superoutburst. We derived a mean superhump period of 0.058260 d and a positive period derivative of $7 \times 10^{-5}$. These results are in good agreement with the value obtained from the 1992 superoutburst. We also detected early superhumps, which were not clearly recognized in the past outburst, and a possible rebrightening. Both of them are the common characteristics of WZ Sge-type stars.
A dwarf nova HV Vir was observed photometrically for eight nights during the outburst in 1992 April - May. The star showed two distinct types of periodic variation: (1) 82.20-min (0.05708 d) double-humped variation with decaying amplitudes during the early stage of the outburst, and (2) 83.80-min (0.05820 d) superhumps in later stages. We attributed the former to "early superhumps", which are only seen in the earliest stage of WZ Sge-type outbursts. The superhump period and evolution of the superhumps, together with general characteristics of the light curve, make HV Vir a typical WZ Sge-type …
The origin of early superhumps, which are double-wave periodic modulations seen only during the earliest stage of WZ Sge-type outburst, has not been well understood. Based on recent discovery of two-armed arch-like patterns on Doppler tomograms in conjunction with early superhumps, we propose a new interpretation on the origin of early superhumps, following the new interpretation by Smak (2001) and Ogilvie (2001) of the two-armed pattern seen in IP Peg. If we consider irradiation of the elevated surface of the accretion disk caused by vertical tidal deformation, we can consistently explain the…
We report on the time-resolved CCD photometry of a newly discovered variable star, TSS J022216.4+412259.9 during the outburst in 2005 November-December brightening. The obtained light curves unambiguously showed 0.2-0.3 mag modulations, which we confirmed to be the superhump observed among SU UMa-type dwarf novae. We also performed a period search for the data obtained during the outburst plateau phase, and revealed the existence of the two periodicities: 0.054868(98) days for the first two nights and 0.055544(26) days for the following plateau phase. This bi-periodicity is hardly observed in …
We report on time-series photometric observations in the earliest stages of superoutbursts of the extreme dwarf novae, AL Com and WZ Sge, which started on 2001 May after the 6 years quiescence and on 2001 July after the 23 years quiescence, respectively. We detected growth of ``early superhumps'' during the each rising stage. Our observations reject the mass transfer instability for the trigger of the superoutburst of WZ Sge stars, and show the existence of some relations between the ``early superhumps'' and the spiral structure, which give a hint of the origin of the ``early superhumps.''
We report on time-resolved CCD photometry during the 2005 June outburst of a dwarf nova, ASAS160048-4846.2. The observed light curves unambiguously showed embryonic humps with a period of 0.063381(41) days, after which genuine superhumps emerged with a period of 0.064927(3) days. Based on evidence for double-peaked humps in the earlier stage of the outburst, this object might be qualified as the seventh member of WZ Sge-type dwarf novae after Var Her 04. If the former period is the same as, or very close to the orbital period of the system, as in other WZ Sge systems, the fractional superhump …
We carried out time-resolved photometric observations of an SU UMa type dwarf nova, BC UMa, during its superoutburst in February 2003. We detect early superhumps (or outburst orbital humps) during the first two days of the outburst. The period of early superhumps is 0.06258(13) d and the amplitude is 0.04 mag. After the early superhump phase, common superhumps with an amplitude of 0.3 mag and a period of 0.064466(16) d developed. The change rate of superhump periods was positive through the superoutburst. The superhump period excess is 3% and we derive a mass ratio of 0.13. This is twice as la…
We carried out intensive spectroscopic observations of two WZ Sge-type dwarf novae, GW Lib, and V455 And during their superoutbursts in 2007, at 6 observatories. The observations covered the whole of both superoutbursts from the very maximum to the fading tail. We found evidence of the winds having a speed of $\sim$1000 km s$^{-1}$ which blew in GW Lib during the rising phase. The evolution of the hydrogen, helium, and carbon lines suggests flaring of the accretion disk and emergence of the temperature inversion layer on the disk.
We observed the entire course of the 1998 outburst of V592 Her, which was originally reported as a nova in 1968. We have been able to construct a full light curve of the outburst, which is characterized by a rapid initial decline (0.98 mag/d), which smoothly developed into a plateau phase with a slower linear decline. We detected superhumps characteristic to SU UMa-type dwarf novae ~7 d after the optical maximum. The overall behavior of the light curve and the development of superhumps were characteristic to a WZ Sge-type dwarf nova. Combined with the past literature, we have been able to uniq…
We observed the 1994, 1996 and 2001 outbursts of HO Del. From the detection of secure superhumps, HO Del is confirmed to be an SU UMa-type dwarf nova with a superhump period of 0.06453(6) d. Based on the recent observations and the past records, the outbursts of HO Del are found to be relatively rare, with the shortest intervals of superoutbursts being ~740 d. Among SU UMa-type dwarf novae with similar outburst intervals, the outburst amplitude (~5.0 mag) is unusually small. HO Del showed a rather rapid decay of the superhump amplitudes, and no regrowth of the amplitudes during the later stage…
Several SU UMa-type dwarf novae, in particular, WZ Sge-type stars tend to exhibit rebrightenings after superoutbursts. The rebrightening phenomenon is problematic for the disk instability theory of dwarf novae since it requires a large amount of remnant matter in the disk even after superoutbursts. Here, we report our optical and infrared observations during the first-ever outburst of a new dwarf nova, SDSS J102146.44+234926.3. During the outburst, we detected superhumps with a period of 0.056281 +/- 0.000015 d, which is typical for superhump periods in WZ Sge stars. In conjunction with the ap…
We report extensive photometry of the dwarf nova KS UMa throughout its 2003 superoutburst till quiescence. During the superoutburst the star displayed clear superhumps with a mean period of Psh = 0.070092(23) days. In the middle stage of superoutburst the period was increasing with a rate of $\dot P/P = (21\pm12)\times 10^{-5}$ and later was decreasing with a rate of $\dot P/P = -(21\pm8)\times 10^{-5}$. At the end of superoutburst and during first dozen days of quiescence the star was showing late superhumps with a mean period of Plate = 0.06926(2) days. This phenomenon was observed even 30 d…
We observed long-term behavior of the helium dwarf nova V803 Cen, and clarified the existence of at least two distinct states (state with 77-d supercycles and standstill-like state) which interchangeably appeared with a time-scale of 1--2 yr. We also conducted a time-resolved CCD photometry campaign during the bright outburst in 2003 June. The overall appearance of the outburst closely resemble that of the late stage of the 2001 outburst of WZ Sge, consisting of the initial peak stage (superoutburst plateau), the dip, and the oscillating (rebrightening) states. During the initial peak stage, w…
We report time-resolved optical CCD photometry on newly discovered SU UMa-type dwarf novae, FL TrA and CTCV J0549-4921. During the 2006 August outburst, we detected superhumps with a period of 0.59897(11) days for FL TrA, clarifying the SU UMa nature of the system. On the first night of our observations on FL TrA, the object showed no superhumps. This implies that it takes a few days for full development of superhumps. The superhump period variation diagram of FL TrA was similar to that observed in some WZ Sge stars and short period SU UMa-type stars. This indicates that the system is closely …
Our research on variable objects based on the VSNET collaborations has achieved much progress in understanding the nature of many kinds of phenomena. Many problems have appeared, instead. Among them, we here review three newly arising problems in the research of SU UMa-type dwarf novae: 1) how do EI Psc and V485 Cen evolve as a cataclysmic variable?, 2) is the early superhump a particular phenomenon for WZ Sge-type dwarf novae?, and 3) what parameters determine variations of the superhump period?
We present the period analysis of unfiltered photometric observations of V5116 Sgr (Nova Sgr 2005 #2) and we search for superhump candidates in novae remnants. The PDM method for period analysis is used. The masses of the novae componets are estimated from the secondary mass -- orbital period and primary mass -- decline time relations. We found that 13 nights of V5116 Sgr observations in the year 2006 are modulated with a period of $0.1238 \pm 0.0001$ d ($2.9712 \pm 0.0024$ h). Following the shape of the phased light curves and no apparent change in the value of the periodicity in different su…
We observed the 1998 November superoutburst of WX Cet, a dwarf nova originally proposed as a WZ Sge-like system. The observation established that WX Cet is an SU UMa-type dwarf nova with a mean superhump period of 0.05949(1) d, which is 2.1% longer than the reported orbital period. The lack of early superhumps at the earliest stage of the superoutburst, the rapid development of usual superhumps, and the possible rapid decay of late superhumps seem to support that WX Cet is a fairly normal large-amplitude SU UMa-type dwarf nova, rather than a WZ Sge-type dwarf nova with a number of peculiaritie…
We give mean spectra and report orbital periods Porb based on radial velocities taken near minimum light for five dwarf novae, all of which prove to have Porb less than 2 hr. The stars and their periods are KX Aql, 0.06035(3) d; FT Cam, 0.07492(8) d; PU CMa, 0.05669(4) d; V660 Her, 0.07826(8) d;, and DM Lyr, 0.06546(6). The emission lines in KX Aql are notably strong and broad, and the other stars' spectra appear generally typical for short-period dwarf novae. We observed FT Cam, PU CMa, and DM Lyr on more than one observing run and constrain their periods accordingly. Differential time-series…
We report precise measures of the orbital and superhump period in twenty more dwarf novae. For ten stars, we report new and confirmed spectroscopic periods - signifying the orbital period P_o - as well as the superhump period P_sh. These are GX Cas, HO Del, HS Vir, BC UMa, RZ Leo, KV Dra, KS UMa, TU Crt, QW Ser, and RZ Sge. For the remaining ten, we report a medley of P_o and P_sh measurements from photometry; most are new, with some confirmations of previous values. These are KV And, LL And, WX Cet, MM Hya, AO Oct, V2051 Oph, NY Ser, KK Tel, HV Vir, and RX J1155.4-5641. Periods, as usual, can…
We photometrically observed four southern dwarf novae in outburst (NSV 10934, MM Sco, AB Nor and CAL 86). NSV 10934 was confirmed to be an SU UMa-type dwarf nova with a mean superhump period of 0.07478(1) d. This star also showed transient appearance of quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) during the final growing stage of the superhumps. Combined with the recent theoretical interpretation and with the rather unusual rapid terminal fading of normal outbursts, NSV 10934 may be a candidate intermediate polar showing SU UMa-type properties. The mean superhump periods of MM Sco and AB Nor were deter…
We photometrically observed three dwarf novae V877 Ara, KK Tel and PU CMa. We discovered undisputed presence of superhumps in V877 Ara and KK Tel, with mean periods of 0.08411(2) d and 0.08808(3) d, respectively. Both V877 Ara and KK Tel are confirmed to belong to long-period SU UMa-type dwarf novae. In V877 Ara, we found a large decrease of the superhump period (dot(P)/P = -14.5 +/- 2.1 x 10^(-5)). There is evidence that the period of KK Tel decreased at a similar or a more exceptional rate. Coupled with the past studies of superhump period changes, these findings suggest that a previously ne…
We photometrically observed the 2002 August long outburst of BF Ara. The observation for the first time unambiguously detected superhumps (average period 0.08797(1) d), qualifying BF Ara as a genuine SU UMa-type dwarf nova. An analysis of the long-term visual light curve yielded a mean supercycle length of 84.3(3) d. The characteristics of outbursts and superhumps more resemble those of usual SU UMa-type dwarf novae rather than those of ER UMa stars. BF Ara is thus confirmed to be the usual SU UMa-type dwarf nova with the shortest known supercycle length. There still remains an unfilled gap of…
We present the first detailed hydrodynamic simulation of a superoutburst to incorporate the full tidal potential of a binary system. A two-dimensional smoothed particle hydrodynamics code is used to simulate a superoutburst in a binary with the parameters of the SU UMa system Z Chamaeleontis. The simulated light curves shows all the features observed in such systems. Analysis of the mass flux through the disc and the growth rate of the superhumps and disc eccentricity show that the superoutburst-superhump phenomenon is a direct result of tidal instability. No enhanced mass transfer from the se…
We present time-resolved CCD photometry of LL And during its 1993 outburst. The observation revealed the presence of superhumps with a period of 0.05697(3) d. This period is one of the smallest among the hydrogen-rich dwarf novae. Although LL And has been proposed to be a WZ Sge-type dwarf nova based on its low outburst frequency, our new analysis indicates that the outburst amplitude (~5 mag) and outburst duration (9+/-2 d) are much smaller and shorter than in typical WZ Sge-type dwarf novae. We suspect that the unusual outburst properties of LL And might be explained by assuming a "leaky dis…
We report photometric observations of AL Com during its rare outburst in 2007. The light curve is reminiscent of its past superoutbursts in 1995 and 2001, except for the rebrightening phase after the main superoutburst. During the rebrightening phase in 2007, we found clear modulations between V=16.2-15.2. In conjunction with the lack of prominent superhumps in our time-series observations, the modulations can most naturally be interpreted as repetitive short rebrightenings with a cycle of 1-2 days. The rebrightening characteristics in 2007 are different from those in 1995 and 2001. This indic…
We report CCD photometry and spectroscopy during 2006 outburst of the dwarf nova SDSS J102146.44+234926.3 (SDSS J1021). The photographic plates from the MAO, SAI and CrAO plate archives, which cover the position of the SDSS J1021, were inspected for the presence of previous outbursts. We also present the BVRcIc photometric calibration of 52 stars in SDSS J1021 vicinity, which have V-magnitude in the range of 11.21-17.23m and can serve as comparison stars. The large amplitude of the SDSS J1021 outburst of 7m, superhumps with a period below the ''period gap'', rebrightening during the declining …
We observed the 2001 November superoutburst of CC Cnc. This observation makes the first detailed coverage of a superoutburst of this object. The best-determined mean superhump period is 0.075518 +/- 0.000018 d, which is 2.7% longer than the reported orbital period. This fractional superhump excess is a quite typical value for a normal SU UMa-type dwarf nova, excluding the previously raised possibility that CC Cnc may have an anomalously large fractional superhump excess. During the superoutburst plateau, the object showed a decrease of the superhump period at dot(P)/P = -10.2(1.3) x 10^(-5), w…
The study of outer disc radius variations in close binary systems is important for understanding the structure and evolution of accretion discs. These variations are predicted by models of both quasi steady and time-dependent discs, and these predictions can be confronted with observations. We consider theoretical and observational consequences of such variations in cataclysmic variables and low mass X-ray binaries. We find that the action of tidal torques, that determine the outer radius at which the disc is truncated, must be important also well inside the tidal radius. We conclude that it i…
We report time-resolved CCD photometry of the cataclysmic variable EG Aquarii during the 2006 November outburst During the outburst, superhumps were unambiguously detected with a mean period of 0.078828(6) days, firstly classifying the object as an SU UMa-type dwarf nova. It also turned out that the outburst contained a precursor. At the end of the precursor, immature profiles of humps were observed. By a phase analysis of these humps, we interpreted the features as superhumps. This is the second example that the superhumps were shown during a precursor. Near the maximum stage of the outburst,…
Time-resolved CCD photometry is presented of the recently-discovered (V~15 at maximum light) eruptive variable star in Taurus, which we dub VS0329+1250. A total of ~20 hr of data obtained over six nights reveals superhumps in the light curves, confirming the star as a member of the SU UMa class of dwarf novae. The superhumps recur with a mean period of 0.053394(7) days (76.89 min), which represents the shortest superhump period known in a classical SU UMa star. A quadratic fit to the timings of superhump maxima reveals that the superhump period was increasing at a rate given by dP/dt ~ (2.1 +/…
During 2006 November an outburst of the dwarf nova AW Sge was observed using CCD photometry. This revealed 0.25 magnitude superhumps confirming it to be a superoutburst, possibly only the second confirmed such outburst of this star. The superhumps were observed for 4 days and had a stable period Psh = 0.0745(2)d, a value which is consistent with Psh measured during the 2000 superoutburst.
Using newly determined parallaxes for dwarf novae, we have derived outburst accretion rates for VY Aqr, RU Peg and T Leo and for T Leo during quiescence. The two short-period dwarf novae, VY Aqr and T Leo, show good agreement with optically thick steady-state accretion disks in outburst, whereas RU Peg shows a significant departure from a steady-state disk. We have determined that the white dwarf in T Leo has T$_{eff} = 16,000 \pm 1000$ K, a value consistent with long term compressional heating when gravitational wave emission drives mass transfer. The white dwarf in T Leo has a temperature in…
Photometric humps in outburst that are locked with the binary orbital period have been observed exclusively in the early phase of outbursts of WZ Sge stars. It is suggested that this "early hump" phenomenon is the manifestation of the tidal 2:1 resonance in accretion disks of binary systems with extremely low mass ratios. The "early humps" can be understood by the two-armed spiral pattern of tidal dissipation generated by the 2:1 resonance, first discussed by Lin & Papaloizou (1979). The tidal removal of angular momentum from the disk during outbursts of dwarf novae, an important feature, is d…
We show that if the inner regions of accretion discs in quiescent dwarf nova systems are removed by magnetic disruption or evaporated by siphon flows, the remaining disc is globally stable for mass transfer rates $\lta 10^{15}$ g s$^{-1}$. This implies that (super)outbursts in these systems have to be triggered by an enhanced mass transfer form the companion. We suggest that the lack of normal outbursts in WZ Sge results only from its low mass transfer rate and that the viscosity in its disc does not have to be few orders of magnitude lower than in other quiescent dwarf novae.
We present dynamically consistent solutions for hot accretion onto unmagnetized, rotating white dwarfs (WDs) in five quiescent dwarf novae. The measured WD rotation rates (and other system parameters) in RX And, SS Cyg, U Gem, VW Hyi and WZ Sge imply spindown of the WD by an extended hot flow emitting most of its X-rays in the vicinity of the stellar surface. In general, energy advection is absent and the flow is stable to convection and hydrodynamical outflows. In rapidly rotating systems, the X-ray luminosity provides only an upper limit on the quiescent accretion rate because of substantial…
We present observations of the dwarf novae GW Lib, V844 Her, and DI UMa. Radial velocities of H-alph yield orbital periods of 0.05332 +- 0.00002 d (= 76.78 m) for GW Lib and and 0.054643 +- 0.000007 d (= 78.69 m) for V844 Her. Recently, the orbital period of DI UMa was found to be only 0.054564 +- 0.000002 d (= 78.57 m) by Fried et al. (1999), so these are the three shortest orbital periods among dwarf novae with normal-abundance secondaries. GW Lib has attracted attention as a cataclysmic binary showing apparent ZZ Ceti-type pulsations of the white dwarf primary. Its spectrum shows sharp Balm…
We detected four outbursts of V359 Cen (possible nova discovered in 1939) between 1999 and 2002. Time-resolved CCD photometry during two outbursts (1999 and 2002) revealed that V359 Cen is actually a long-period SU UMa-type dwarf nova with a mean superhump period of 0.08092(1) d. We identified its supercycle length as 307-397 d. This secure identification of the superhump period precludes the previously supposed possibility that V359 Cen could be related to a WZ Sge-type system with a long persistence of late superhumps. The outburst characteristics of V359 Cen are, however, rather unusual in …
We report on time-resolved photometry of the superoutburst of an SU UMa-type dwarf nova, SDSS J013701.06-091234.9 in 2003 December-2004 January. The obtained light curves definitely show superhumps with a period of 0.056686 (12) d, which is one of the shortest superhump periods among those of SU UMa-type dwarf novae ever observed. Considering quiescent photometric studies, we estimated the fractional superhump excess to be 0.024. Spectroscopic observations by Szkody et al. (2003) provided evidence for TiO bands despite the short orbital period, implying that the system has a luminous secondary…
We present results of 32 nights of CCD photometry of V1974 Cygni, from the years 1994 and 1995. We verify the presence of two distinct periodicities in the light curve: 0.0812585 day~1.95 hours and 0.0849767 d~2.04 hr. We establish that the shorter periodicity is the orbital period of the underlying binary system. The longer period oscillates with an average value of |dot(P)| ~ 3x10^(7)--typical to permanent superhumps. The two periods obey the linear relation between the orbital and superhump periods that holds among members of the SU Ursae Majoris class of dwarf novae. A third periodicity of…
We report follow-up observations of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Cataclysmic Variable SDSS J210014.12+004446.0 (hereafter SDSS J2100). We obtained photometry and spectroscopy in both outburst and quiescent states, providing the first quiescent spectrum of this source. In both states, non-sinusoidal photometric modulations are apparent, suggestive of superhumps, placing SDSS J2100 in the SU UMa subclass of dwarf novae. However, the periods during outburst and quiescence differ significantly, being 2.099 plus or minus 0.002 hr and 1.96 plus or minus 0.02 hr respectively. Our phase-resolved spect…
We present analysis and results of a coordinated CCD photometry campaign to observe the 2006 June superoutburst of the cataclysmic variable V1316 Cyg involving 8 longitudinally-distributed observers. The outburst peaked at magnitude 15.03 on June 10, declined at a rate of 0.14 mag/day, lasted 11 days and had an amplitude above quiescence of 2.4 magnitudes. We detected common superhumps for the first time, thereby confirming that V1316 Cyg is a member of the UGSU class of dwarf novae. We observed a transition to late superhumps two-thirds of the way through the outburst with an associated phase…
We report on time-resolved photometry of the 2005 July superoutburst of the dwarf nova, 2QZ J021927.9-304545. The resultant light curves showed conspicuous superhumps with a period of 0.081113(19) days, confirming the SU UMa nature of the object. Although we missed the maximum phase of the outburst, the amplitude of the superoutburst well exceeded 5 mag. This value is slightly larger than that of typical SU UMa-type dwarf novae. The superhump period decreased as time elapsed, as can be seen in most SU UMa-type dwarf novae. Based on the archive of ASAS-3, the recurrence time of a superoutburst …
We have identified the ROSAT all-sky survey source RX J1953.1+2115 with a newly discovered dwarf novae (named S 10943 Vulpeculae) with a recurrence time of 83.6 days. With the expected period of ~2.8 hrs (based on the measured superhump period of 2.871 hrs) S 10943 Vul would be the SU Ursae Majoris star with the second largest superhump (and orbital) period known (together with TU Men).
Archival data on permanent superhump systems are compiled to test the thermal stability of their accretion discs. We find that their discs are almost certainly thermally stable as expected. This result confirms Osaki's suggestion (1996) that permanent superhump systems form a new subclass of cataclysmic variables (CVs), with relatively short orbital periods and high mass transfer rates. We note that if the high accretion rates estimated in permanent superhump systems represent their mean secular values, then their mass transfer rates cannot be explained by gravitational radiation, therefore, e…
We present our second paper describing multi-wave-band, time-resolved spectroscopy of WZ Sge. We analyze the evolution of both optical and IR emission lines throughout the orbital period and find evidence, in the Balmer lines, for an optically thin accretion disk and an optically thick hot-spot. Optical and IR emission lines are used to compute radial velocity curves. Fits to our radial velocity measurements give an internally inconsistent set of values for K1, gamma, and the phase of red-to-blue crossing. We present a probable explanation for these discrepancies and provide evidence for simil…
We report photometry of 1RXS J232953.9+062814, a recently discovered dwarf nova with a remarkably short 64.2-minute orbital period. In quiescence, the star's light curve is that of a double sinusoid, arising from the "ellipsoidal" distortion of the Roche-lobe-filling secondary. During superoutburst, common superhumps develop with a period 3-4% longer than P_orb. This indicates a mass ratio M_2/M_1=0.19+-0.02, a surprisingly large value in so compact a binary. This implies that the secondary star has a density 2-3 times higher than that of other short-period dwarf novae, suggesting a secondary …
We report the identification of a new cataclysmic variable (denoted as CV2) and a probable microlensing event in the field of the globular cluster M22. Two outbursts were observed for CV2. During one of them superhumps with P_sh=0.08875 d were present in the light curve. CV2 has an X-ray counterpart detected by XMM-Newton. A very likely microlensing event at a radius of 2.3 arcmin from the cluster center was detected. It had an amplitude of Delta_V=0.75 mag and a characteristic time of 15.9 days. Based on model considerations we show that the most likely configuration has the source in the Gal…
The cataclysmic variable ASAS J002511+1217.2 was discovered in outburst by the All-Sky Automated Survey in September 2004, and intensively monitored by AAVSO observers through the following two months. Both photometry and spectroscopy indicate that this is a very short-period system. Clearly defined superhumps with a period of 0.05687 +/- 0.00001 days (1-sigma) are present during the superoutburst, 5 to 18 days following the ASAS detection. We observe a change in superhump profile similar to the transition to ``late superhumps'' observed in other short-period systems; the superhump period appe…
We report spectroscopy of the newly discovered SU Ursae Majoris dwarf nova identified with the x-ray source RXS J053234.9+624755. Radial velocities of the H-alpha emission line in the quiescent state give an orbital period of 0.05620(4) d (80.93 min), which is among the shortest for SU UMa stars with determined periods. We also report UBVI magnitudes of the quiescent dwarf nova and surrounding stars. Using a previous measurement of the superhump period, we find the fractional superhump excess epsilon to be 0.016(4), which is not atypical of dwarf novae in this period range.
We present time resolved J-band (1.025 - 1.340 micron) infrared spectra of the short-period dwarf novae (DNe) WZ Sge, VY Aqr and single spectra of the short-period DN EF Peg and the novalike variable PX And. There is some evidence in the spectra of VY Aqr and EF Peg that we have detected the secondary star, both in the continuum slope and also through the possible presence of spectral features. The spectra of WZ Sge and PX And, on the other hand, show no evidence for the secondary star, with upper limits for its contribution to the J-band light of 10% and 20% respectively. The spectral type of…
We carried out optical spectroscopic observations of the most enigmatic dwarf nova WZ Sge in 11 nights during the 2001 superoutburst. Our observations covered the period from the initial phase, several hours before the maximum, to the ninth maximum of the rebrightening phase. The first spectrum shows absorption lines of H I (except for Halpha), He I, and Na I, as well as emission lines of He\II, C III/N III, and Halpha in doubly-peaked shapes. The same spectrum shows the emission lines of C IV and N IV which are the first detection in dwarf novae. The spectral features dramatically changed in …
We argue that the quiescent value of the viscosity parameter of the accretion disc in WZ Sge may be alpha_{cold}~0.01, in agreement with estimates of alpha_{cold} for other dwarf novae. Assuming the white dwarf in WZ Sge to be magnetic, we show that, in quiescence, material close to the white dwarf can be propelled to larger radii, depleting the inner accretion disc. The propeller therefore has the effect of stabilizing the inner disc and allowing the outer disc to accumulate mass. The outbursts of WZ Sge are then regulated by the (magnetically determined) evolution of the surface density of t…
We present K-band spectra of the short-period dwarf novae YZ Cnc, LY Hya, BK Lyn, T Leo, SW UMa and WZ Sge, the novalike variables DW UMa, V1315 Aql, RW Tri, VY Scl, UU Aqr and GP Com, and a series of field dwarf stars with spectral types ranging from K2-M6. The spectra of the dwarf novae are dominated by emission lines of HI and HeI. The large velocity and equivalent widths of these lines, in conjunction with the fact that the lines are double-peaked in the highest inclination systems, indicate an accretion disc origin. In the case of YZ Cnc and T Leo, for which we obtained time-resolved data…
Large populations of cataclysmic variables (CVs) in globular clusters have long been predicted, but the number of absolutely certain cluster CVs known in globulars is still less than 10. HST and Chandra observers have recently found dozens of cataclysmic variable candidates in several populous globular clusters. Confirmation and characterization of these candidates are extremely difficult, thus identification of unambiguous CVs remains important. We have searched all archival HST images of the dense globular cluster M80 for erupting dwarf novae (DN), and to check the outburst behaviors of two …
We report time-resolved photometric observations of the Hamburg Quasar Survey-selected dwarf nova HS 1449+6415 (= RX J1450.5+6403) during the interval from JD 2451672 to 2451724. During a long outburst with a duration of ~12 days, we detected superhumps with a period of 0.0601(5) d, revealing that this star is an SU UMa star. A short outburst which lasted 3 days was found about 40 days after the onset of the superoutburst. From quiescence observations, we determine an orbital period of 0.05898(2) d. The small outburst amplitude of \~3.5 mag, the short orbital period, and the normal outburst cy…
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…
We present results of differential photometry of the dwarf nova RZ Leonis spanning a 11-year baseline. The most striking feature of the light curve is a non-coherent periodic hump of variable amplitude. A seasonal time series analysis yields a photometric period of 0.0756(12) d. In addition, low amplitude fluctuations of the mean magnitude in time scale of months are observed. We find that the hump's amplitude is anti-correlated with the star's mean magnitude and becomes "negative" (i.e. an absorption feature or "anti-hump") when the system is very faint. Secondary humps and "anti-humps" are a…
